Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-10-15

them all hls ruling passion never ebbed-lt flowed
 on perpetually towards the forests. "Any one unac-
 quaned with the extraordinary desire I felt of see- ing and judging for myself would doubtless have
 pronounced me callous to every sense of duty and
 regardless of every interest. undertook long and
 tedious journeys, ransacked the woods, the lakes the
 pralries and the shores of the Atlantic Years were
 spent away from the family. Yet, reader, will you believe 1t had no other object in view than sim
 ply to enjoy the sight of Nature. Never, for mo-
 ment did conceive the hope of becoming in any de-
 gree useful to my kind, until accidentally formed
 an acquaintance with the Prince of Musignano
 (Charles Bonapare) at Philadelphia, to which place
 went, with the view of proceeding eastward along [ the coast" This was in April, 1894. It does not appear, however that any sweetmeats or crumbs Of
 comfort were bestowed on Audubon, who soon
 compelled elsewhere to seek for patronage. He
 went To New-Yo ork where he was received with q
 kindness well suited to elevate his epressed spirits
 and afterwards ascending that noble stream, the
 Hudson he glided over the broad lakes, and sought
 the widest solitudes of the painless and gloomy
 forests
 There it was, he tells us in these forests, that for
 the first time, he communed with himself to the
 possible event of his visiting Europe. His drawings
 had multiplied on his hands in spite of all disastrous
 chances-and he began 10 fancy them under the
 bands of the graver. We say in spite of all disas-
 trous chances
 " An accident which happened to 200 of my origi-
 nal drawings nearly put stop to my researches in ornithoogy; l shall relate it merely to show you how far enthusiasm-for by no other name can call the perseverng zeal with which labored -rDay en-
 able the observer of nature to surmount the sost dis
 heartenlng obstacles. left the village of Tender son, Tn Kentucky situated on the bank d the Ohio,
 where resided for several years, to proceed to Phi
 adelphla on business. looked to my drawings
 before my departure, placed them carefully in wooden box, and gave them in chWge to relative,
 with lnjunctlons to see that no njpry should happen
 to them. My absence of several months; and
 when returned, after having enjoyed the pleasures of home for few days inquired after my box, and
 what l was pleased to call my treasure. The box was produced, and opened but, reader feel for me
 La pair of Norway rats had taken possession of the
 whole, and had reared young family amongst the knawed bits of paper, which, but few months be- fore represented nearly thousand inhabitants of
 the air"
 The burning heat which instantly rushed through my bra in too great to be endured, without affect ing the whole of my nervous system slept not for several nights, and the days passed like days of ob-
 llvlon,--unt the animal powers being recalled into action, through the strength of my constitution,
 took up my gun my note book, and my pencils, and went forth to the woods as gaily as if nothing had happened. 1 felt pleased that might now make much better drawings than before, and ere period not exceeding three years had elapsed, I had my portfolio filled again"
 . That such heroic adventurer in the pursuit of knowledge should live and die obscure was not in the power olthe most malignant star. But Audubon was born under lucky con unction of propous pla- nets, and already anticipated his fame Happy days and nights of pleasing dreams! read over the catalogue ofmy collection, and thought how it might be possible for an unc0nnected and unaided ndivi- dual like mysellto accomplish the grand scheme. improved the whole much as was in my power !;
 and as daily retired farther from the haunts of men, determined to leave nothing undone which my labor, my time, or my purse could accomplish" Eighteen months elapsed-Audubon returned to his family, : then Tn Louisiana, and having explored every DOT ton of the vast woods around, at last sailed towards the Old World.
 As he approached the coast of England, he tells
 us that the despondency of his spirits became great True that he had with him letters from American friends and statesmen of great emnence, but he
 knew not an individual in the country, and his sua-
 ton appeared precarious in the extreme. For few days in Liverpool, mot glance of sympathy did he t meet in his wanderings:" and he sighed for his woods But very all his prospects frightened; for those ardent friends of merit the Rathbones, the Roscoes, the Trails the Choreys, and the Mellies
 and others too took the stranger by the hand; "and so kind" says the grateful Audubon, "and benef- cent nay, generously kind have they all been to- wards me, that can never conceal the obligation. My drawings were publicly exhibited, and publicly praised. Joy swelled in my heart The first diff. culty was surmouned. Honors which, on appIica-
 tion being made through my friends, Philadelphia
 had refused. Liverpool fairly awarded" In Man
 chester, his reception was equally honorable to the
 Greggs, the Loyds, the Sergeants, the Homes's the Blackwalls, the Bentleys and many ethers-names which, his gratitude delights to record, so is it
 pleasant to us to name them on this occasion. Had
 his reception in Liverpool and Manchester been cold
 or forbodng, in all probability Audubon had returned
 to America and the world perhaps never had heard of him or his magnificent works ''Friends," says he. with touching simplicity, pressed me to ac- company them to the pretty villages of Bakewell, Matlock, and Buxton. It was jaunt of pure enjoy ment. Nature was then in her best at least such was the feeling of our whole party; the summer f full of promse
 f Soon after the arrival in Edinburgh where he soon found many friends, he opened his exhibition. Four , hundred drawings-paintings in water coors-of d.
 bout thousand birds covered the walls of the h.
 stituton Hall, in the Royal Society Building, and the effect was like magic. The spectator imagined
 himselfin the forest All were of the size of life,
 from the wren and the hummng bird to the wild tur- key and the bird of Washington. But what signif- , ed the mere size? The coors were all of life too bright when borne in beamng beauty through the woods There too their attitudes and pastures,
 infinite heyar assumed by the restless creatures
 in motion rest in their glee and their gambols their
 loves and their wars, singing caressing, brood- ing, or preying, tearing one another into pieces. The trees too, on which they sat and sported all true to nature. in boe, branch, spray and eaf the Towering shrubs and the ground flowers, the weeds and the very grass all American-so too the atmos- phere and the skies all Transatlantic. 'Twasa wild and poetical vision of the heart of the New World inhabited at yet almost wholly by the lovely or noble creatures that own not mans dominion. There we behed them all there was picture of their various life. How different from stuffed feathers in glass l cases-though they too shine well where they stand" in our College Museum! There many fan astc tumbler played his strange vagaries in the air
 -there many cloud-cleaver swept the skies-there living gleams glanced through the forest glades- l.--- AL