REMARKS.

Third Month.-21. Breeze: sunshine. 22. The same. 23. About sun-set, a body of shallow Cumulostratus, with an abrupt boundary forward, advanced from the E. 24. Cloudy: breeze. 25. The same. 26. The same. 27. The same. 28. Breeze stronger, unsteady: Cumulus. 29. Breeze: Cumulus passing to Cumulostratus, which cleared off at night, leaving a little Cirrus above. 30. a. m. Close Cumulostratus, resembling drapery, as frequent in cold spring weather: p. m. mere open sky. 31. a. m. Large Cumuli: wind S. E. gentle: the temp. was 45° at ten, a. m.: the roads are now dusty to an extreme: Cirrus passing to Cirrostratus at evening.

Fourth Month.-1. Hoar frost: sunshine: Cirri, with haze above. 2. Cirrostratus, with Cirrus: breeze much stronger. 3. Windy: hoar frost: Cirrus. 4. Hoar frost: sunshine: Cirrus, with Cumulus: drains emit an offensive gas. (This is a very common circumstance after long settled weather, before a change, and depends unquestionably in great measure on a renewed electrical action on the general surface.) 5. White frost: misty from the N.: the wind N. E.: sunshine at night a lunar halo of the largest diameter: Cirrostratus. 6. a, m. The higher atmosphere filling: Cirrus, Cirrocumus, &c.: wind N.: a smart breeze: then S. W.: wind and rain in the night. 7. a. m. Dripping: sleet: cloudy: windy: Cumulostrati, succeeded by numerous Nimbi, letting fall showers of large opake hail, followed by rain: three distinct peals of thunder, p. m.: one N., another S., and a third near at hand, with lightning. 8. Cloudy: windy. 9. Windy at N., and more so in the night, seemingly from the westward: rain. 10. Cumulostratus: some dripping: rain by night. 11. a. m. Obscurity early, with Cirrostratus beneath to S.: rain and wind chiefly from the N. E.: p. m. moderate weather. 12. Sky as yesterday, but the Cirrostratus to N. E.: rain at mid-day. In the night a gale from N.W., with snow for two hours, 13. a. m. The high ground to the W. and N. W. is white with snow: with us none remains. 14. White frost (eight, a. m.), yet cloudy overhead, and a group far to the N., in which were Nimbi: in an hour's time this group reached us, and we had showers of heavy granular snow by intervals. 15. Clear morning: dew: fair, though with Nimbi in sight: very high tides, and much water out in the marshes. 16. A moderate gale at S. and S. W.: some rain by night. 17. a. m. Cloudy: calm: mild. 18. Cumulus, Cirrus: sunshine, with cool breeze.

RESULTS.

Winds for the most part Easterly, non-electric, keen, and drying.

The mean temperature of this period is full 8° lower than that of the corresponding portion of 1815. It has accordingly presented a striking contrast to the latter in its effects on the vegetable kingdom; not a single day having occurred in it of that which cultivators emphatically denominate "growing weather," when a moist air co-operates with a rising temperature (perhaps also with an abundant electricity) to stimulate vegetable life, and make way for the unfolding of its products.

TOTTENHAM, Fourth Month, 22, 1816.

L. HOWARD.

WE now approach that era of our author's life in which we behold him emerging from the vale of obscurity, and attaining that enviable distinction in the republic of science and letters which it is the lot of but few to enjoy.

Mr. Samuel F. Bradford, bookseller, of Philadelphia, being about to publish an improved edition of Rees's New Cyclopædia, Mr. Wilson was introduced to him as one qualified to superintend the work; and was engaged, at a liberal salary, as assistant editor.

Not long after this engagement he unfolded his mind to Mr. Bradford on the subject of an American Ornithology, and exhibited such evidence of his talents for a publication of that nature, that Mr. Bradford promptly agreed to become the publisher, and to furnish the requisite funds; and now for the first time Mr. Wilson found those obstructions removed which had opposed his favourite enterprise.

All things being thus happily arranged, he applied himself to his varied and extensive duties with a diligence which scarcely admitted repose; until finding his health much impaired thereby, he was induced to seek the benefits of relaxation in a pedestrian excursion through a part of Pennsylvania, which afforded him a favourable opportunity of procuring specimens of birds, and some additional information relating to them of which he was very desirous to be possessed.

This jaunt was made in the month of August, 1807; and on the return of Mr. Wilson he engaged in his avocations with renewed VOL. VII. No VI. 2 D

ardour, devoting every moment which could be spared from his editorial duties to his great work.

At length, in the month of September, 1808, the first volume of the American Ornithology made its appearance. From the date of the arrangement with the publisher, a prospectus had been issued, wherein the nature and intended execution of the work were specified. But yet no one appeared to entertain an adequate idea of the elegant treat which was about to be afforded to the lovers of the arts and of useful literature. And when the superb volume was presented to the public, their delight was only equalled by their astonishment that our country, as yet in its infancy, should produce an original work in science that could vie, in its essentials, with the proudest productions of a similar nature of the European world.

He

In the latter part of September Mr. Wilson set out on a journey to the eastward, to exhibit his book and procure subscribers. travelled as far as the district of Maine, and returned through Vermont, by the way of Albany, to Philadelphia. From a letter to a friend, dated Boston, Oct. 10, 1808, we have made the following

extract :

"I have purposely avoided saying any thing either good or bad on the encouragement I have met with. I shall only say that, among the many thousands who have examined my book, and among these were men of the first character for taste and literature, I have heard nothing but expressions of the highest admiration and esteem. If I have been mistaken in publishing a work too good for the country, it is a fault not likely to be soon repeated, and will pretty severely correct itself. But whatever may be the result of these matters, I shall not sit down with folded hands whilst any thing can be done to carry my point; since God helps them who help themselves. I am fixing correspondents in every corner of these northern regions, like so many piquets and outposts, so that scarcely a wren or tit shall be able to pass along, from York to Canada, but I shall get intelligence of it.'

