CHAPTER XXVII

EASTERN VISIT AND EXPLORATIONS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC

Bachman's success as a canvasser—Boston visit—Journey to

Portland—Ascent of the St. John's—Return overland—Victor

Audubon becomes his father's agent—Winter in Boston—The

Golden Eagle—Stricken with illness—Expedition to

Labrador planned—American support—Sails from Eastport

with five assistants—Discoveries and adventures on the

Labrador—Safe return—Another winter at Charleston—Sued

for old debts—Experience with vultures—Advice and

instruction to a son—Working habits—Return to England.

Foiled in his attempt to see the Florida coast at the season best

suited to his purposes, and disappointed in his ambition to penetrate

to the Far West, Audubon now turned his attention to the East and

determined to follow the migratory birds to their summer homes in the

North Atlantic. He left Charleston in early June, 1832, and went to

Philadelphia,[20] where he remained about a month, waiting, it seems,

for his wife and two sons to join him. In a letter to Edward Harris,

dated at Philadelphia, June 9, 1832, he said that he had left the

"National hotel, on account of the too high price, I found I would

have to pay there, and removed to Camden, at a Mr. Armstrong's, where

I formerly boarded"; he asked Harris to send him "a pair of fine

woodchucks," as he wished to secure a drawing of those animals.

It is interesting to notice that while Audubon had been absent in

Florida, his friend Bachman had busied himself in his behalf and

eventually succeeded in placing three copies of _The Birds of America_

in public institutions in Charleston. On December 23, 1831, he wrote to

Audubon, who was then at St. Augustine:

I arrived in Columbia, S. C., almost too late, for the

"House" had just resolved that the State was too poor

to subscribe for Audubon's work. I felt that it would

be a disgrace to the State; and, for the first time in

my life, I turned to electioneering. And now, behold

me among the back countrymen, spinning long yarns. The

thing however, took, and your book is subscribed for....

I read what was said in your favor with regard to the

"Rattlesnake Story," and thus far, they have not found

a wrong twist in your yarn; but be careful in describing

the wonders of the South and West.

Audubon wrote to Bachman from Philadelphia, July 1, 1832: "G. Ord has

caused a most violent attack on my veracity to be inserted in a London

journal; how will he stand _mine eye_, on Tuesday next at the Society,

is more than I can at present tell.... Mr. Berthoud will ship you 3

volumes of the Birds of America, and the succeeding numbers; he will

send a bill of sale of those."

His plan was now to visit Boston and Maine, and he left Philadelphia

with his family in early August; they traveled by stage to New York,

but upon finding that the city was then suffering from a periodic

scourge of the cholera, tarried but a day and hastened on. The

following letter which Richard Harlan sent after his friend in August

of this year shows that his own city did not escape the pest:

_Richard Harlan to Audubon_

[Addressed] J. J. AUDUBON Esqr.

No Pearle st.

Boston

[PHILADELPHIA, _August, 1832_.]

DEAR SIR—

I have just recd. your favour of the 5th inst—by which

I perceive you are not in possession of the letter

I addressed you to the care of Mr Berthoud, the day

after your departure. I have since forwarded two others

one from N. Orleans, also to care of Mr. Berthoud—The

Cholera has raged dreadfully in some localities here—I

was engaged on Monday superintending the removal of

the sick prisoners from the jail in arch St. at the

request of the City authorities—I was there three times

during the day—60 were sick at one time, the suffering,

and agony of the dying wretches, was an awful sight

to witness, 26 died there that day, and about as many

more who were removed to the various local Hospitals—I

have treated altogether up to present date 35—of whom

18 from prison. 16 have died—and only one remains

today—my success is rather encouraging considering the

_habits_ of the poor wretches whose cases fell under my

care—most of the fatal cases were in a dying state when

admitted—I would not have recd. them, but for the wish

to alleviate suffering and scatter the tenants of the

infected rooms of the jail—The Newspapers do not give an

accurate account, because numbers are cured in the early

stages whose cases are never reported—the statements

of deaths are more accurate—and I suppose the greatest

mortality has not exceeded 100 per diem—today only 26

deaths reported, there will probably be more tomorrow—I

am happy to hear of yr. safe arrival and reception in

Boston, in Mr Perkins you will find an aimable, liberal,

and efficient patron, Mr Featherston [Featherstonhaugh]

has been in town, but is at present at Braddywine

springs—his may No has just appeared—he told me it would

be in time to strike out Vignolas name—in the next No

My term of duty as Surgeon to the alms House commenced

at the 1st of August—the sik for the surgical wards

have also suffered, but not so much as the poor tenants

of the cells, it has nearly cleaned them out—some

respectable, but weakly families in the city have

already suffered—My time is usefully, at least, if not

profitably employed, night and day. cholera, cholera,

cholera!!!!—Tho' I may have no time to write much—I

always think of absent frd—Remember to Nuttall, and all

yr. family, Most truly yrs

R HARLAN

Audubon's visit to Boston in the summer of 1832 was a red-letter period

in his career. So warmly was he then welcomed by the leading public

and professional men of the city that he could never say enough in

praise of the Bostonians. Dr. George Parkman, Dr. George C. Shattuck,

and Col. Thomas H. Perkins,[21] who was already one of his subscribers,

were among his most enthusiastic supporters. Of Parkman Audubon said:

"He it is, whose memory is most dear to me." It was doubtless Parkman,

then a professor in the Medical School, who introduced Audubon to the

president of Harvard University, Josiah Quincy, whose name was added to

his list.

On August 14, shortly after reaching Boston, Audubon wrote to his

friend Harris:

We left Camden, pushed by the season, and the desire

I have to fulfil towards my subscribers, the world,

and indeed myself, the task allotted me by nature,—the

completion of my work.... Allow me to say that with

my work, as in the days of '76, the Bostonians have

proved themselves the best supporters of a good cause

in the country. We expect the support of the Cambridge

University, that of the Natural History Society, & again

of the State! (Pray remember how anxious we are to have

all the States.)

I made drawings of 3 rare species; one is the Marsh

Wren, for which I searched in vain when near Salem; the

2d. is a Fly-catcher, described by Mr. Nuttall, and the

last a Thrush.

We leave tomorrow for Portland, in Maine, through which

we will merely pass, and ere one week expires, expect to

be at the Bay of Fundy.

The Audubon family now traveled by carriage and mail-coach along the

entire coast of Maine, but made no prolonged stay until they reached

Eastport, where excursions were taken into the surrounding country,

and the woods and shores were thoroughly ransacked. At Dennisville

they made the acquaintance of Judge Lincoln's family, which rendered

their stay of a number of weeks "exceedingly agreeable"; as will appear

later,[22] it was this agreeable family that furnished Audubon with

a valuable recruit for his expedition to Labrador. Towards the end of

September they entered New Brunswick and began to ascend the St. John's

River. A week was passed at Fredericton, where they were hospitably

received by Sir Archibald Campbell. Thence they continued in a small

boat, which was towed upstream by mules, to Woodstock, Maine. There

a cart was procured, in which they proceeded overland to Houlton,

in Aroostook County, then "A neat village, consisting of some fifty

houses," and after a few days passed at this garrison town in looking

for new birds, they started for Bangor, following the old military road

which led along the Penobscot River to Old Town. Said the ornithologist

of this journey:

Autumn, with her mellow tints, her glowing fruits, and

her rich fields of corn, smiled in placid beauty. Many

of the fields had not been reaped; the fruits of the

forests and orchards hung clustering around us, and

as we came in view of the Penebscot river, our hearts

thrilled with joy....

