lxxviii 
MEMOIR OF 
month of August, he had succeeded in completing the 
literary materials of the eighth volume of his splendid 
work. His progress had been greatly facilitated by his 
having resided for a considerable part of the years 1811-12 
at the Botanic Garden, with his friend Mr Bartram. 
There, remote from the noise, bustle, and interruption of 
the town, he was enabled to dispose of his time to the 
best advantage ; occasionally solacing his mind with 
friendly converse, and recruiting his overworn and sinking 
frame by healthful rambles through the neighbouring 
woods. He now enjoyed the satisfaction of knowing 
that his labours had not been in vain, and that the value 
of his great work was generally appreciated ; for, although 
emanating from a republican country, there was not at 
this period a crowned head in Europe who had not 
become a subscriber to the American Ornithology . 
In the early part of the year 1813, the seventh 
volume was published ; and its indefatigable author imme- 
diately commenced his preparations for the next. But, 
unfortunately, his intense anxiety to conclude his under- 
taking impelled him into an excess of toil, which, however 
inflexible his mind, his bodily strength was unable to 
bear. This was occasioned chiefly by his finding it 
impossible to procure sufficiently skilful assistants to 
relieve him from the labour of colouring his plates. 
Those who occasionally made the attempt excited his 
disgust by their glaring caricatures of what were in- 
tended to be modest imitations of simple nature. Hence, 
much of his time was spent in the irksome and harassing 
employment of inspecting and correcting the imperfections 
of others ; while this waste of his stated periods of labour 
was supplied by deep encroachments on those hours which 
Kature claims as her own, consecrates to rest, and will 
not forego without a struggle ; and which all, who would 
preserve unimpaired the vigour of their mind and body, 
must respect. Against this intense and destructive appli- 
