LIFE OP WILSON. 
Ixxxi 
TO MR. ALEXANDER LAWSON. 
Albany, November 3, 1808. 
“ Dear Sir, 
“ Having a few leisure moments at disposal, I will devote 
them to your service in giving you a sketch of some circum- 
stances in my long literary pilgrimage, not mentioned in my 
letters to Mr. Miller. And in the first place, I ought to thank 
you for the thousands of compliments I have received for my 
birds, from persons of all descriptions; which were chiefly due 
to the taste and skill of the engraver. In short, the book, in 
all its parts, so far exceeds the ideas and expectations of the 
first literary characters in the eastern section of the United 
States, as to command their admiration and respect. The only 
objection has been the sum of one hundred and twenty dollars, 
which, in innumerable instances, has risen like an evil genius 
between me and my hopes. Yet I doubt not but when those 
copies subscribed for are delivered, and the book a little better 
known, the whole number will be disposed of, and perhaps en- 
couragement given to go on with the rest. To effect this, to 
me, most desirable object, I have encountered the fatigues of a 
long, circuitous, and expensive journey, with a zeal that has in- 
creased with increasing difficulties; and sorry I am to say that 
the whole number of subscribers which I have obtained amounts 
only to forty-one. 
“ While in New York I had the curiosity to call on the ce- 
lebrated author of the “ Rights of Man. ” He lives in Green- 
wich, a short way from the city. In the only decent apartment 
of a small indifferent-looking frame house, I found this extra- 
ordinary man, sitting wrapt in a night gown, the table before 
him covered with newspapers, with pen and ink beside him. 
Paine’s face would have excellently suited the character of Bar- 
dolph; but the penetration and intelligence of his eye bespeak 
the man of genius, and of the world. He complained to me of 
his inability to walk, an exercise he was formerly fond of; — he 
examined my book, leaf by leaf, with great attention — desired 
VOL I. — L 