The road which we followed from Old Town to Bangor was

literally covered with Penobscot Indians, returning from

market. On reaching the latter beautiful town, we found

very comfortable lodgings in an excellent hotel; and the

next day we proceeded by the mail to Boston.[23]

Audubon felt that he ought to remain in America for at least another

year, and decided to send his son, Victor, to England to take charge

of his publication. This work had now become a paramount family

interest, and for the nineteen years of life that remained to the

elder Audubon, his two sons virtually became his assistants, John as an

active collector and companion in the field, and Victor as his business

agent and secretary. In writing again to Edward Harris, from Boston,

November 1, 1832, Audubon noted that they had found the Canada Grouse

in abundance, and that he was assured of its breeding commonly within

the Union; Victor, he added, had sailed to England, "on the tenth of

last month" on the packet ship _South America_.

The autumn of 1832 and the following winter were spent in Boston, where

the naturalist was busily engaged in drawing and in laying plans for

the now famous expedition to the coast of Labrador. Meantime Bachman,

who was keenly interested in his success, was urging him to return to

Charleston; on October 20, 1832, he wrote: "A month in your society

would afford me greater pleasure than the highest prize in a lottery. I

cannot, I find, feel myself at home with new birds without having the

skins to refer to. My cabinet is enlarging every day. Henry Ward now

prepares the skins—a pair of each.... What ducks, that are not likely

to be obtained for you in Boston, would you like Maria to draw for

you?" Writing again on the 26th of October, he said:[24]

I wish to know what you are doing—what progress your

work is making; and, whilst I feel deeply interested

for your fame ... I feel also a particular interest

in your personal welfare, and that of all that

belongs to you;... Besides, I want to see you once

more to ascertain whether you have stuck to your good

resolutions, viz., never to swear (which is a vulgar

practice for one who is conversant with the most

beautiful of God's works, the feathered race), and

never to work on Sundays. However, you are now under

the tutorage of your good wife, and, I doubt not, you

are as obedient to her in these things, as you ought to

be.... You say new birds are scarce. So they are, and

yet, in my opinion, we will occasionally find them for

half a century to come. (November 11) Maria has figured

for you the "White Hibiscus," and, also, a red one, both

natives and beautiful; a Euonymus in seed, in which

our Sylvia is placed; the white Nondescript Rose; the

Gordonica, a Begonia.... She is prepared to send them

to you; shall she ship them at once to Boston?... Your

resolution to publish the 3rd. Vol. of Water Birds, you

will recollect was partly entered into here, and from

that moment, my mind was at ease. It will give you four

or five years in advance, and will enable you, in a 5th.

Vol., to add all recent discoveries of Land and Water

Birds. Should you yet be able to go to Florida and the

Pacific, I apprehend that you will extend our American

Ornithology to 460 or 470 species, perhaps more. Your

sons being able to skin birds and paint them, is a great

desideratum; it should be mentioned in the preface to

your next volume. The talents of the family combined

... will now place the work beyond the fear of falling

through, even in case of your death, and the public

ought to know it. But you must push for subscribers. If

your son Victor can do nothing in Europe, you must go

there yourself, and sooner than let the work suffer,

you must go on a pilgrimage throughout all the great

cities of our Union. Should God spare your life, I want

to hear of you enjoying, in your old age "_Otium cum

dignitate_," and to see your children reaping some of

your recompense.

[Illustration: JOHN BACHMAN

AFTER A RARE ENGRAVING BY CHARLES C. WRIGHT OF A PORTRAIT BY A.

FISHER, PUBLISHED AT CHARLESTON IN 1822. FROM A COPY IN POSSESSION

OF MR. JOSEPH V. JEANES.]

[Illustration: ROBERT HAVELL.

AFTER A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN SHORTLY BEFORE HIS DEATH IN 1878.

PUBLISHED BY COURTESY OF MR. RUTHVEN DEANE.]

Under date of December 20, 1832, his friend "had nothing to write

but bad news," and hoped "to see our political atmosphere a little

brighter. Do not ask me about birds; I do not know a Buzzard from a

King Bird.... Oh, what an enjoyment it would be for me to escape, just

for one week, from the hydra-headed 'Nullification,' and sit by your

side and talk birds!"

Audubon was anticipating his third volume of plates, devoted mainly

to water birds, which was begun with Number 45, in 1834, when the

following letter was sent to his son in London:

_Audubon to his Son, Victor_

BOSTON, _Jany, 17th, 1833_—.

MY DEAR VICTOR—

The Columbia arrived yesterday at New York, and N

[icholas]. B [erthoud]. has forwarded us Mr. Havell's

letter and yours, both dated 30th. of November last—.

I hope soon to see the drawings to work on them—. You

give no account of that of The _Bartram Sandpiper_

and of The _Spotted Sandpiper_—; probably they have

escaped you—let me know so that I may renew these should

they be missing—, but I think my Friend Children has

them—enquire—

The Charlotte is not yet in. She had not left Deal on

the 27th of Nov r.—

Your Dear Mother & John wrote to you this morning and

you will probably receive this, and that letter at the

same moment—.

We will keep all the half Bound Copies of Volume

1st. in America where I hope soon to dispose of

them—go on and push the Work with care and all will

be well—give our best regards to Havell & his wife

& family—I had expected the Death of his Father[25]

sometimes—remembrances to our good friend Children,

Cuthbutton &c., &c. I will be able to arrange 100

Drawings of Water Birds, ready, and in that finest of

style for Publication—Tell Havell I will write to him in

a very few Days, and to keep up a good Heart—I hope we

will all meet early in the Spring of 1834—

God bless you my Dear Victor: employ your time well

and [you] cannot fail being as Happy, at least as it is

possible to be, far away from your Dear Mother, John &

Your ever affectionate Father & Friend,

JOHN J. AUDUBON

Send the Gun & Drawing Paper of N—Largest & Middle Size

as quick as possible—

[Addressed] VICTOR G. AUDUBON Esqr.,

Care of

ROBT. HAVELL, Esqr.,

Engraver,

77 Oxford Street,

London.

While at Boston in the winter of 1833, Audubon obtained from the

proprietor of the New England Museum, in Court Street, a superb

specimen of the Golden Eagle, which had been caught in the White

Mountains in a trap set for foxes. Possessed with a desire to depict

this noble bird, he worked so hard at the drawing that, as he said,

it nearly cost him his life; he was suddenly seized with "a spasmodic

affection," which prostrated him for a time and greatly alarmed his

family, but thanks to a strong constitution and to the aid of his

medical friends, Doctors Parkman, Warren and Shattuck, the crisis was

averted, and he was soon able to continue his labors. "The drawing of

this Eagle," said the naturalist, "took me fourteen days, and I had

never before laboured so incessantly excepting at that of the Wild

Turkey." He was at work on this painting when the following letter[26]

was dispatched to his eldest son:

_Audubon to his Son, Victor_

BOSTON.

_Feb. 5th 1833._

MY DEAR FRIENDS

I am just now quite fatigued by the drawing of a Golden

Eagle which although it will make a splendid plate

has cost me sixty hours of the severest labor I have

experienced since I drew the Wild Turkey. You shall I

hope see it through the care of Mr. Gordon.[27] Do not

ever ship any more Nos. to this port unless on vessels

that are intended as packets. The Charlotte has not

come and it will be a rubber if I can get enough cash

to establish our going to Labrador until she does.

Push Jos. B. Kidd of Edinburgh if he _can_ be pushed to

paint copies of our drawings. I look on that series as

of great importance to us all. Havell's blunder in not

having the numbers and paper on board the New York in

time, is one which, with him I can never correct. If

you can do more than I on this score of punctuality I

will be gratified. I shall proceed to New York as soon

as the weather moderates, on Sunday last the thermom.

was 12 below zero. The work is now I am assured free of

duty. When you write give a word of recollection to Dr.

Parkman who is a most desirable and worthy friend.

God bless you, forever yours

J. J. AUDUBON.

In the spring of 1833 Audubon was determined to carry out a long

cherished desire to explore the coast of Labrador, where he hoped

not only to discover many new birds, but to ascertain the summer

plumages and breeding habits of a host of water fowl that were known

to resort in the milder season to that stern and rock-bound shore.

