ALEXANDER WILSON. 
CV 
of the heart, and want to try whether a short voyage by sea will 
be beneficial or not. 
“ In New England, the rage of war, the virulence of politics, and 
the pursuit of commercial speculations, engross every faculty. The 
voice of science, and the charms of nature, unless these last present 
themselves in the form of prize sugars, coffee, or rum, are treated 
with contempt.” 
This letter concludes the series of those which were written 
to Wilson’s friends during his various excursions ; they have been 
given without abridgment, as the surest means to judge of his 
mind and disposition during his residence in America ; and we 
possess few additional records of the short remaining space of 
this ornithologist’s life. 
The Seventh Part of the Ornithology was far advanced, and soon 
after its publication, Wilson set out, accompanied by Mr Ord, 
on an expedition to Egg Harbour, to procure materials for the 
Eighth Volume, which would principally have contained the marine 
water fowl. This was his last expedition, and occupied nearly four 
months. On returning to Philadelphia, the anxiety to perfect the 
forthcoming volume, which he thought would bring his labours 
nearly to a conclusion, and would shew him the end of a work 
upon which he had periled his dear reputation, brought on an 
attack of his old complaints, which had gradually become more 
frequent when his mind or body was harassed or agitated for 
the accomplishment of any favourite project. He was seized with 
dysentery, and yielded, after an attack of ten days, to a power 
which his constitution was unable longer to withstand.* Thus 
closed the life of Wilson, chequered from its commencement with 
changes of fortune very varied, — active in the extreme, and 
having, for its chief objects, the good or temporary relief of his 
fellow men, with an ardent desire to- communicate to them and 
illustrate the wonders and beauties in the works of his Creator. 
How far he has succeeded, must be judged of from the evidences 
* The immediate cause of his last illness is stated by Captain Warnoek 
to have been a cold, caught during a long chase after some much desired 
bird, in the course of which, and when overheated, he swam several rivers and 
small creeks. 
VOL. I. 
h 
