ALEXANDER WILSON, 
xlvii 
astonishment that America, as yet in its infancy, should 
produce an original work in science, which could vie in 
its essentials with the proudest productions of a similar 
nature of the European world.” 
In a letter to his father, not hitherto published, which 
accompanied a copy of his first volume, he says : — 
“ Mr David Brown having informed me of his intention 
of sailing for Scotland, I have transmitted to you by 
him the first volume of my American Ornithology , just 
publishing, and shall, if I live to finish it, send you 
regularly the remaining nine volumes as they appear. 
In giving existence to this work, I have expended all 
I have been saving since my arrival in America. I 
have also visited every town within 150 miles of the 
Atlantic coast, from the river St Lawrence to St Augus- 
tine in Florida. Whether I shall be able to realize a 
fortune by this publication, or receive first costs, or suffer 
the sacrifice of my little all, is yet doubtful. I met with 
a most honourable reception among many of the first 
characters in the United States, and have collected such 
a mass of information on this branch of natural history, 
as will entitle the work to the merit of originality at 
least. ” 
The conclusion of this letter is exceedingly interesting 
for the beautiful touches of natural feeling and affection 
which it expresses. After desiring to be remembered to 
some of his old companions, he says, “ I shall most probably 
never see either them or any of my friends in Paisley 
more ; but, 
While remembrance’ power remains, 
Those native scenes shall meet my view : 
Dear, long-lost friends, on foreign plains 
I’ll sigh, and shed a tear for you. 
“ I would willingly give a hundred dollars to spend a 
few days with you all in Paisley : but, like a true bird of 