Accordingly, he set about with characteristic energy to organize and

finance an expedition upon his own responsibility. The number of his

American subscribers was steadily increasing, and at that moment he

felt a degree of confidence in the future of his work to hazard almost

any undertaking. In April, when his plans were fixed, he went to New

York to consult with his wife's brother-in-law and agent, Nicholas

A. Berthoud, and to settle his business affairs before leaving the

country. While there he wrote the following long letter[28] to his son,

Victor, filled, as usual, with careful instructions and interesting

personal details. It will be noticed that when he took pen in hand the

number of his American subscribers stood at 51, but before he laid it

down it had risen to 54; his belief that his efforts in the cause of

natural science would receive a hearty response in his own country was

fully justified.

_Audubon to his Son, Victor_

NEW YORK _April 28th 1833_—

MY DEAR VICTOR—

On opening the box containing the numbers last sent to

this place for distribution, we found the contents Wet

and of course some of them damaged. We have however

dried them and made of them that could be done and

they will all go on Monday (tomorrow) to their Several

destinations—In future I recommend that Each parcel of

numbers for the different individuals are rolled up in

separate Parcel, inclosed in good stout brown Paper, and

each directed outside, enumerating the numbers therein

contained—then put all the Rolls in a Box—in this manner

they all will be less liable to Injury, will not need

to be undone here for we have no trouble at all at

the Custom House, and it will Save the handling of the

Plates at the Compting House.—

N. Berthoud rendered me his account yesterday I send

you inclose a Copy of it—and I also send you a Copy of

a general & particular memorandum left with him, by the

assistance of which the Business is clearly exhibited,

so that each Subscriber's Standing with the Work Shows

at once.—

The Balance in our favor in N. Berthoud's hands is $

1358.91—We have due _South of this_ $ 1834.48. and at

Boston $ 1220.00—altogether $ 4413.39.—The Boston amount

will be ready for me when I reach there on Thursday

next.—I take from N. B's hands here $ 800.00.—300 $ of

which I give to your Dear Mother—when at Boston I will

take 500 $ more and send the Balance to N. Berthoud—he

will then have about $ 1278.91 of cash out of which he

will send you 100 £ say 480 $ leaving still with him

about $ 798.91, besides what he will collect from the

South the amount which is mentioned above, _all of_

which I hope will be collected ere I return to this

Place, as early as I can without losing the opportunity

of doing all that can be done.

You will easily perceive by all this that we have been

extremely fortunate of late on this Side of the Water,

and the 400 £ forwarded to you will fully enable you

to meet the demands of Havell &c for the 20 Volumes

you have to send here & other emergencies.—We have at

Present 51 Subscribers in the U. States, without the

name of Docr Croghan from whom not a word has been

heard, and also without that of _Baron Krudener_ who

is now at Washington City, but who has not taken any

cognisance of the letter I sent him. N. Berthoud is

going to write to him and I hope the Baron will take the

work.—he certainly ought.

I found the Plates sent here better coloured than usual

and with your present assistance I greatly hope the

goodness of the Work will still improve.—Nicholas will

forward you Two very beautiful Numbers—the Plates are as

follows,

No 37. Plate 181. Golden Eagle Figures 1

"—182. Ground Doves " 5

"—183. Golden crested Wren " 2

"—184. Mangrove Humming Bird " 5

"—185. Bachman's Warbler " 2

No 38.— "—186. Pinnated Grous " 3

"—187. Boat Tail Grackle " 2

"—188. Tree Sparrow " 2

"—189. Snow Bunting " 3

"—189. Yellow bellied Woodpecker " 2

I should have sent you 2 more Numbers had I The Two

large Plates for them, but hoping that I may meet with

something Large & perhaps New I Shall not do so, until

I return which will be Still time enough.—I am very

anxious to See the 2d Volume finished and for this

reason invite you to push the Work, as much as you can

& have it very well executed meantime.

The State of Maryland is subscribed to by D. Ridgely

M.D. Librarian of that State. he desires the 1st Volume

and the following numbers forwarded as soon as can

be.—Send it here—as he has authorized N. B. to draw on

him for Payment.—Miss Harriet Douglass also desires to

have her Number sent here for the Future. I hope the

Copies for Col Perkins & others at Boston & vicinity, as

well as for Wm Oakes, & John Neale will soon arrive.—

April 30th—Since the above, I have obtained Two more

Subscribers—the names of whom are

1. Richd F. Carman. New York

1. L. Reed—— Do Do.—

I was told last night that the State has also

Subscribed, but cannot tell until I see this day's

Paper—Whilst at the Lyceum of Natural History last

evening, I was promised their Subscription on Monday

next—being the Society's day of business.

I have concluded to send the 2 Numbers of Drawings by

the Packett—The Tin case containing them, will be given

to the special care of the Capn on whom you will do

well to call immediately.—I have _given_ a 1st Volume to

Nicholas Berthoud; there are many enquiries made to see

the Work and it answers that purpose well.

John & I leave for Boston either this afternoon or

tomorrow—perhaps tomorrow as we have much to do.—It

is not probable that Edd Harriss will join us at East

Port and go to Labrador with us—I shall write to you at

every opportunity as these may occur, and doubtless from

Halifax.

Mr Inman has painted my Portrait in Oil, and _I

say_ that it is a truer portrait of me than even the

Miniature.—Now my Dear Victor exert yourself in the

having all the Volumes compleated which I have written

for—See that they are carefully packed with Paper

between each &c &c &c I shall not close this until I

have given the Box to the Capn and when I hope to add

the Subscription of this State.—

2, o'clock—I have just returned from the bustle of the

Lower part of the City—_the State has_ Subscribed!

Therefore add that valuable one. There is no Packet

for London Tomorrow, therefore the Drawings will go

off on the 10th of May by the Capn in whose particular

care they will be given.—These 10 Drawings have been

insured this morning against _all Risk_, for 2,000 $

at ½ per Centum—I hope you will receive them in perfect

order; they are carefully packed by myself in a Tin Box

securely sodered &c &c.

We have now 54. Subscribers in America. Mr Inman is

going to Paint the Portrait of your Dear Mother, and

I have not a doubt that it will be "good & true." The

Weather is extremely Warm—The Thermometer ranges at

nearly 72. The Martins are flying over the City and

Tomorrow I shall fly toward the Coast of Labrador—If

fortunate I shall bring a load of Knowledge of the Water

Birds which spend the Winter in our Country and May hope

to Compete in the study of their Habits with any Man in

the World.

My Good Friend Charles Bonaparte as (I am told)

taken umbrage at a Passage in My Introduction (first

Volume)[29] Which proves how difficult it is to please

_every one_—I am going to write to him by Duplicate to

try to _correct_ that Error _of his_—God ever bless You

my Dear Son, and May We all meet Well & Happy

Yours ever affectionately,

JOHN J. AUDUBON.

Audubon was particularly anxious to enlist a number of enthusiastic

young men in the Labrador enterprise, and had hoped that his friend,

Edward Harris, would join the party. Upon his return to Boston he

started at once for Eastport, Maine, where he expected to charter

a vessel and complete his preparations. On May 9, 1833, he wrote to

Harris from that point:

The more I approach the desired object of this voyage,

the more bouyant my spirits, and the greater my hopes

that when I return I will bring a cargo (not of codfish)

but of most valuable information. Make up your mind;

shoulder your firelock, and away to the fields where

science awaits us with ample stores, the contents of

which are the rarest materials ever employed by nature.

To this friend he wrote again from Eastport on the 14th of the same

month:

As to my making use of your name in my letterpress, I

shall act as you desire, and yet I hope and fully expect

no denial on your part, on such occasions as will grant

me the pleasure of giving public notice of the treatment

I have received from you. I owe such a thing to you as

a trifling, very trifling, mark of my gratitude towards

one, whom I shall never cease to admire and esteem.

