LIFE OF WILSON. 
xcv 
ment — I shall call on the principal people — employ an agent among 
some of the booksellers in Albany, and return home by Newyork.” 
Wilson after tarrying at home a few days, departed to the 
southward, visiting every city and town of importance as far as Sa- 
vannah in the state of Georgia. This journey being performed in 
the winter, and alone, was of course not attended with many travel- 
ling comforts ; and, to avoid the inconveniences of a return by 
land, he embarked in a vessel, and arrived at Newyork in the 
month of March, 1809. This was rather an unproductive tour; 
but few subscriptions being obtained. 
To Mr. D. H. MILLER. 
Washington City, December 24, 1808. 
Dear Sir, 
“ I sit down, before leaving this place, to give you 
a few particulars of my expedition. I spent nearly a week in Bal- 
timore, with tolerable success, having procured sixteen subscribers 
there. In Annapolis 1 passed my book through both Houses of the 
Legislature : the wise men of Maryland stared and gaped, from 
bench to bench ; but having never heard of such a thing as one 
hundred and twenty dollars for a book, the ayes for subscribing 
were none ; and so it was unanimously determined in the negative. 
Nowise discouraged by this sage decision, I pursued my I’oute 
through the tobacco fields, sloughs and swamps, of this illitei*ate 
corner of the state, to Washington, distant thirty-eight miles ; and 
in my way opened fifty-five gates. I Avas forewarned tliat 1 should 
meet with many of these embarrassments, and I opened twenty- 
two of them with all the patience and philosophy I could muster; 
but Avhen I still found them coming thicker and faster, my patience 
