Beirospective Criticism, 279 



twenty-two years of his life to the study of the natural history 

 of the birds of North America. During the greater part of 

 that long period, he lived principally, and nearly alone, in 

 the woods." Audubon tells us, in his introductory address, 

 that he left the village of Henderson, where he had " resided 

 for several years." He also tells us of his " residence at 

 Louisville," where he had a " partner " in business, and " a 

 counting-room." On returning to Louisville, he remarks 

 that his thoughts were, " for once, at least, in the course of 

 his life, entirely engaged in commercial speculation." In p. 58. 

 of the Biography he says, " We were on a trading voyage as- 

 cending the Upper Mississippi;" where, by the by, he shot 

 his bird of Washington, which is considered no other bird 

 than the bald-headed eagle. In another place, we are informed 

 that " years were spent away from his family, with no other 

 object in view than simply to enjoy the sight of nature." We 

 know, from Audubon himself, that he had abandoned all 

 commercial pursuits at the time that he first fell in with 

 Charles Bonaparte, which is now about ten years ago. Pray, 

 how old is Mr. Audubon ? Powers of genius ! amid such 

 avocations of shop and wood, where did this Frenchman gain 

 his surprising knowledge of our language? I respectfully 

 request the Rev. Mr. Bachman to pay attention to the testi- 

 monies here advanced. 



Audubon and his Ornithology, [p. 174.] — The account 

 which the Rev. Mr. Bachman gives of the recent ornitho- 

 logical labours of Mr. Audubon is quite uninteresting to me, 

 because I can put no trust in what Mr. Audubon published 

 on natural history, prior to his departure from this country. 

 Charles Bonaparte, with whom Audubon had " accidentally 

 formed an acquaintance " (see his introductory address), peti- 

 tioned the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia that 

 Audubon might be admitted a member. The necessary 

 measures were adopted, and Audubon was blackballed. I 

 am aware that he has since been elected : but thereby hangs 

 a tale. Will the reverend eulogist have the goodness to 

 enquire, why that respectable and learned society of gentle- 

 men deemed it incumbent upon them to refuse the application 

 of Charles Bonaparte ? 



I here beg to draw the attention of the reverend gentle- 

 man to the two following extracts. The first is from Au- 

 dubon's Biography of Birds ; the second from Ord's Life of 

 Wilson, 



" I rose, took down a large portfolio, laid it on the table, 

 and showed him (Wilson), as I would show you, kind 

 reader, or any other person fond of such subjects, the whole 



T 4 



