ALEXANDER WILSON. 
xliii 
to be in terms of intimacy, mentioning Wilson’s desires, 
stating his character and acquirements, and strongly recom- 
mending him, as one eminently qualified to be employed 
in that important national enterprize. In this recommen- 
datory letter was enclosed an application from Wilson 
himself, which we give entire, as containing a complete 
view of his extensive plans. 
“ To His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, President of 
the United States, 
“ Sir, — Having been engaged, these several years, in 
collecting materials and furnishing drawings from nature, 
with the design of publishing a new Ornithology of the 
United States of America, so deficient in the works of 
Catesby,' Edwards, and other Europeans, I have traversed 
the greater part of our northern and eastern districts, and 
have collected many birds undescribed by these naturalists. 
Upwards of one hundred engravings are completed ; and 
two plates in folio already engraved. But as many beau- 
tiful tribes frequent the Ohio, and the extensive country 
through which it passes, that probably never visit the 
Atlantic States ; and as faithful representations of these 
can only be taken from living nature, or from birds newly 
killed, I had planned an expedition down that river, from 
Pittsburg to the Mississippi, thence to New Orleans, and 
to continue my researches by land in return to Philadel- 
phia. I had engaged, as a companion and assistant, Mr 
W. Bartram of this place, whose knowledge of botany, as 
well as zoology, would have enabled me to make the best 
of the voyage, and to collect many new specimens in both 
those departments. Sketches of these were to have been 
taken on the spot ; and the subjects put in a state of 
preservation, to finish our drawings from, as time would 
permit. We intended to set out from Pittsburg about 
the beginning of May ; and expected to reach New Orleans 
in September. 
1 
