The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-09-19
An Island Paradise.

From the London correspondence of the Rou,sd
Table extract the following interesting account
OF remarkable man of the most original charac-
ter, whose bold adventure the back of alliga-
tor, in of the South American rivers, told,
with accompanying pictorial representation, in Par
leys schoo-book history, thirty years ago. seems
that captain Waterton" still lves-and in
very pleasant way, too.
yesterday the Daily Telegraph startled all Eng
land with the announcement OF the death of Charles
WateIton, and actually contained sn obituary no
tice Of him. To-day, Mr.. Waterton's son publishes
note saying that at last accounts his father was
enjoying perfect health. Nevertheless, the an
nouneement has called to my mind purpose which
entered it several weeks ago of giving you some
count of this man. and his home, and mode Of life.
Charles Watert0n-whose 'Wanderngs' amused
generation almost passed away, and furnished Sid
ney Smith for the subject of of his funniest re-
views-who bitted and bfidled with log and rope an
alligator in the Essequibo, and rods on terra f,aa
will be best known by my readers, perhaps, II call
him the English Thoreau. Although there Is a vast
difference between the one living by Walden Pond,
in a house built by his own hand, and about the
cube OF his own length in size, at cost OF pound
per annum, or thereabout and the wealthy natursl-
list Of Walton Hall, yet it is more apparent than
real The same intimacy with nature, the same Sc
cret understanding with bird and beast exists with
the Engiish gentleman with the la.nentea Ame-
rican. To most naturalists and museums he is
known as the man who invented TIE new method of
preserving specimens much lass cumbrous than the
old; ana wmch SHOWS o." cry hgament, if the ami
WaIton aI HoM but to those who have VISITED
~ ss a ..ls name has strange and mystical as
IS.
f'hat fine mansion, where he was born and lived,
WAS situated on an island in beautiful iakeiet IN
Yorkshire The island was made by Its master INTO
a paradise for all animated creatures, except the
huntsman and carniyora Of the large and destruc,
tive kind The edges of the island were broken ana
arranged into every kind of wood, OF meadow, or
brook. that would invite and retain the Wild crea-
turea whom he had resolved to make his friends
Many Of the animals he brought others stopped
with him in their flight overhead andif they went
Of car,ied the tdings of his hosptable island,
until at last the fauna of the British Islands may
be seen from his windows. The wild ducks ana
geese the bittern, the crane, the swan and things
which could not number without making cata
ios,ie. swarm about his island, sit in his porticos
ana windows. But their familiarity with him is the
most surprising thing. He has gained their conn.,
denoe by long protection, doubtless; but now they
viii leap on his shoulder, head, hand, whether he
comes to feed them not. In his coming, the bit
tern with its hoot the teal with its whistle, the
iaekdavs with their caws, and the magpies with
their chatter Join into an orchestra 70 utter )ub
liant scott ssAaifes Kaiser Kari" He seems to
have renewed the primal relation Of Eden IN aus
i.land and one has only to imagine 1t become COS
NC 10 have respectable millennium. He IS SIM
ule.hearted man. OF excellent tact with has
kannv family and man who might easily be cele-
hrnted "a an author il he did not have something
more attractive on hand