clvi 
LIFE OF WILSON. 
TO MK. F. A. MICHAUXi 
Philadelphia, June Qth, 1812. 
My dear friend, 
“ I had the pleasure of receiving a letter from you, dated 
April 10, 1812; hut living at Mr. Bartram’s, I have not yet 
seen Mr. Correa, the gentleman who brought it over. I have 
also had the great satisfaction of examining the plates of your 
four numbers of Forest Trees, which are beautifully executed: 
and I regret most sincerely that my little knowledge of the 
French languaget prevents me from perusing with equal satis- 
faction, the interesting particulars you relate of their history. I 
expected long before this to be able to congratulate you on the 
publication 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 inform 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 general, are very indifferent to publish works 
of any kind, however great their merits may be; and the poor 
author’s 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. 
f Wilson’s igTiorance of French was a great disadvantage to him; and he 
never ceased to regret liis want of instruction in a tongue, wliich is con- 
sidered not only important to tlie scholar, but indispensable to tire naturalist. 
The number of works, in the various departments of Natiu-al History, which 
France annually produces, is truly astonishing; and fortunate is that student 
whose acquirements in her language enable him to profit of the knowledge 
of this illustrious nation. 
