LIFE OF WILSON. 
xlix 
Testers.” It begins with a description of the Fall or Indian 
Summer, and relates, minutely, our peregrinations and adven- 
tures until our arrival at Catharine Landing, occupying ten 
hundred and thirty lines. The remainder will occupy nearly 
as much; and as I shall, if ever I publish it, insert numerous 
notes, I should be glad, if, while you are on the spot, you would 
collect every interesting anecdote you can of the country, and 
of the places which we passed through. Hunting stories, &c., 
peculiar to the would be acceptable. I should be 
extremely glad to spend one afternoon with you for the benefit 
of your criticisms. I lent the poem to Mr. ^ * 
our senator, who seems to think it worth reading; and * * 
* * has expressed many flattering compliments on my la- 
bours; but I dont value either of their opinions so much as I 
would yours. I have bestowed more pains upon this than I 
ever did upon any former poem; and if it contain nothing really 
good, I shall for ever despair of producing any other that will.” 
TO MR. WM. BARTRAM. 
March 4, 1805. 
“ My dear friend, 
“ This day the heart of every republican, of every good man, 
within the immense limits of our happy country, will leap with 
joy- 
“ The re-appointment and continuance of our beloved Jeffer- 
son to superintend our national concerns, is one of those dis- 
tinguished blessings whose beneficent effects extend to posterity; 
and whose value our hearts may feel, but can never express. 
“ I congratulate with you, my dear friend, on this happy 
event. The enlightened philosopher, — the distinguished na- 
turalist ^ — ^the first statesman on earth ., — ^the friend, the or- 
nament of science, is the father of our country, the faithful guar- 
dian of our liberties. May the precious fruits of such pre-eminent 
talents long, long be ours: and the grateful effusions of millions 
of freemen, at a far distant period, follow their aged and ho- 
noured patriot to the peaceful tomb. ' 
VOL. I. — G 
