clxvi 
LIFE OF WILSON. 
tion, the interesting particulars you relate of their history. I ex- 
pected long before this to be able to congratulate you on the pub- 
lication of a translation of your work here, and I announced the 
same in the preface to one of my volumes ; but sorry I am to in- 
form you that no steps have yet been taken to put that design in 
execution, and I fear none will be taken for many months to come. 
Unless there be an evident certainty of profit, booksellers, in gene- 
ral, are very indifferent to publish works of any kind, however 
great their merits may be; and the poor authors’ feelings are little 
regarded. Few men have known this more experimentally than 
myself. I have sacrificed every thing to publish my Ornithology — 
have written six volumes, and am engaged on the seventh. * * ^ 
I have frequently conversed with Mr. Bradford about pub- 
lishing a translation of your Forest Trees ; and you may rest as- 
sured that, should it be undertaken, I will use all my influence in 
its favour. Were you here yourself, I have no doubt but it would 
be undertaken, and I think with success, for all who have seen it 
admire it. I procured our good friend, Mr. Wm. Bartram, a sight 
of it, and he was greatly delighted with its appearance. One of 
my friends read a great part of it in E7iglish to him, and he was 
highly satisfied, 
* * * * * 
“ Dr. Barton has not yet published his General Zoology* which 
he has been announcing, from time to time, for so many years. It 
is much easier to say these things than do them. * * 
* This work, which it was the intention of the late learned professor to entitle “ Elements 
of Zoology,” after being ten years in the press was advanced no farther than fifty-six pages, 
in octavo, at the death of the author. It does not appear that he left much manuscript matter 
in continuation, consequently tire public will derive no benefit from a work which is too incom- 
plete for publication. The printed sheets I have read, not only with satisfaction, but instruc- 
tion ; and cannot forbear expressing my regret that an undertaking, which Dr. Barton certainly 
knew how to perform, and to which his learning was adequate, should have been suffered to 
perish in embryo. The art of concentrating his talents was one for which the professor was not 
greatly distinguished. 
