The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-11-24

be called into another state Of existence trans
lation which, we trust, may be far distant How
intensely Audubon despised all this ceremonial
hattery and hollow protestation. With what IN
born pride of heart he looked down upon the
empty gorgeousness Of our artificial society! His
life had been life of energy passed in the TO
rests and on the broad lakes ; he had conmnned
with Nature in her grandest solitudes and he
/ sickened at the eieminate pomp and pampered
selishness of the world. There never breathed
finer spirit. Cast in manly mould, fitted for
toll, stamped with the noble attributes OF cou-
rage, patience, and hearty enthusiasm, no dan
gers appalled,, no disappointments discouraged
| him; and whatever enterprises he undertook IN
the pursuit of his iavorite science were prose
cuted with vigor which can be ineligible only
| TO natures capable of similar integrity OF pur-
| pose2 His "Ornithologieal Biography" is a
monument of extraordinary labor
| The vastness of the design startled every body
except HIMSELF and the very apprehension that
he should not live long enough TO complete SO
gigantic an undertaking repealed many people
from yenturing even TO purchase the numbers as
| they appeared, lest an imperfect publication OF
such magnitude should be ultimately left upon
their hands When he delivered his first draw
ngs TO the engraver he had not single subscri-
Der. His friends pointed out TO him the rash
ness Of the project, and canddiy told him that
they did not expect TO witness the issue of the
second fascicuous Even at starting he cacu-
lated that the engravers would take sixteenyears
in accomplishing their task. Not one single in
dividual held out the least hope of his success,
and many sincere and anxious friends strongly
urged him 10 abandon his undertaking, to dis
pose Of his drawings, and return 10 his native
country. :. But" he exclaims, my heart was
neryed, and my reliance on that Power on
whom all must depend, brought bright anticipa-
~r~
rangement for meeting the first difficulties, he
began TO collect scattered notes from the pages
of his journals respecting the habits of the BIRDS
and assiduously devoted himself to the improve
ment Of his drawings He had the satisfaction
Of finding that each succeeding plate was supe-
rior TO its predecessor; the engravers and colo
rists became more familiar with the peculiar de-
mands of their responsible duties; and at the
end of the four years, during which he worked
early and late without respite, and against incre-
dible discouragements, he was rewarded BY find
ing the first volume completed. He now labored
with renewed ZEAL and looked forward conf
IDENTITY to the result of the next four years.
/ Time passed on, and he returned from the fo-
rests and wilds of the Western world to receive
the last plate of his second volume from the
hands Of his interchangeable and sklful artist, Mr.
Hayell. Let us now give his own account Of
an incident that occurred at this period.
.About that time noheman called upon. me
with his family. and requested me to show them
some of my original drawings, which did with
more pleasure that N.Y. yisiters possessed a
knowledge Of ornithology In the course of our
conversation was askedsh6w long 4eN ~
until my work should be finished. When lmens
toned eight years more, the noblemal Shrugged
up his shoulders, and, signing, said, may not
see il finished, but my children tAg and syop
NAV please to add my name % the hst IN cub
scribers.' The Young people exh ibitsds = min.
gled expression Of JOY and sQsioE Hhen
with,them endeavored To- dispel the cloud that
seemed 20 hang asrs ihelE tsshsys aaszs as
would be punctually delivered. The solemnity
Of his manner could not forget for several days;
often thought that neither might see the
work completed, but at length exclaimed, MY
sons nav And now that another volume, both
of my illustrations and of my bographers, is
finished, my trust in Providence is augmented,
and cannot but hore that myself and my faml-
y together may be permitted to see the compile
! ton of my labors."
/ When this was written zen years had elapsed
since the publication of his first plate In three
wears afterwards the fourth volume appeared
| The work comprised four hundred and thirty
five plates containing one thousand and sixty
five figures the size of life, exhibiting as we have
already observed the habits and climates OF the
birds, carefully drawn and exquistely colored
cupying thirteen years in the mere productions
not to speak Of the labor expended in exploring
expeditons for observations and the collection OF
specimens, every bird in the series having been
drawn from life by the hand OF the adventurous
naturalist-was carried on uninterruptedly, with
out the continuity Of its execution having been
broken for single day, every one OF the num-
bers having been delivered with exemplary re-
/ gularity. A fifth volume completed the Biogra-
phy; and well might Audubon proudly felici-
tate himself upon the conclusion OF marvellous
i task. which the most Indifferent of his readers
cannot contemplate without mingled emotions
Of astonishment and delight. "Once more" he
says speaking out of the depths OF his heart,
g surrounded by all the members OF my dear
family, enjoying the countenance Q. numerous
friends who have never deserted me, and pos
sessing competent share of all that can render
life agreeable, look up with gratitude 10 the
Supreme Being, and feel that ! am happy"
Honor TO him who wrote these grateful words,
and NAV the happiness he so well deserves, and
knows so truly how to appreciate, accumulate
around him, and accompany HIM with lncreas-
ing lustre to the close of his valuable lie But
little can the European student, bewildered win
small impediments in the museum, comprehend
the nature eff Audubon's researches. Alone he
| went forth into the wilds, as cheerful as the
birds and with the SHOWS of sixty years upon
his head, as elastic as the deer but let HIM give
sample of his experience in his own fresh ana
characteristic way.
! "The adventures and vcisstudes which have
fallen to my lot, instead of tending to diminish
the fervid enthusiasm of my nature, have I'M
parted toughness TO my bodily constitution
naturally strong and 10 my mind, naturally
buoyant. an elasticity such as to assure me that
though somewhat old and considerably denuded
in the frontal region, could yet perform on loot
a Journey Of any length, were sure that should
thereby add materially 10 our knowledge OF the
ever interesting creatures which have for SO long
a time occupied my thoughts by day, and MED
my dreams with pleasant images. Nay, reader,