The _National Gazette_ of Philadelphia for May 2, 1833, devoted an

editorial to Audubon and his prospective Labrador journey, in which

the writer said: "We wish him a degree of success and prolongation of

vigor equal to his great merits: indeed, for the past at least, success

is fully assured." He added that between fifty and sixty subscribers

to _The Birds of America_ had then been obtained in the United States;

Boston had furnished eighteen; New York, eleven; Philadelphia, four;

Baltimore, eight; Savannah, seven; Louisville, two, and New Orleans,

three; moreover, the legislatures of Massachusetts, New York, Maryland

and South Carolina and the Congressional Library were subscribers for

one copy each. The writer continued:

A contribution to Mr. Audubon equal at least to that of

Boston or New York, would seem due from Philadelphia.

The subscription price may be considered as large ($

1,000), but how rich, ornamental, instructive, and

entertaining is the work, and how much preferable to the

merely personal gewgaws or transitory gratifications,

upon which greater sums are as frequently expended!

There are few minds of any refinement or elevation, to

which an act that rewards genius and fosters science,

would not yield higher and more durable pleasure than

any ordinary luxury.

We learn that Mr. Audubon will return to the United

States next autumn, and make a short sojourn before his

embarkation for Europe. Eight or nine more years, it is

supposed, will yet be necessary for the consummation of

his grand design. His constitution appears to be still

vigorous; his zeal is unabated; his powers of graphic

delineation have suffered no decay; we may, therefore,

expect that he will realize all his own laudatory hopes

and projects, and in so doing confer new obligations on

the votaries of natural history, and reflect additional

honor on his country.

While Audubon was still at Eastport, and looking anxiously for

young recruits, the following letter was received from Dr. George

Parkman:[30]

_Dr. George Parkman to Audubon_

BOSTON, _May 25th. 1833_.

J. J. AUDUBON Esqr.

DEAR SIR

Through the unceasing & active good-will of our Friend,

Dr. Shattuck, I present to you Mr. Ingalls, son of Dr.

Ingalls, one of our senior physicians & an experienced

public teacher of Anat.y & Surg.y—

The son is the father's pupil; & we have reason to

expect that he will prove a satisfactory disciple to

you.

The enclosed I claim for you the right to read, & for

myself to repossess, when we meet again.

respectfully

G. PARKMAN.

[Illustration: LETTER OF DR. GEORGE PARKMAN TO AUDUBON, MAY 25, 1833.

From the Howland MSS.]

Edward Harris was unable to accompany his friend, and the four young

men eventually chosen were Joseph Coolidge,[31] William Ingalls, of

Boston, Thomas Lincoln, of Dennisville, Maine, and George Cheyne

Shattuck,[32] the son of Dr. George C. Shattuck of Boston; these,

with John Woodhouse Audubon and the naturalist, made up the party. The

schooner _Ripley_, a staunch new vessel of 106 tons, was chartered at

Eastport, and the expedition was ready to start by the latter part of

May. During his stay at Eastport Audubon visited Grand Manan Island,

a favorite resort for sea birds in the Bay of Fundy, and cruised about

the coast in a revenue cutter. On May 31, he wrote to Victor:[33]

I have been working hard at the Birds from Grand Menan,

as well as John, who is overcoming his habit of sleeping

late, as I call him every morning at four, and we have

famous long days....

The hull of the vessel has been floored, and our great

table solidly fixed in a tolerably good light under

the main hatch; it is my intention to draw whenever

possible, and that will be many hours, for the daylight

is with us nearly all the time in those latitudes, and

the fishermen say you can do with little sleep, the air

is so pure.

After repeated delays the _Ripley_ sailed from Eastport for Labrador

on June 6, 1833, and the journey proved arduous and hazardous enough.

Although disappointing in respect to the number of new species of

birds discovered, Audubon's visit was well timed; he was aided by a

band of devoted and energetic youth, and they spent two months on the

coast of a wild country, then but little known save to a nefarious

crew of egg robbers and a few enterprising fishermen. His published

journal of the voyage shows that he worked to the full limit of his

physical powers in studying and portraying the wonderful bird life

which the party encountered. Despite the miseries of seasickness, an

incompetent pilot, tempestuous weather, and the cramped quarters of

a small schooner, where all his drawings had to be done under an open

hatch, he accomplished wonders, considering the shortness of his stay.

By rising at three o'clock in the morning and working for seventeen

hours, he succeeded in completing many large drawings of birds, as well

as studies of characteristic flowers; he also journalized voluminously

and saw much of the coast and its adjacent islands.

From Eastport they passed through the Gut of Canso and steered for the

Magdalen Islands, where they landed and made collections. On June 14

they approached the famous Bird Rock, which at a distance seemed to be

covered with a mantle of new-fallen snow, an illusion soon dispelled

as their vessel bore them nearer and a vast concourse of Gannets rose

in great clouds from the rock; "all stood astonished and amazed," said

Audubon, and he felt that such a sight had of itself fully repaid them

for their journey. On June 17, the twelfth day out from Eastport, they

passed Anticosti Island, and soon began to see what appeared like white

sails on the horizon; these proved to be snow drifts on the Labrador,

and on the 18th they landed at the mouth of the Natashquan River.

Ducks, Geese, Auks and Guillemots were there in great multitudes, as

well as Gulls and Terns; many were breeding, and all seemed wilder than

at points farther south, a circumstance which was explained as soon as

they discovered the astounding proportions which the traffic in eggs of

sea fowl had attained even at that time.[34]

On June 27 they procured a new bird[35] which Audubon named after

his young companion, Thomas Lincoln of Dennisville, Maine, and which

is still known as "Lincoln's Finch." This reference is found in his

journal for the 4th of July: "I have drawn all day, and have finished

the plate of the Fringilla lincolnii, to which I have put three plants

of the country; to us they are very fitting to the purpose, for Lincoln

gathered them."

The _Ripley_ left its anchorage at American Harbor or Natashquan

on June 28, and stood out to sea, their usual recourse to avoid

the intricacies of the coast. After proceeding fifty miles or more

they touched at numerous islands, where Guillemots, Puffins, and

Black-backed Gulls were breeding in vast numbers, and managed to anchor

safely, in spite of that "ignorant ass" of a pilot, at a wild and

desolate point which a recent traveler has identified as the harbor of

Wapitagun.[36] July the second was such a beautiful day for Labrador

that Audubon went on shore, where he drew this vivid picture of that

desolate land in sunshine:[37]

The country, so wild and grand, is of itself enough to

interest any one in its wonderful dreariness. Its mossy,

gray-clothed rocks, heaped and thrown together as if

by chance, in the most fantastical groups imaginable,

huge masses hanging on minor ones as if about to roll

themselves down from their doubtful-looking situations,

into the depths of the sea beneath. Bays without end,

sprinkled with rocky islands of all shapes and sizes,

where in every fissure a Guillemot, a Cormorant, or some

other wild bird retreats to secure its egg, and raise

its young, or save itself from the hunter's pursuit.

