^^!l^ Remarks oj» *i4tf/7«6c^/*V^ Iik\h\^ America^ 



'infipulse, an admiration of, a love for, the objects that mani- 

 -^sted to him the attributes of then- Divine Author. To per- 

 petuate their remembrance, and render them ever present to his 

 «^^%iind, he first tried to preserve their skins. But their faded 

 I tints, the stiffness which could not be avoided in restoring them 

 «^%o shape, and the consequent want of seeming animation, de- 

 rf'^termined him to represent them by the pencil. Numberless 

 -9<&rawings were made, but year after year they were consigned 

 '^^ to the flames. At length, beginning to be somewhat pleased 

 with his attempts to imitate nature, he commenced a collection 

 ^i'oi drawings, which, after more than twenty years of almost un- 

 ^C^'iremitted observation of the habits of birds, and after he had 

 Qrf'^shot and examined specimens of all the forms that he could find 

 ^^■in the vast regions of the United States, at length amounted to 

 •jj ^several hundreds. Still he had no other object in view than 

 that of studying and depicting nature. Finally, after a visit to 

 '-- 'Philadelphia, which had opened his eyes to the ways of men, 

 ~^^ he began, in the solitude of the forest, to commune with him- 

 ^9^^ self as to the possibility of laying his labours before the world. 

 ''* ** Happy days, and nights of pleasing dreams ["^ says he, " whom 

 ""^^the wise men of the west had denounced as a wild woodsman, 

 '■^^ and whom, even his friend, the Prince of Musignano designates 

 ^-' as a ' painter-naturalist.' " I read over the catalogue of my 

 ■-' collection, and thought how it might be possible for an uncon- 

 "^' nected and unaided individual, like myself, to accomplish the 

 grand scheme. I arranged my drawings, improved them as 

 rfi>?>? much as was in my power ; and, as I daily retired farther from 

 '^'^'' the haunts of men, determined to leave nothing undone, which - 

 ^'-- my labour, my time, or my purse could accomplish.'' The 

 §f<' » grand scheme,' however, was destined to be accomplished, — 

 ^-^S- at least it is in progress. Mr Audubon left America and came 

 owi X.O England. His native country was either unable to appre- 

 fifjl. '^-iate his genius, or unable to aid his efforts, and England did 

 t^"'' both. The Americans may justly be proud of their achieve- 

 4ur ments, and no people can be more disposed to boast of their 

 good qualities ; but, although they may boast of an Audubon, 

 they must leave to England the merit of having fostered him. 



" As I approached the coast of England," says he, " and for 

 the first time beheld her fertile shores, the despondency of my 

 spirits became very great. I knew not an individual in the 



