LIFE OF WILSON. 
Ixv 
“ I wrote you respecting the letter I had from the President, 
I have never been able to get a sight of the bird he mentions. I 
hope you will not neglect to bring your gun with you, and look out 
as you come along, 
“ I have done no more to the Foresters.''’ The journey is 
brought up to my expedition upon the Seneca Lake, I am much 
in want of notes of the first settlement, and present state, of the 
different places that we passed, as we went up the Susquehannah ; 
every thing of this kind, with hunting anecdotes, &c. I wish you to 
collect in your way down. The remainder of the poem will, I 
hope, be superior to what is already written, the scenery and inci- 
dents being more interesting ; and will extend to at least another 
fifteen hundred lines, which will make in all about three thousand.* 
The notes wull swell it to a tolerable size. 
“ The “ Rural JFalk,” which I published last summer in the 
Literary Magazine, has been lately republished in the Port Folio,*]* 
with many commendations on its beauties. The Solitary Tutor” 
met with much approbation. But I reserve my best efforts for the 
remainder of the “ Foresters/^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 
“I have not mentioned any thing of the sale of the land, nor 
shall I until the business is finally concluded. I shall expect to 
hear from you at least twice yet before you arrive ; and I hope you 
will make no unnecessary delay in returning. As you cut a pretty 
ragged appearance at present, and want something to laugh at, 
suppose you set your muse to work upon your tatterdemalian dis- 
habille. The former neatness of your garb, contrasted with its 
present squalidness, would make a capital subject for a song, not 
forgetting the causes. But you are in the dress of the people you 
live among; : vou are therefore in character. B. had a hat on when 
O y 
* This poem, as published in the Port Folio, contains two thousand two hundred and 
eighteen lines. It is illustrated with four plates, two of which were engraved by George Cooke 
of London. 
f For April 27, 1805. 
VOL. IX. 
R 