The peculiar cast of the sky, which never seems to be

certain, butterflies flitting over snow-banks, probing

beautiful dwarf flowerets of many hues [that are]

pushing their tender stems from the thick bed of moss

which everywhere covers the granite rocks. Then the

morasses, wherein you plunge up to your knees, or the

walking over the stubborn, dwarfish shrubbery, making

one think that as he goes he treads down the _forests_

of Labrador. The unexpected Bunting, or perhaps Sylvia,

which perchance, and indeed as if by chance alone, you

now and then see flying before you, or hear singing

from the creeping plants of the ground. The beautiful

fresh water lakes, on the ragged crests of greatly

elevated islands, wherein the Red and Black-necked

Divers swim as proudly as swans do in other latitudes,

and where the fish appear to have been cast as strayed

beings from the surplus food of the ocean. All—all is

wonderfully grand, wild—aye, and terrific. And yet how

beautiful it is now, when one sees the wild bee, moving

from one flower to another in search of food, which

doubtless is as sweet to it, as the essence of the

magnolia is to those of favored Louisiana. The little

Ring Plover rearing its delicate and tender young, the

Eider Duck swimming man-of-war-like amid her floating

brood, like the guardship of a most valuable convoy;

the White-crowned Bunting's sonorous note reaching the

ear ever and anon; the crowds of sea-birds in search of

places wherein to repose or to feed: how beautiful is

all this in this wonderful rocky desert at this season,

the beginning of July, compared with the horrid blasts

of winter which here predominate by the will of God,

when every rock is rendered smooth with snows so deep

that every step the traveller takes is as if entering

into his grave; for even should he escape an avalanche,

his eye dreads to search the horizon, for full well

does he know that snow,—snow, is all that can be seen. I

watched the Ring Plover for some time; the parents were

so intent on saving their young that they both lay on

the rocks as if shot, quivering their wings and dragging

their bodies as if quite disabled. We left them and

their young to the care of the Creator. I would not have

shot one of the old ones, or taken one of the young for

any consideration, and I was glad my young men were as

forbearing.

[Illustration: PLATE CXI

_Pileated Woodpecker_,

PICUS PILEATUS, Linn.

_Adult Male, 1. Adult Female, 2. Young Males, 3. 4. Racoon Grape.

Vitis astivalis._

Drawn from nature by J. J. Audubon, F.R.S. F.L.S.

Engraved, Printed & Coloured by R. Havell.]

On the 6th of July he wrote:[38]

By dint of hard work and rising at three, I have drawn

a _Colymbus septemtrionalis_ [Great Northern Diver]

and a young one, and nearly finished a Ptarmigan; this

afternoon, however, at half-past five, my fingers could

no longer hold my pencil, and I was forced to abandon

my work and go ashore for exercise. The fact is that I

am growing old too fast; alas! I feel it,—and yet work

I will, and may God grant me life to see the last plate

of my mammoth work finished.

On the seventh there is this note:

Drawing all day; finished the female Grouse and five

young, and prepared the male bird. The captain, John,

and Lincoln, went off this afternoon with a view to camp

on a bay about ten miles distant. Soon after, we had a

change of weather, and, for a wonder, bright lightning

and something like summer clouds. When fatigued with

drawing I went on shore for exercise, and saw many

pretty flowers, amongst them a flowering Sea-pea, quite

rich in color.... The mosquitoes quite as numerous as in

Louisiana.

On July 14 the _Ripley_ took the party forty-three miles farther east

to Little Maccatina, or Hare Harbor, as it is called today, where they

remained until July 21, proceeding thence to Baie de Portage. Here

they were able to enter their small boats, and visited the captain

of a whaling schooner from New Brunswick, a Canadian trapper, and a

Scotchman, Samuel Robertson by name, who was engaged in the sealing

industry at Sparr Point, all of whom Audubon pumped for information on

the country and its products. On July 25, they started for "Chevalier's

Settlement," but were caught in a storm, and came to in Bras d'Or

(Bradore) Bay; there they found the Labrador Duck, which in 1875, but

forty-two years later, had become totally extinct.

At the approach of August the brief Labrador summer, of barely one

month, was drawing to a close, and Audubon was exerting his utmost

efforts to accomplish his purposes. Under date of August 10 he

wrote:[39]

My reason for not writing at night is that I have

been drawing so constantly, often seventeen hours a

day, that the weariness of my body at night has been

unprecedented, by such work at least. At times I felt

as if my physical powers would abandon me; my neck, my

shoulders, and, more than all, my fingers, were almost

useless through actual fatigue at drawing. Who would

believe this? Yet, nothing is more true. When at the

return of dawn my spirits called me out of my berth,

my body seemed to beg my mind to suffer it to rest a

while longer; and as dark forced me to lay aside my

brushes I immediately went to rest as if I had walked

sixty-five miles that day, as I have done _a few times_

in my stronger days. Yesternight, when I rose from my

little seat to contemplate my work and to judge of the

effect of it compared with the nature which I had been

attempting to copy, it was the affair of a moment;

instead of waiting, as I always like to do, until the

hazy darkness which is to me the best time to judge of

the strength of light and shade, I went at once to rest

as if delivered from the heaviest task I ever performed.

The young men think my fatigue is added to by the fact

that I often work in wet clothes, but I have done that

all my life with no ill effects. No! no! it is that I am

no longer young. But I thank God that I did accomplish

my task; my drawings are finished to the best of my

ability, (and) the skins well prepared by John.

On the 11th of August all hands parted with Labrador without regret,

and the captain of the _Ripley_ steered for Newfoundland, where they

landed in St. George's Harbor on the 13th. That region was searched

for five days, when a fresh start was made for Pictou, Nova Scotia,

but when they encountered head winds, Audubon and his party were

landed on the nearest shore and made their way overland to the town.

Thence they proceeded to Truro and Halifax, and after three days

went on to Windsor, where they watched the famous tides in the Bay of

Fundy—emptying and filling a broad river, and rising, in course, to a

height of sixty-five feet. From that point a steamboat was taken to St.

Johns, New Brunswick, where the faithful Harris awaited the naturalist

with tidings of his wife and elder son;[40] this intelligence induced

him to abandon his contemplated course through the woods of Quebec and

hasten back to the United States. The party finally reached Eastport on

August 31, after being out nearly twelve weeks. When the _Ripley_ had

docked and their collections were securely packed, all but Coolidge and

Lincoln returned to Boston, and on September 7 Audubon was again in New

York.

The Labrador experience was in a measure disappointing, but the

naturalist brought back twenty-three large drawings of birds, complete

or nearly so, and seventy-three bird skins, as well as considerable

collections of marine animals and plants. The expenses of the journey

had been heavy, amounting, as he told his son, to "about $2,000," but

one fine morning when they had flushed a Black Poll Warbler from its

nest, Audubon felt that he was amply "refunded in the sight," though

this bird was later found to have a much wider breeding range than he

then supposed.

The _National Gazette_ of Philadelphia[41] published a long editorial

upon Audubon's return, as well as an extended account of his journey,

extracted from the _Boston Patriot_. To quote the editor's comment:

The distinguished naturalist returned from his

northeastern excursion to Boston Wednesday last. We

believe that there is no one who will not be gratified

to learn the progress of his arduous and unremitted

labors in a branch of science, which he has made

peculiarly his own; and he has kindly favored us with

information on the subject of his recent tour, which we

are glad to lay before our readers; regretting only that

we are unable to present it in his own rich and animated

language, and to invest it with the attractions which it

would derive from his own descriptive powers.

[Illustration: LETTER OF ROBERT HAVELL TO AUDUBON, JUNE 15, 1833.

From the Deane MSS.]

While at Halifax Audubon received a congratulatory letter from

Bachman, who urged him to visit Charleston and to bring his family.

The invitation was accepted, and early in September Audubon returned to

New York, where he immediately prepared the new drawings for dispatch

to London; thirteen of the land birds were for the completion of his

second volume, and seventeen, representing water fowl, were to form the

initial series of the third; all, as usual, were heavily insured.

Audubon left New York with his wife on September 25 and spent nearly a

month _en route_ to Charleston, while John, who intended to accompany

his father to Florida, went direct by water. Dr. Thomas L. McKenney, of

Philadelphia, in a letter to Lewis Cass, Secretary of War, said:[42]

Mr. Audubon makes no more of tracking it in all

directions over this, and I may add other countries,

than a shot star does in crossing the heavens. He goes

after winged things, but sometimes needs the aid of—at

least a few feathers, to assist him better to fly.

