LIFE OF WILSON. 
clxiii 
To Mr. WILLIAM BARTRAM. 
Philadelphia, September 2, 1810. 
“ Incessant labour since my return, to make up my loss of 
drawings, which were sent by post from Nashville, has hitherto 
prevented me from paying you a visit. I am closely engaged on 
my third volume. Any particulars relative to the history of the 
Meadow Lark, Crow Black-bird, Snow Bunting, Cuckoo, Parakeet, 
Nonpareil, Pinnated Grous, or Blue Grosbeak, if interesting, would 
be received by me with much pleasure. I have lately received 
from Michaux a number of rich specimens of birds, printed in co- 
lours. I have since made some attempts at this kind of printing, 
and have succeeded tolerably well. 
“ Michaux has published several numbers of his American 
Sylva, in Paris, with coloured plates. I expect them here soon. 
“ I collected a number of entire new species in rny south- 
western tour ; and in my return I visited several of the islands off 
the Florida shore, where I met with some very curious land birds. 
“Mr. Dunbar, of Natchez, remembered you very well, and 
desired me to carry his good wishes to you.” 
To Mr. Wm. DUNCAN, Frankford, Penn. 
Philadelphia, February 12, 1811. 
“ So, you have once more ascended the Preceptor’s rostrum, 
to wield the terrors of the taws and hickory* Trying as this situa- 
tion is, and various and distracting as its avocations sometimes un- 
doubtedly are, it is elysium to the scenes which you have lately 
emerged from ; and as far transcends these latter, as honourable 
independence towers above despised and insulted servitude. You 
