LIFE OF WILSON. 
lix 
killed on the Mohawk, attracted the notice of several naturalists 
about Philadelphia. On the fourth of March I set to work upon a 
large sheet of fine drawing paper, and in ten days I finished two 
faithful drawings of them, far superior to any that I had done be- 
fore. In the back ground I represented a view of the Falls of Ni- 
agara, with the woods wrought in as finely as I possibly could do. 
Mr. Lawson was highly pleased with it, and Mr. Bartram was even 
more so. I then wrote a letter to that best of men, Mr. Jefferson, 
which Mr. Bartram enclosed in one of his, (both of which, at least 
copies of them, I shall show you when we meet,) and sent off the 
whole, carefully rolled up, by the mail, on the 20th inst. to Monti- 
cello, in Virginia. The Jay I presented to Mr. Peale, at his re- 
quest ; and it is now in the museum. I have done but few other 
drawings, being so intent on the poem. I hope if you find any cu- 
rious birds, you will attempt to preserve them, or at least their 
skins ; if a small bird be carefully skinned, it can easily be set up 
at any time. I still intend to complete my collection of drawings ; 
but the last will be by far the best. ^ 
“ The poor of Philadelphia have suffered extremely this win- 
ter, the river having been frozen up for more than two months ; 
yet the ice went away without doing any damage, I must again 
request that you and Alexander would collect the skins of as many 
birds as you have not seen here, # * * * 'Phe process of 
skinning the birds may amuse you ; and your collections will be 
exceedingly agreeable to me. In the mean time never lose sight 
of getting rid of the troublesome farm, if it can be done with ad- 
vantage ; so that we may once more be together ; and write to me 
frequently. 
“ I have now nothing more to say, but to give my affectionate 
compliments to your mother and all the family ; and to wish you 
every comfort that the state of society you are in can afford. With 
the great volume of Nature before you, you can never, while in 
health, be without amusement. Keep a diary of every thing you 
