The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-03


nifcent series Of volumes which the world has APP
plauded the "Birds Of America" They were
tegun on beautiful plantation which h's father
had given him, situated on the banks OF the
Schuylkill, and near a creek known as the Fer
kioming. There amid its fine woodlands, Its ex-
tensive fields, it's hiIls crowned with eyergreens,
he meditated his simple and agreeable objects,and
pursued his rambIes, from the first faint streaks Of
day until late in the evening, wet with dew, and
laden with feathered captves, he returned to the
! quiet enjoyment OF the fire side.
Yet The passion for birds did not seem TO seal
his heart To the influences Of still more tender
and exalted passion. He married. and was for
tunute in marrying lady who in yIcissitude has
animated his courage, and in prosperity apprec'a-
ted the grounds and measure Of his success
"But who cares, says he, speaking OF the event,
''lo listen to the love tales of naturalist, whose
feelings may be supposed to be as light as the
feathers Of the birds he deneates!'
| For many years the necessities of life drove him
into commercial enterprises, which involved hum
IN d series Of calamltles. His mind was SO hIled
with nature, that all his specululions proved un-
profitable. From observation and study only
could he derive qualification. lie was compelled
10 struggle against the wishes of all his friends
except of his wife and children, 10 their lasting
honor be il sad--who strove TO wean him from
pursuits which, in the worlds eye, are so barren
and unproductive. But their opportunities had
an effect directly contrary to what they intended
lrntated beyond endurance, he broke at last
through all bonds, and gave himself up entirely
| to his favorlte pursuits. He undertook long aud
tedious journeys; he ransacked the woods, the
lakes, the praries, and the shores OF the Allan
tic he spent years away from his family. .'Yet,
will you believe it, says he, 81 had no other OBJ
| ect in view than simply to enjoy the sight ofna-
! ture. Never for moment did i conceive the hope
of becoming, in any degree useful, to my kind, un-
Ill accidentally formed acquaintance with the
Prince of MusigDano, (Lucien Bonaparte,) at
Philadelphia, to which had gone with view of
proceeding eastward along the coast This was
the 9Th of April, 1924.
w. GOES rnE WEsr.
| But of his public labors we shall speak word
| in the sequel Let u.s. for the present, follow him
in his soitory wanderings Having lived on his
beautiful plantation for ten years, he was induced
to remove to the West. With a mattrass, few
prepared viands, and two negroes to assist him in
the tolls Of emigration, he departed, accompanied
| by his wife and child, for u residence which he
had prepared for him in the village of Henderson,
| Kentucky. The method of travelling at that day,
| which he has faithfully described, furnishes a
striking contrast with the more easy and expedi-
| tious modes of modern conveyance. 1t was in
the month of October that the small party set out.
The autumna tints already decorated the shores
OF that Queen of rivers, the Ohio, along which
they rowed their feeble skiff. Every tree was
| hung with long aud flowing festoons Of different
species Of vines, many loaded with clustered fruits
| OF varied brilIiancy, their rich carmine minglng
| beautifully with the yellow foliage, which yet pre-
dominated over the green leaves, rejecting more
lively tints from the clear stream than ever land
scape painter portrayed or poet imagined. The
days were still warm. The sun had assumed the
rich and glowing hue which at that pro-
duces the indian summer. They gded down
| the river, meeting no other ripple Of the water
than that formed by the propulsion of the boat
| Now and then large catfish rose to the surface,
! in pursuit of shoa of fry, which started stimuli
taneously from the liquid element, like so many
siIvery arrows, scattered shower Of light, while
the pursuer, with open jaws, seized the stragglers
| and with splash of his tail disappeared from
view. At night, the tinkling OF bells along the
shore told them that cattle were gently rowing
from valley to valley In search of food, return
ing to their distant homes. The hooting Of the
great owl, or the mufled noise Of it's wings. as il
sailed smoothly over the stream, were matters Of
interest to them; and SO was the sound Of the
boatman's horn as it came winding more and
more softly from affair. When daylight returned,
many songsters burst forth with echoing notes,
more and more mellow to the listening ear. Here
and there the lonely cabin Of seuatter struck
the eye, giving note of commencing civilization.
The crossing of the stream by deer, foreto!d
how soon the hills would be covered with snow.
Sluggish flat-boats overtaken and passed;
some laden with produce from the different head
waters of the small rivers, that pour their tributary
streams into the Ohio: Others of less dimensions,
search of ga new home" The margins of the
rivers amply supplied with game wild
turkey, grouse, blue winged tear, could be
/ procured in few moments; and the voyagers
Jared well, for, whenever they pleased, they land
ed, struck up a fire, and provided they were
with the necessary utensils, easily dressed good
repast After jogging on for many days at THE
rate, they at last reached their habltation in The
wilderness.
1 V. CHANGES SINCE THEN.
When think Of these times, says Mr. Au-
dubon, the close of the account of mis- journey,
sand call back to mind the grandeur and beauty
of those almost uninhabited shores when pic
ture to myself the dense and lofty SUBMITS of the
forests, that everywhere spread along the hills and
overhang the margins Of the streams, unmoested
by the axe of the settler; when know how dearly
purchased the safe navigation Of that river has
been by the blood Of muny worthy Virginians;
when see that no longer any aborigines are 10 be
| found there and that the vast herds of eIks deer
and bufaoes, which once pasured those hills
and in these valleys, making to themselves great
roads to the several salt-sprlngs, have ceased to
exist; when reflect that all this grand portion of
our Union, instead Of being in n state of nature is
now covered with villages, farms, and towns
where the din of hammers and machinery is con-
| stantly heard; that the woods fant disappear
ing under the axe by day, and the fire by night;
| that hundreds of steamboats, are gliding to and fro
the whole length of the majestic river. forcing
| commerce to take root and to prosper at every
spot when see the surplus population of Europe
coming to assist in the destruction of the forest
and transpantng civilization into its darkest re-
cesses; when remember that these extraordinary
changes have all taken place in the short period OF
twenty years, | pause--wonder--and although
know all to be fact, can scarcely believe its real
| n.y."
| His new domicil at Henderson gave him ample
opportunities for the prosecution Of his ornitholog
zeal inquiries. He accustomed to make long
excursions through all the neighboring country
securing the fields and the woods, and fording the
lakes and rivers. We think can see him no W.
setting out early in the morning, with no com
panion but his dog and gum the faithful tin box
containing his pencils and coors slung to his side;
now popping down the unconscious warbler thai
makes the air vocal from some neighboring tree;
now Fastening to the broad shelter of a venerable
oak, TO describe the form and paint the variegattd
plumsge or his victim; now croucbng for hours
4 underneath some withered trunk, to observe the
habits of some shy and tmd bird; now climbing