From several individuals, in this journey, Mr. Wilson experienced the most polite and encouraging attentions; but from others, and those too from whom most was expected, he met a reception of an opposite nature, the rudeness of which we should hesitate to record if the facts were not supported by his own declaration. From his private journal we have taken the following

extracts:

; waited on Dr.

<< Arrived at principal of the seminary. It was near dusk before I could see him; and our conversation, which was held on the steps leading to his house, occupied about five minutes. He considered the volume too expensive for any class of readers about this town. He behaved with cold indifference turned over a few leaves without any seeming interest; and said, that as far as he could see (it was nearly dark) it looked well returned the volume, and we parted. If, as principal of this college, this literary luminary shed no more cheering influence over

-

411. the exertions of his pupils than he did on the author of American Ornithology, I don't much wonder that storms and tempests should desolate this seminary, and damp the energies of its inhabitants." "Arrived at Called on the Governor at the Health Office; there were several Gentlemen in company. He turned over a few leaves very carelessly, asked some trifling questions, and then threw the book down, saying-" I don't intend to give an hundred and twenty dollars for the knowledge of birds!" Taking up a newspaper he began to read. I lifted the book, and, without say ing a word, walked off with a smile of contempt for this very polite and very learned Governor. If science depended on such animals as these, the very name would long ere now have been extinct.

"The City Recorder declared that he never read or bought books on animals, fishes, plants, or birds-he saw no use in them! Yet this same reptile could not abstain from acknowledging the beauty of the plates of my Ornithology."

If Mr. Wilson had been treated with disrespect by the vulgar or illiterate, he would have imputed it to the right cause a want of breeding. Or if he had been soliciting encouragement to a work of which he was not enabled to afford a specimen, whereby its character could be estimated, there might be some palliation of conduct, which, placed in the most favourable point of view, must still bear the epithet uncivil. But the author of American Ornithology addressed himself to persons of rank and of learning. He modestly asked support equal to his merits; he claimed that deference which is ever due to the gentleman; and, to prove himself no pretender or impostor, he exhibited his Diploma regium signo majori consig natum, the unquestionable credentials of Science herself.

Mr. Wilson, after tarrying at home a few days, departed to the southward, visiting every city and town of importance, as far as Savannah, in the state of Georgia. This journey being performed in the winter, and alone, was of course not attended with many travelling comforts; and, to avoid the inconveniences of a return by land, he embarked in a vessel, and arrived at New York in the month of March, 1809. This was rather an unproductive, tour, but few subscriptions being obtained.

Of the first volume of the Ornithology only 200 copies had been printed. But it was now thought expedient to strike off a new edition of 300 more, as the increasing approbation of the public warranted the expectation of corresponding support.

The second volume was published in January, 1810; and our indefatigable ornithologist set out for Pittsburg, the latter part of the same month, on his route to New Orleans. After conferring with his friends on the most eligible mode of descending the Ohio, he resolved, contrary to their dissuasions, on venturing in a skiff by himself; this mode, with all its inconveniences, being considered as best suited to his funds, and as most favourable to his researches. Accordingly, on Feb. 24, he embarked in his little boat, and bade adieu to Pittsburg. After a variety of adventures he arrived in

safety at Louisville, being upwards of 700 miles from the place of his departure. Here he disposed of his skiff, and then set out on foot for Lexington, 72 miles further. At this last place he purchased a horse; and being prepared for the long and disagreeable route which lay before him, he resolutely explored his way alone, and safely reached the town of Natchez on May 17, being a distance of 678 miles from Lexington. In his journal he says "This journey, 478 miles from Nashville, I have performed alone, through difficulties that those who have never passed the road could not have a conception of." We may readily suppose that he had not only difficulties to encounter, encumbered as he necessarily was with his shooting apparatus and increasing baggage, but also dangers, in journeying through a frightful wilderness, where almost impenetrable cane-swamps and morasses present obstacles to the progress of the traveller which require all his resolution and activity to overcome. Added to which, he had a severe attack of the dysentery, when far remote from any situation which could be productive of either comfort or relief; and he was under the painful necessity of trudging on, debilitated and dispirited with a disease which threatened to put a period to his existence. An Indian, having been made acquainted with his situation, recommended the eating of strawberries, which were then fully ripe, and in great abundance.. On this delightful fruit, and newly laid eggs, taken raw, he wholly lived for several days; and he attributed his restoration to health to these simple remedies.

Previously to entering the wilderness, Mr. Wilson had the melancholy satisfaction of shedding tears of sorrow at the grave of his friend, the amiable and intrepid Governor Lewis; who, distracted by base imputations and cruel neglect, closed his honourable and useful life by an inglorious act of suicide, in the cabin of a settler named Grinder, and was buried close by the common path, with nothing but a few loose rails thrown over his grave.

On June 6, our traveller reached New Orleans, distant from Natchez 252 miles. As the sickly season was fast approaching, it was deemed advisable not to tarry long in this place; and his affairs being despatched, he took passage in a ship bound to New York, at which place he arrived on July 30, and soon reached Philadelphia, enriched with a copious stock of materials for his work, including several beautiful and hitherto unknown birds.

In the newly settled country through which Mr. Wilson had to pass in his last journey, it was reasonable not to expect much encouragement in the way of subscriptions. Yet he was honoured with the names of many respectable individuals, and received not only civilities, but also kind treatment. From his journal and letters we might select many passages of much interest to the reader; but the limits allotted to this memoir will not admit of copiousness of detail, and we shall content ourselves with two or three extracts.

"In Hanover, Pennsylvania, a certain Judge H. took upon