Retrospective Criticism, 173 



render his work as perfect as the experience and knowledge 

 of man, in the present state of his information, can make it ; 

 and he endeavours to obtain all the additional light that 

 industry or enquiry can shed on the subject. In obtaining 

 this kind of assistance from those whose knowledge of books 

 enables them to afford it, he does not conceive that he is the 

 less entitled to the claim of the authorship of a work, the 

 whole design of which (the most important feature in its 

 execution), together with the composition, is altogether his 

 own. 



When Wilson, the highly talented American ornithologist, 

 first commenced his invaluable work, he did not hesitate to 

 apply to his scientific friends for all the information they were 

 able to afford him. In his letter to Bartram, dated May 21. 

 1804, found in the 36th page of his Life, by his friend and 

 biographer Mr. Ord, we find Wilson using the following 

 language : — "I send you a few more imitations of birds for 

 your opinion, which I value beyond that of any body else. 

 Please to send me the names of the birds." 



Now, although Wilson received all the aid which the 

 observations and reading of his friend could afford him, yet 

 it would be the height of injustice to his memory and his 

 well-merited fame, to assert that Bartram was the author of 

 his work. Let us be as just to Audubon as we are to his 

 predecessor, and we shall not withhold from him the merit of 

 being the author of his Ornithological Biography. 



If the idea is entertained abroad, that the character and 

 acquirements of Mr. Audubon are not estimated in his native 

 land, or that his splendid publication is not appreciated here, 

 it is most certain that the impression is altogether erroneous. 

 The United States, although comparatively a new country, 

 and possessing but few men of very large fortunes, duly 

 appreciate the value of his work, and the merits of the 

 individual. 



Since his last return to America he has already received 

 sixty-one subscribers to his work, with very little exertion 

 on his part. It has been added to the library of Congress, 

 and the legislatures of many of the states have become sub- 

 scribers. The government has allowed him and his attend- 

 ants the free use of all our public vessels in every part of the 

 United States. Honours have been conferred on him by the 

 learned societies of our land, and the attentions which have 

 been bestowed upon him, by the most intelligent men in our 

 country, are such as have never been conferred upon any 

 former naturalist. 



The additions already made to American ornithology by 



