280 Retrospective Criticism, 



of its contents." Again : " Mr. Wilson asked if I should 

 have any objections to lending him a few (drawings) during 

 his stay ; to which I replied, that I had none. He then 

 bade me good morning, not, however, until I had made an 

 arrangement to explore the woods in the vicinity along with 

 him, and had promised to procure for him some birds, of 

 \vhich I had drawings in my collection, but which he had 

 never seen." This, indeed, was truly polite and friendly on 

 the part of Mr. Audubon. Again : " I presented him to my 

 wife and friends, and, seeing that he was all enthusiasm, 

 exerted myself as much as was in my power to procure for 

 him the specimens which he wanted. We hunted together, 

 and obtained birds" (mind, reader!) "which he had never 

 before seen." 



Now for Wilson. I myself have seen, in Alexander Wil- 

 son's own handwriting, the following extracts: — "March 17. 

 Groped my way to Louisville, and put up at the Indian 

 Queen tavern." — "March 19. Rambled round the town 



with my gun. Examined Mr. 's drawings in crayons. 



Very good. Saw two new birds he had. Both Motacillce" 

 — " March 20. Set out this afternoon with the gun. Killed 

 nothing new. People in taverns here devour their meals. 

 Many shopkeepers board in taverns ; also boatmen, land 

 speculators, merchants, &c. No naturalist to keep me com- 

 pany,^* Mr. and Mrs. Audubon and family boarded at this 

 tavern. " March 21. Went out this afternoon, shooting, 

 with Mr. A. Saw a number of sandhill cranes. Pigeons 

 numerous." — " March 23. Packed up my things." — "I 

 bade adieu to Louisville, to which place I had four letters of 

 recommendation, and was taught to expect much of every 

 thing there; but neither received one act of civility from those 

 to whom I was recommended, one subscriber, nor one new 

 bird; although I delivered my letters, ransacked the woods 

 repeatedly, and visited all the characters" (mind this, reader !) 

 " likely to subscribe. Science or literature has not one friend 

 in this place. Every one is so intent on making money, that 

 they can talk of nothing else ; and they absolutely devour 

 their meals, that they may return sooner to their business. 

 Their manners correspond with their features." 



Here we have two statements as opposite " as the anti- 

 podes are to us, or as the south to the septentrion." In 

 whicli of these two statements are we to put faith ? 



In Ord's beautiful Life of Alexander Wilso7i, I follow the 

 poor Scottish wanderer across the Atlantic wave ; I peruse, 

 with deep interest, his many letters to his friends ; I grieve 

 with him in his sorrows and disappointments ; I bear him 



