ALEXANDER WILSON. 
xliii 
He now found that he could not conscientiously discharge his 
duty to his pupils, and at the same time follow, as he wished, his 
pursuit after natural history ; and being anxious to make excursions 
to a greater length than he had hitherto done, he sought after some 
literary employment. He applied to Mr Brown, the conductor of 
the Literary Magazine , and wrote for his work the Rural Walk , 
and Solitary Tutor . The former poem I have been unable to 
procure ; the latter is a sort of epitome of his own history, where 
he describes the early intentions of his parents of bringing him up 
for the church — his emigration — his school-house on the Schuylkill 
— and his favourite haunts in Bartram’s woods. 
In October, 1804, Wilson, accompanied with two friends, set out 
on foot to visit the Falls of Niagara. The party were too late in 
starting, and, on this account, suffered many hardships on their 
return. These did not, however, discourage him ; he soon after 
writes to Mr Bartram, — 
“ Gray’s Ferry, 15th December , 1804. 
“ Dear Sir, — Though now snugly at home, looking back in 
recollection on the long, circuitous journey, which I have at length 
finished, through deep snows, and uninhabited forests — over stu- 
pendous mountains, and down dangerous rivers — passing over, in 
a course of 1300 miles, as great a variety of men and modes of 
living, as the same extent of country can exhibit in any part of the 
United States ; though in this tour I have had every disadvantage 
of deep roads and rough weather — hurried marches, and many 
other inconveniencies to encounter, — yet so far am I from being 
satisfied with what I have seen, or discouraged by the fatigues 
which every traveller must submit to, that I feel more eager than 
ever to commence some more extensive expedition, where scenes 
and subjects, entirely new and generally unknown, might reward 
my curiosity; and where, perhaps, my humble acquisitions might 
add something to the stores of knowledge. For all the hazards 
and privations incident to such an undertaking, I feel confident in 
my own spirit and resolution. With no family to enchain my 
affections — no ties but those of friendship — and the most ardent 
love to my adopted country — with a constitution which hardens 
amidst fatigues — and with a disposition sociable and open, which. 
