1 
LIFE OF WILSON. 
“ These are some of my objections to this work, which, how- 
ever, in other respects, does honour to the talents, learning, and 
industry of the compiler.” 
In the month of October, 1804, Wilson, accompanied with two 
of his friends, set out on a pedestrian journey to visit the far-famed 
cataract of Niagara, whereof he had heard much, but which he had 
never had an opportunity of beholding. The picturesque scenery 
of that beautiful river, the vastness and sublimity of the cataract, 
as might be expected, filled the bosom of our traveller with the 
most rapturous emotions. And he ever after declared that no lan- 
guage Avas sufficiently comprehensive to convey an adequate idea 
of that wonderful curiosity. 
On the return of Wilson, he employed his leisure moments in 
writing a poetical narrative of the journey. This poem, which 
contains some interesting description, and pleasing imagery, is en- 
titled ‘^The Foresters and was gratuitously tendered to the 
proprietors of the Port Folio, and published in that excellent mis- 
cellany, in the years 1809 — 10. 
This expedition was undertaken rather too late in the season, 
and, consequently, our travellers were subjected to hardships of 
which they were not aware. Winter overtook them whilst in the 
Genessee country, in their return by the way of Albany; and they 
were compelled to trudge the greater part of the i*oute through 
snow midleg deep. 
To Mr. WM. BARTRAM. 
“ Graif s Ferry, December \5th, 1804. 
“ Though now snug at home, looking back in recollection on 
the long, circuitous, journey which I have at length finished, through 