He means to coast it again round Florida—make a track

through Arkansas—go up the Missouri—pass on to the Rocky

Mountains, and thence to the Pacific. He will require

some of your official aid.

As a contrast to the warmth of Audubon's greeting in Philadelphia,

while in that city he was arrested for debt, and was on the point of

being taken to jail when he was offered bail by a friend. "This event,"

he said, "brings to my mind so many disagreeable thoughts connected

with my former business transactions, in which I was _always_ the

_single_ loser, that I will only add I made all necessary arrangements

to have it paid."

Four new subscribers were obtained at Baltimore, but when the

naturalist applied to Secretary Cass at Washington for the privilege of

accompanying an expedition to the Rocky Mountains under the patronage

of the Government, he met with a cool reception, and though he had

forgotten his letter from Dr. McKenney, he was resolved not to trouble

that official further. At this juncture he met Washington Irving, who

did his best to save the situation, and thought that Audubon had been

mistaken in his judgment of the Secretary; "I might have been," he

said, "but those eyes of mine have discovered more truth in men's eyes

than their mouths were willing to acknowledge." Irving accompanied him

to the offices of Mr. Taney, the Secretary of the Treasury, who at once

gave the naturalist the privileges of the revenue cutter service on the

southern coast.

At Richmond Audubon met Governor Floyd, who promised to try to induce

the legislature of his State to subscribe for a copy of the _Birds_.

From that point to Charleston we shall follow their itinerary as given

in his journal under date of October 16:[43]

We left Richmond this morning in a stage well crammed

with Italian musicians and southern merchants, arrived

at Petersburg at a late hour, dined, and were again

crammed in a car drawn by a locomotive, which dragged us

twelve miles an hour, and sent out sparks of fire enough

to keep us constantly busy in extinguishing them on our

clothes. At Blakely we were again crammed into a stage,

and dragged two miles an hour. We crossed the Roanoke

River by torchlight in a flatboat, passed through

Halifax, Raleigh, Fayetteville, and Columbia, where we

spent the night. Here I met Dr. Gibbs, at whose house

we passed the evening, and who assisted me greatly; at

his house I met President Thomas Cooper, who assured

me he had seen a rattlesnake climb a five-rail fence on

his land. I received from the treasury of the State four

hundred and fifty dollars on account of its subscription

for one copy of the "Birds of America."

For a number of years Audubon's snake stories had subjected him to

no little ridicule in certain quarters, and this notice of a climbing

rattlesnake pleased him so much that he asked the venerable president

to put his statement in writing; he willingly complied, and his

interesting letter on the subject will be given in a later chapter.[44]

When Audubon and his wife reached the Bachman home on October 24,

he was prepared to push on to the South, but changed his plans, on

account, he said, "of the removal of my good friend Captain Robert

Day from his former station to New York, and I did not like to launch

on the Florida reefs in the care of a young officer unknown to me."

The winter of 1833-4 was passed under the hospitable rooftree of his

friend, in the usual occupations of painting, writing and hunting

birds. At this time an attachment sprang up between his younger son,

John Woodhouse Audubon, and Maria Rebecca, the eldest daughter of the

Bachman household. Here Audubon wrote the first drafts of many of the

bird biographies contained in the second volume of his letterpress,

and with Bachman conducted a series of careful experiments on the

power of smell in vultures, in order to settle a question which had

then become acute among naturalists.[45] This subject is referred to

in the following intimate letter,[46] which reveals the confidence

which Audubon felt in his sons and in their united ability to bring his

great undertaking to a successful issue, as well as the infinite pains

which he bestowed upon every part of it. Audubon, who was now in his

forty-ninth year, felt that he was aging very fast, and declared that

one year then would be equal to three, three years from that time.

_Audubon to his Son, Victor_

CHARLESTON, _Dc., 24, 1833_.

MY DEAR BELOVED VICTOR:—

Your last letter to us is dated at London, 7th. Octbr.

It has given us all ample and sincere pleasure. The

copy of your reply[47] to Mons. Waterton is excellent;

that from Swainson ought to prove a death-blow to the

Demerara Gent! I hope that these letters are now before

the world, for my mortification has been great enough

respecting the blackguardism of G. Ord and others, and

yet I am heartily glad that I never paid personally

any attention to them through the press or otherwise.

Here my friends are as much shocked as myself, and the

moment is at hand when these T... will be glad to find

some hiding place to resort to, and wait for time to

obliterate their obvious jealousy and falsehood.

John Bachman and myself have begun a second series of

experiments, such as I made before, connected with the

nose-smelling of Turkey Buzzards; as far as we have gone

through them, these experiments have proved _perfectly_

satisfactory to my good friend and myself, and depend

[upon] it, from next Wednesday, the American World will

know that Turkey Buzzards are first, Gregarious, as well

as the Carrion Crow [Black Vulture], that they eat fresh

meat in preference to putrid stuff; that they eat birds,

fresh killed, either plucked or not, _even of their own

species_; that they suck birds' eggs, and devour their

callow young; that they come to their food by their

sense of sight, and not that of smell, and lastly that

they cannot discover by any sense of smell the most

putrid matter, even when this putrid stuff is within

a few feet of them, out of sight of their eyes. Were

Snakes as abundant near Charleston as Buzzards, that

business would soon be also set at rest, but for this,

however, time is required, and the time I think will

come. The experiments we are making will be repeated in

the presence of the faculty of this city,[48] and their

Certificates attached to the whole, and immediately

published in the Annals of the Philosophical Society of

Phila.[49] those of the Lyceum of New York. A copy will

be sent to be read at the Linnean, or Royal Society of

London, and Royal Institute of France; then let those

laugh who win. We have attracted Turkey Buzzards with

pieces of fresh beef, not more than an inch square, and

we have seen others pass unnoticed the body of a hare or

fowl within 20 steps. We have now 3 fine birds of this

species to experiment upon, and their olfactory nerves

will be examined by the faculty here, where there are

some highly talented men.

Our friend Bachman has written a very fine paper for

Loudon's Mag.[50] which will be forwarded to you in a

few days by duplicate, and which I wish you to give to

our friend J. G. Children, and ask him to have it read

at the R. and L. Societies, and inserted in the above

mentioned Mag. afterwards. We hope all this will be

accomplished by the 1st. March next.

Now to other subjects. We are deeply at work. John

has drawn a few Birds, as good as any I ever made, and

in a few months I hope to give this department of my

duty up to him altogether; his improvements on other

subjects are equally pleasing. I write a [biography of

a] Bird or so every evening, and our friend grants me

all his knowledge of the habits of those with which he

has become well acquainted, belonging to this part of

the Union. I have nearly _one 100_ drawings of Water

Birds ready for publication & I pronounce them equal

to any previous ones. I am much pleased at the news

you give me respecting Havell; I hope he will continue

with hand and heart to do all in his power for the fame

of our work, and for himself. We have not seen Nos.

34, 35, tho. from your letter we suppose them to be

in New York. Wm. Oakes, I have written you, has paid

all, up to No. 33; Arnold, of New Bedford, for all he

has had; John Neal has his copy, but I do not know if

he has yet paid Dr. Parkman, who is our kind friend

and agent in that part of the Country. I wish you had

forwarded _first volumes_ bound, as you had those on

hand, as several would have been disposed of and paid

for by this time; do send all, or whatever of them you

have ready, as _soon as possible_. It will be well for

you to have friend Bachm's. paper published in _toto_,

in some _good circulating paper_ in London & Edinboro.

Brushes! Brushes! Brushes! I am glad to hear of Kidd &

Co.'s publication of Parrots, but I regret that my face

should have been there from Syme's picture, which in

my estimation is none of the best. Push Kidd with the

pictures; _have them, and take care of them_. Sell all

the Shells you please; write to John Adamson, of New

Castle, about them, but keep smug all the Bird Skins.

