LIFE OF WILSON. 
Ixiii 
an application from Wilson himself, which, as a faithful bio- 
grapher of my friend, I here think proper to insert entire : — 
‘‘ TO HIS EXCELLENCY THOMAS JEFFERSON, 
“ President of the United States. 
“ Sir, 
Having been engaged, these several years, in collecting 
materials, and furnishing drawings from nature, with the de- 
sign of publishing a new Ornithology of the United States of 
America, so deficient in the works of Catesby, Edwards, and 
other Europeans, I have traversed the greater part of our 
northern and eastern districts; and have collected many birds 
undescribed by these naturalists. Upwards of one hundred 
drawings are completed; and two plates in folio already en- 
graved. But as many beautiful tribes frequent the Ohio, and 
the extensive country through which it passes, that probably 
never visit the Atlantic states; and as faithful representations 
of these can be taken only from living nature, or from birds 
newly killed; I had planned an expedition down that river, 
from Pittsburg to the Mississippi, thence to New Orleans, and 
to continue my researches by land in return to Philadelphia. 
I had engaged as a companion and assistant Mr. William Bar- 
tram of this place, whose knowledge of Botany, as well as 
Zoology, would have enabled me to make the best of the voy- 
age, and to collect many new specimens in both those depart- 
ments. Sketches of these were to have been taken on the spot; 
and the subjects put in a state of preservation to finish our 
drawings from, as time would permit. We intended to set 
out from Pittsburg about the beginning of May; and expected 
to reach New Orleans in September. 
“ But my venerable friend, Mr. Bartram, taking into more 
serious consideration his advanced age, being near seventy, and 
the weakness of his eye-sight; and apprehensive of his inability 
to encounter the fatigues and deprivations unavoidable in so 
extensive a tour; having, to my extreme regret, and the real 
loss of science, been induced to decline the journey; I had re- 
luctantly abandoned the enterprise, and all hopes of accom- 
