cx 
LIFE OF WILSON. 
conceal one good quality that any one of them possesses. I have 
paid particular attention to the Mocking-bird, Humming-bird, King- 
bird and Cat-bird ; all the principal traits in their character I have 
delineated at full. If you have any thing to add on either of them, 
I wish you would communicate it in the form of a letter, addressed 
particularly to me. Your favourable opinion of my work (if such 
you have) would, if publicly known, be of infinite service to me, 
and procure me many friends.^ 
‘‘I assure you, my dear friend, tliat this undertaking has in- 
volved me in many difficulties and expenses which I never dreamt 
of and I have never yet received one cent from it. I am, there- 
fore, a volunteer in the cause of Natural History, impelled by no- 
bler views than those of money. The second volume will be ready 
for delivery on the first of January next. I have received commu- 
nications from many different parts of the United States ; with 
some drawings, and offers of more. But these are rarely executed 
with such precision as is necessary for a work of this kind. 
^ This instance of Wilson’s diffidence of his own talents and acquirements is too re- 
markable to be passed over without a note. He seemed to fear lest the intrinsic merit of his 
work should not be sufficient, of itself, to get it into notice ; and therefore he solicited the fa- 
vourable opinion of one to whose judgement in these matters, he felt assured, the public paid a 
deference. Contrasted with this modest deportment, how contemptible is the vanity and self 
conceit of those writers, who, whether they compose a superficial essay for the transactions of a 
learned society, or compile a bald and meager pamphlet, present themselves before the public 
^vith an air of importance, which should seem to demand that countenance and applause, as a 
matter of right, wliich true merit humbly requests as a favour. 
t The great expense of the publication prevented the author from giving all his plates that 
finish which his taste and judgement would have approved j but that in some instances extraordi- 
nary pains were bestowed upon them, a cursory glance will render evident. I have Mr. Law- 
son’s authority for asserting that so anxious was he to encourage his friend, that frequently after 
computing the time spent upon perfecting his work, he found his reward did not amount to 
more than ffty cents per day. 
From a note to this gentleman I make the following extract, relating to the Bald Eagle : 
“ 1 hope you go on courageously with the Eagle ; let no expense deter you from giving it 
the freest and most masterly touches of your graver. I think we shall be able to offer it as a 
competitor with the best that this country or Europe can produce.” 