I cannot do without them when I write my Synopsis,

which will be when I am with you. Our voyage round the

Floridas, Gulph Mexico &c. will begin about the 1st.

February. This will be my last journey, after which

John and I will hunt for Subscribers, procure a round

number, and join you as soon as possible. Your dear Mama

will in all probability join you in May or June next.

In about a fortnight I shall send you more land Birds

for the end of the 2d. volume, extra small plates, and

several _numbers_ of _Water_ Birds. I am anxious to hear

something about the little edition. Do not omit to let

me know when you want money, for tho. our expenses are

always great, _the Work_ must not, and shall not suffer,

as long as my eyes and hands can work.

Dec. 23d., last evening, we had the pleasure of yours

of the 28 Oct, and one from Havell of the 9th. Regarding

Havell, we are glad that all is well with him, and hope

he will not trouble us about extra prices, not even for

the _Water Birds_. The safe arrival of my last drawings

has relieved me of that anxiety. You are quite right on

the score of _advice_. _You_ in England, will do best

to act as you may think proper. _We_, in America, are

trying to do equally well, and our little _Alliance_ is

as efficient as the Holy one at least. That Subscribers

should die is an event we cannot help; that such fellows

as V. should act so cannot be controlled, but depend

upon our _industry_, our _truth_, and the regular manner

in which we publish our work; this will always prove

to the world and to our Patrons that nothing more can

be done than what we do; nay, I doubt if any _family_,

with our pecuniary means, ever will raise for themselves

such a monument as the "Birds of America" is, over their

tomb.

How comes it that Harlan has not money enough to pay

his expenses in Europe? I shall remember the 20 £, and

the exchange. Chamley, of New Castle, was never prompt

pay; indeed, my dear Victor, were you fully acquainted

with the great difficulties which I had to surmount and

did surmount, it would give you less fear than you now

feel or experience. We shall be glad to receive the

Brushes that are, I hope, now under way for us. Mr.

Miesson resides [at] No. 2 Rue Pigalle, on the east

side of the grand Boulevards. Present my regards to Mr.

Yarrell, and thank him in my name for his kind offer

of eggs, and add that I shall have it in my power to

present him with many which I think he has not found,

that our two collections will most likely comprise the

whole of those published in my 4 volumes. I fear that

to give the eggs in the 2d. of Biography would render

that volume too large, and again too costly, and that

a few plates of eggs at the end of the large work will

answer better.[51] The _plates_ ought to be insured for

at least 4 or 5 times the cost, for should they by an

accident be destroyed, the amount of their cost would

prove a poor remuneration, when compared with the time

it would require to have them renewed. Attend to this

as soon as you can. Henry Ward has rendered himself

very obnoxious _here_. a letter came to Mr. B. on last

evening from St. Augustine, to inquire how a certain

amount left by him unpaid was to be settled. Mr. Bachman

will inform you of the particulars.

Do forward the bound volumes as soon as possible,

for with them I could at once make you a considerable

remittance, which would enable you to prepare the Nos.

of the 2d. Vol. for those who do not wish to have it

complete. I am trying to receive some money on Act.

of the 2d. Vol. through the mediums of Dr. Parkman, N.

Berthoud, John Bellonis, Wm. Gaston, and will let you

know the result. The Plate ... which you sent me is

_extremely well_ engraved, but let us keep to Havell as

long as he behaves with propriety, and does good work.

I have now replied to your letter fully, except on what

you say about my immediate _return_. The following are

my views, but if after all, you say—come on, _I shall

do so_. Our country is becoming more wealthy every day.

Science is looked upon with more congeniality every

year. Subscribers in this Dear Country of ours do not

drop off unless they die. They pay punctually on demand,

and to have more of them in this land than in Europe is

a thing that may prove of the greatest importance _to

us_. When I visited our woods on my first return from

England, I was absent about 12 months. The Rathbones

and Mr. Children wrote to me many times to return,

or expect the work to fall. I went back to Europe

before I was ready to go, and on my arrival there, to

my surprise and joy, I found everything going on as

well as usual; but I was again obliged to come to our

Country to renew my researches, and improve my head,

as well as my collection of drawings. I had then left

no one like you in England. Now you, my Dear Son, are

there; thank God for it! You prove to be a better man

at carrying on the publication than myself, and to tell

you more, I doubt if I could procure more subscribers

there than yourself. I am truly desirous for your sake,

and that of your dear Mother and Brother, to do all

in my power for the completion of this great work. I

wish to finish here all that is to be done both in the

way of drawing, and increase of knowledge, in _black

and white_, and also in Patrons, as much as possible,

ere I return to Europe, where, when I do go, I must

remain several years, if not until the completion of the

engraving. I am growing old very fast; in 3 or 4 years

my career as a traveller will be ended, and should I be

obliged to renew my field-labours, it is doubtful if my

constitution could bear it. One year now is equal to

3, 3 years hence. I receive much assistance from the

Government, and have John to accompany me. I am still

able to undergo some fatigue, and, as I have said, I am

anxious, _very anxious_, to do all that can be done ere

I return to Europe. Now the whole time which I conceive

necessary to enable me to perform these desideratums

cannot exceed 12 or 15 months. What pleasure it would

be to us all, when I take your hand and press you to my

heart, I should also have a list of _100 new names from

America!_; all the drawings and the manuscripts ready

for the completion of this our wonderful undertaking.

I would advise you to address a circular letter to

all those who may be concerned in Europe, to acquaint

them with what _I call_ the necessity of my being in

America, for the _sole purpose_ of increasing the value

of our publications, either Illustrative or graphical.

This, and the constant improvement now exhibited to

them with each new number of the work, could not fail,

I think, to render them quiet, if not pleased, that I

am now doing all I can for the advantage of the work.

Tell them the facts, that I have greatly added to the

Ornithology of the United States since my absence from

Europe, that the number of species which I now have,

and that are not given by Wilson or Bonaparte, combined,

amounts to nearly one hundred, and that the Water Birds

will be fully equal in point of interest and beauty, to

any of the land Birds that are published. And, not the

least part of this, my remaining in America has already

[given], and will continue, to give me the power of

portraying the habits of the Water Birds with more truth

and completeness than has ever yet been done. Next, have

extracts of my letter to you, before the world's eye,

through the medium of Papers. Visit such of our friends,

and ask them to say those things to their acquaintance;

go on yourself, as you have done, and depend upon it,

we shall all be _greatly benefitted_. In your most kind

letter to John you mention with unexampled modesty what

you are attempting to do in the way of self-improvement,

but my Dear Victor, you cannot convey more thoroughly

to us the _march_ of your improvement than you have done

by sending your letters, and the result of your actions,

so well delineated as this is, and _we all_ feel deeply

gratified and most happy. Cruickshank is _right_;

by _drawing_ you are enabled to study the lights and

shadows of bodies, again the beautiful mellowness with

which, altho. all powerful in _the effect_, these blend

themselves with each other. The _reflective power of

bodies_ will also strike your discerning attention, and

when these combinations of the true Materia are well

understood, the artist is a Master! Nature after all,

has done all for us; she groups, and most beautifully,

every thing that is presented to our eye or mind,

so completely also, that if one observes a number of

bodies, no matter what these bodies are, whether horses

or apes, he sees at once the general elegance of their

arrangement in _contour_, the force of the light and

shadows, the mellowness existing between these, and

as the eye passes on to the finishing of that natural

picture, it at once pronounces it complete.

Do not forget to take from Kidd whatever pictures of

ours he may have finished, and take good care of them.

