Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-07
From the New Yors Herald.
MEMOIR OF JOHN JANIS AUDUBON TIE ORNlTIIOLOGIS1

MEMOIR OF JOHN JANIS AUDUBON, TIE oRNlTToLoGIsr.
John James Audubon the descryedy renowned naturalist
died in this city Monday last his residence tile banks
Of the Hudson River in l55h st lie had arrived the age
of seventy andhas gone down Inc grave leaving
distinguished among tbs scieutiic Of every raon-a
EARNED BY steady perseverance IN the beautiful field
anthology, the cultivation of which demand faio taste,
judgment and general love of nature.
lr. Audubon was born plantation in Louisiana
New Orleans His parents Freuch, his father being
admiral in the navy CT France it is said friend o. Wash
ngons. The Audubon family sui preserve the likeness cl
painted in tie camp Valley Forge. II this occasion
that Washington sat 70. the first time to painter After
passing his early boyhoodin Louisiana, young ACdnoon
aken by his father TO France where the dncuts OF his
education impaired 10 hin. His return delay
ed until he about eighteen years old, when his natural
activity of mind began show sc!.; modified only by
the gab in which Tie instructions OF his French tutors had
man,ed it, Ii in Paris that he first increased his carly
love for tie art OF paintings and whilst there, tic guided
ing doubt captva!cd his youthful fancy In the
Of science, also, he had taken uncommon delight and
thus prepared for those future experiences which, eventually
made up hlstorya al once valuable und romantic.
On arriving at years Of maturity, MS father gave him
sdence the fruitful banks of the Schuyki and all that
wealth aud luxury, could do to bind his ambitious love OF
there surrounded him. He heard in The
shines of hs ancy the songs os the winged inhabitants Of
the western wds or pictured 10 his Imagination the still
brighter plumage Of the nyads vi birds u the American
tropics; We find him accordingly in 1870 in uncover
cd Skill accompanied by his and infant son. floating
down the stream OF Ohio in search OF home roman
tic than that selected by his father. He fixed upon point
in the Stae of Kentucky whercupon 10 sec and having
there established home, pursued his favoe studies
every direction roaming through the forests crossing and
sailing over every river and ssccng the yet ndescbcd
bids which fell beneath the keen shot OF his rifle Thc
suit OF his early experience given tho world in five
volumes of his "Onithclogica Bogaphy Ii has bcan said
that he saw over one Of Northern lakes large bird far
beyond his reac and that he years finding anoth
of the description which he found three thousand
miles from the place where his FL sight OF the species
The history Of his perious adventures period
twenty years in which nc passed through every degree Of
habirable latitude constantly exposed TO The varied aterna
n NJ Tho ,ppf n
his 1ca his ardent love Of nature his constantly recurring
self sacrifices his painful prva,cns and his ultimate sue
in tina objects CT his ambition Ii was his fortune meet
in these excursions, others like himself, whose minds
drawn by the aurecnts Of silence and labor from the lux
urou ndolencc of civilized society," whose best pleasure
only coy the Of who has learned 10 look upon
mental treasures as the highest reward OF human cxerton
We remember That OCCASION this Office, when
strange bird had been brought in from Long Island OBJ
ect OF WONDER Aunnboa came 10 sec it, Al the very first
sight, strange bloody ano dsodeed it was be gave ii
its ornithologlca n1mc and then described its various habits
in his peculiarly vivid, original, and pleasing manner-hs
high forehead arched and commanding, above hs
deeply set gray eyes, which shaded By heavy brows
that caused them to sparkle the in their cavernous re-
ceptaces The best portrait of him. date is in that
admirable work, "The Gallery of lustiious Americans"
He then, say twelve years ago. active than most
young men of our day. The minds elasticity gave supple
ness to his fom and his zeal fresh hen probably as
in 1870 when he frat baved tho wilderness in his darling
pursuit As Illustration of his decision of character
which might be easily read in his prominent chin aqunc
nose, and usually compressed pst has been remembered
that on one OCCASION when great ard pcriouS advcn
urc was proposed TO him by friend, lie decided to under
take IT, On being asked when ho would his jour
ney, he replied "Tomorrowm When the arose, Audu-
bon was on his way Another illustration, quito as sgni
can't VIII be found in his writings. 1t was period
when he llad lost all-nearly housando his drawings
by e and mad no means OF replacing he but by the re-
newa oil the a6ors which had created he He has said
oi na event The burning heat which rushed through my
brain, when saw my loss great slept not for Sc
Vefsi nights ard my days oovion-but took up my
gun notebook and pencils and forth to the woods
as gaiy as If nothing had happened could make better
Cravings IMAM oetoren three my portfolio was eo
One OF the ouGeSt of his triumph The discovery 0 MS
washington Sea age-a description of which vii! be found
IN his works. Most Of his birds painted In the iores
whe their pumagc was yet frcsh and he seems never 10
nave been satisfied with the brancy OF his coorng since
II did not represent life itself.
In o2l his pursuits took commercial aspect ncien
bonapare proposed TO buy his drawings Audubon nesa
ed and then resolved publish them himself For TINS pur
pose ne visited England, where he landed as stranger
His name however, had gone before him. and the first men
distinguished in the sciences and arts were hapFy 10 vel
come him. On the continent HerscAel Cuvier ana nls Old
irlend Humboldt who had penetrated the same foica l
slons with him. were delighted to honor him. In Tue G0s-
mos OF the latter his talents have not been forgotten Inc
publication OF his great work in far way brew"
ser, Scott jeffrey and Wilson, encouraged him. amer iout
teen years was completed, and more than satisne ING
world that has awaited its appearance. One huhaie1 an
seventy subscriptions thousand dollars eac pna
him the price Of his labor Eighty of his subscribers are
proud say found counry-a vsry good onset
TO the neglect often visited upon those who enter e heids
of literature and of art.
OF course, such work-so magnificent IN design au e
ecuon-a portfolio of great WIZ, M
details Of lfes experience among forest not
but stimulate the great societies OF Europe 10 10 nun ooi