LIFE OF WILSON. 
cxlv 
On the sixth of June our traveller reached New Orleans, dis- 
tant from Natchez two hundred and fifty-two miles. As the 
sickly season was fast approaching, it was deemed advisable 
not to tarry long in this place; and his affairs being despatched, 
he sailed on the twenty-fourth in a ship bound to New Yorky 
at which place he arrived on the thirtieth of July; and soon 
reached Philadelphia, enriched with a copious stock of materials 
for his work, including several beautiful and hitherto unknown 
birds.* 
In the newly settled country through which Wilson had to 
pass, in his last journey, it was reasonable not to expect much 
encouragement in the way of subscriptions. Yet he was not 
only honoured with the names of some respectable individuals; 
but also received hospitable treatment from several persons, 
and those, too, to whom he had not been introduced. It is a 
singular fact, that from those to whom he had letters of intro- 
duction, and from whom most had been expected, he received 
the fewest acts of civility. 
The principal events of his journey have been given in his 
letters; but I might select from his diary many interesting pas- 
sages, if the limits allotted to this memoir would admit of co- 
piousness of detail. 
* The editor of Wilson’s Poems, wliich were published at Paisley in 1816, 
g'ives what he states to be an exti’act from one of our autlior’s letters to Iris 
father, wherein it is stud that he had travelled tlirough West Florida to New 
Orleans, and had “ sailed tlience to East Florida, fiu’nished with a letter to 
the Spanish Governor.” This passage needs explanation. Wilson was ne- 
ver either in East or West Florida; (except a small part of the latter pro- 
vince, tlu’ough which the road to New Orleans passed,) but, in the event of 
his going tliither, had provided liimself witli a letter of introduction from 
Don Luis de Onis, the Spanish ambassador to the United States, to Don En- 
rique Wliite, governor of East Florida, and another to Don Vincente Folch, 
governor of West Florida. In liis passage from New Orleans to New York, 
he merely landed, for a few minutes, upon one or two desert islands lying in 
the Florida Gulf. 
He departed from Pliiladelphia on tire tliirtieth of January, 1810; and re- 
tiu’ned on the second of Airgust, of the same year. It is stated in his diary 
that the total amormt of his expenses, irntil his ari-ival in New York, was the 
sitm of fom' hundred and fifty-five dollars. This particular is given as a proof 
of how much may be performed, by a good economist, with slender means. 
VOL. I. — T 