We have pretty nearly kilt G. Ord and Waterton with our

Buzzard experiments. You say you wish you could see us

at friend Bachman's; I assure you my pleasure at such

an event would be equal to yours. We are indeed happy

in having such a friend. Miss Martin, with her superior

talents, assists us greatly in the way of drawing;

the insects she has drawn are, perhaps, the best I've

seen; at night we have some music and reading. When you

receive Bird Skins, perhaps it would be as well to form

a collection of each species in pairs, and variety of

age or color.

24 Dec. We have just received yours of 18th. October.

You are, my Dear Son, too low spirited respecting my

immediate appearance in England. Cheer up, my beloved

Victor! Believe me, when I repeat that our own Dear

Country will support the efforts of us all, and will

grant us more Patrons than the whole of Europe together;

by the way of a nightcap, let me give you the name of

Wm. J. Rees, of Sumpter district, Statesbury, South

Carolina, who put his name to my list this afternoon

at the moment when the Vultures lost their olfactory

powers, for I daubed the imitation of a sheep, and the

very first one that passed over the picture rounded and

came to it.

Respecting Kidd, and his prospectus, depend upon it,

nothing is to be feared from that quarter; that work is

_dead at the moment I write_, and as to his publishing

the intention of the pictures, it signifies nothing.

All you have to do is to _take all_ the pictures from

him, _by goodwill or otherwise_, and _give him no more

originals to copy_.

If I regret anything at this moment, it is that you

should have kept the 20 volumes in London, when, if I

had them in America, I should at once be enabled to make

you a valuable remittance. Ship them, ensured, as fast

as possible, and doubt not my disposing of them. Lewis

Atterbury writes me to night that all the numbers 34,

35, which Havell has shipped, are injured greatly by

salt water. I do not know yet if they were insured or

not. I write to him this evening. Do not ship anything

without insurance; it is better to lose time in this

case than money. I will write again in a few days, and I

shall forward you _Water Birds_ in good time. God bless

you, my dear fellow; keep up your spirits, and again may

God bless you.

Ever your affectionate father,

J. J. AUDUBON.

Honest John Bachman, who had lived and worked with Audubon for months

at a time, and who probably knew him better than did any one in America

outside of the naturalist's own family, gave this account of his habits

in 1834, when, at the age of forty-nine, he was still working at his

best:

He rises at the earliest dawn, and devotes the whole of

the day, in intense industry, to his favourite pursuit.

The specimens from which he makes his drawings are all

from nature; carefully noting the colors of the eye,

bill, and legs; measuring, with great accuracy, every

part of the bird. When differences exist, either in the

sexes or young, several figures are given on the same

plate; sparing no labour in retouching old drawings or

in making new ones, in all cases where he conceives

there may be a possibility of making an improvement.

In this way, he has already succeeded in figuring

nearly the whole of the birds necessary to complete his

splendid and important work.

He keeps a journal, and regularly notes down every

thing connected with natural history. This journal

is always kept in English: a language which, it must

be acknowledged he writes very correctly, when it is

taken into consideration that he spent nearly the first

seventeen years of his life in France. Besides this,

he keeps separate journals, in which he notes every

thing that he learns each day on the habits of every

bird. In all his travels, he carries these journals

with him; and he never suffers business, fatigue, or

pleasure to prevent him each evening from noting down

every interesting observation. In this way, a mass of

information has been accumulated from year to year. When

he sits down to write the history of a bird (which is

usually in the evening), he first reads over all the

memoranda which he has made with regard to its habits

and he is generally able to write an interesting paper

on the subject in the course of an evening. At some

leisure moment this is again revised and corrected: the

scientific details he leaves to the last.

Early in March, 1834, Audubon left his friends in Charleston, and with

his wife and son passed northward to Washington and Baltimore. From the

latter city, on March 9, he wrote to Edward Harris, in part as follows:

Friends such as you _have been_, and _are_ still, are

the only recompense such poor individuals such as I am

can enjoy in this world, and the more valued as they are

so very rare.

We came from Charleston by land to Norfolk; thence to

Washington City by steamer in 20 hours, and in 8 to the

city here, well fatigued but safely.... At Washington,

where we remained only an hour, Col. J. Abert told me

something connected with the climbing of Rattlesnakes

upon trees &c. that will make your mouth water, and your

generous heart leap with joy, _when you read_ [about]

them, which you shall do ere long, I give you my word

for it.

Audubon was still in Baltimore on March 15, for on that day he gave

Harris a letter of introduction to Edward Everett. New York was reached

in April, when he wrote to Bachman that they had secured berths in

"that fine packet ship the _North America_," which was to sail on the

tenth of that month.

[Illustration: J.G. CHILDREN

AFTER AN ENGRAVING BY W. RADDON OF A PORTRAIT BY EDDIS, 1839.]

[Illustration: EDWARD HARRIS

REPRODUCED FROM "CASSINIA" FOR 1902.]

Toward the close of Audubon's Charleston visit he had an unpleasant

experience; he was sued for an old debt, which no doubt dated from his

Henderson period and the failure of his mill in 1819.[52] Apparently

the case was carried into court, where the naturalist was defended by

a lawyer named Dunkin, who, if my inference is correct, later became a

distinguished judge and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court[53] of South

Carolina. The incident was referred to by Audubon in letters written

from New York at this time; on April 6, he wrote to Miss Maria Martin

as follows:

I told friend Bach. in my letter of yesterday that

I knew nothing of Mr. Pettigrue, connected with my

business at Charleston, and that if that gentleman had

presented himself before the court, it must have been

for charity's sake; indeed, from the conversations

that passed between Friend B. & I respecting Mr. Dunker

[Dunkin], it would have been absurd in me to think for

a moment of employing any other person than Mr. D.

In the letter just quoted Audubon said also that he had spent all of

the morning of the previous day in going from shop to shop with friend

Harris to procure some models for "the dear girls," but in vain; New

York with its two hundred and fifty thousand souls, possessed but two

drawing masters; "these instruct in _3 months_," he added, "and starve

for the nine of the year." In reference to financial matters, he said

that he had managed to collect about £600 sterling, and had sent 500

to Victor in bills of exchange, so that when they reached London, they

would be tolerably well off, considering that they were "naturalists

from the wilds of America." "Nothing starts the blues so effectually,"

he continued, as "constant unemployment; for myself who have done next

to nothing since I left you, have had horrors all around me; dreams

of sinking and burning ships at night, fears of lost drawings, &

failures of subscribers by day, have ever and anon been my companions."

"Victor," he added, "has sent 6 boxes of pills, which will be divided

into 3 parts, the largest for G. Ord."

The Audubons finally sailed from New York on April 16, 1834. On the

preceding day the naturalist sent his friend, Edward Harris, a parting

letter, in which he said:

To tell you that I am surprised at your generous conduct

in remitting to me Four hundred, Ninety dollars in

advance, for all the numbers of my book, would be a

poor gratification to me. I feel your generosity, and I

cannot say any more. God bless you.

Nos. 36 & 37 have reached this place; my drawings

shipped from Charleston are safely in the hands of

Victor at London. I have been able to forward him 650

£, and I have 30 sovereigns to defray our expenses

from Liverpool to the Great Metropolis. In 1824, poor

J. had dreams, but how far was I then from believing

that I should ever have succeeded as I have; who will

believe my story? Only one or two besides yourself, have

_an Idea_ of what I have undergone, but, if God grants

me life, I shall publish that story, and send you the

sheets thereof, as they are struck by the printer.

Audubon took with him to England all the collections which he

had accumulated during nearly three years of travel and search in

different parts of the United States and the British possessions.

During this eventful period he had renewed one hundred of his older

drawings, executed many new ones, discovered new birds, extended his

acquaintance, and added sixty-two names to his list of patrons.

After they had reached Liverpool, he wrote to Bachman, May 8, 1834,

that they had returned on the "superb packet of 650 tons, called the

_North America_, commanded by an admirable gentleman, named Dixie of

Philadelphia"; the voyage was made in not quite twenty days. A little

later they joined their son, Victor, in London.