LOUISIANA PURCHASE]. BARTRAM, WILLIAM, American botanist . Autograph letter signed TO PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON Kingsess, 5 February 1806. 1 page, folio, verso with address panel . BARTRAM PUTS FORWARD ALEXANDER WILSON FOR THE LEWIS & CLARK EXPEDITION A remarkable letter from the naturalist Bartram (1739-1823) proposing ornithologist Alexander Wilson (1766-1813) for Jefferson's planned scientific expedition into the newly-acquired Louisiana Purchase: "Understanding Sir that it is your intention to send abroad parties of ingenious men for the purpose of exploring the regions of Louisiana lying on the Mississippi and its extended branches and investigating its Natural History, Mr. [Alexander] Wilson having expressed to me his wishes and ardent desire of being employed on that service I thought it might be pleasing to you to recommend to your notice a character that might be serviceable on this splendid Enterprise. Mr. Wilson is in my opinion as well qualified for the department of Drawing and Painting in Natural History as any person we have....Mr. Wilson is a man possessing very liberal scientific acquirements -- writes well -- of irreproachable moral character -- active and indefatigable -- a decided and firm Republican agreeable to the genuine principles of the Legislative system of the United States...." Wilson was something of a protege of Bartram, whose own account of his travels in the southestern parts of the United States, published in 1791, is a classic narrative. "Upon perusing the ornithological works in Bartram's library he became fully aware of their shortcomings...[and] began to collect specimens and make observations..." (DAB) Wilson's American Ornithology , with plates by a Scottish artist, Lawson, published 1808-1814, was the first treatise in the field. Wilson's services, of course, were not required for the expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark The present is probably Bartram's retained copy; it shows no postal markings or recipient's docket, and a copy of the letter is in the Jefferson Papers, Series 2, vol. 7 no.1e.
LOUISIANA PURCHASE]. BARTRAM, WILLIAM, American botanist . Autograph letter signed TO PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON Kingsess, 5 February 1806. 1 page, folio, verso with address panel . BARTRAM PUTS FORWARD ALEXANDER WILSON FOR THE LEWIS & CLARK EXPEDITION A remarkable letter from the naturalist Bartram (1739-1823) proposing ornithologist Alexander Wilson (1766-1813) for Jefferson's planned scientific expedition into the newly-acquired Louisiana Purchase: "Understanding Sir that it is your intention to send abroad parties of ingenious men for the purpose of exploring the regions of Louisiana lying on the Mississippi and its extended branches and investigating its Natural History, Mr. [Alexander] Wilson having expressed to me his wishes and ardent desire of being employed on that service I thought it might be pleasing to you to recommend to your notice a character that might be serviceable on this splendid Enterprise. Mr. Wilson is in my opinion as well qualified for the department of Drawing and Painting in Natural History as any person we have....Mr. Wilson is a man possessing very liberal scientific acquirements -- writes well -- of irreproachable moral character -- active and indefatigable -- a decided and firm Republican agreeable to the genuine principles of the Legislative system of the United States...." Wilson was something of a protege of Bartram, whose own account of his travels in the southestern parts of the United States, published in 1791, is a classic narrative. "Upon perusing the ornithological works in Bartram's library he became fully aware of their shortcomings...[and] began to collect specimens and make observations..." (DAB) Wilson's American Ornithology , with plates by a Scottish artist, Lawson, published 1808-1814, was the first treatise in the field. Wilson's services, of course, were not required for the expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark The present is probably Bartram's retained copy; it shows no postal markings or recipient's docket, and a copy of the letter is in the Jefferson Papers, Series 2, vol. 7 no.1e.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
