200* MEMOIR OF JOHN JAMES AUDUBON. 



hirn to copy, was, on his return to the woods of the New World, trans- 

 ferred to his favourite pursuit. He accordiu.^ly commenced a col- 

 lection of drawings, which he afterwar.ls published — viz. " Illustra- 

 tions of The Birds of America." 



It would appear, although we have not any particular information 

 on the subject, that Audubon's family were in the enjoyment of a 

 competency such as to enable him to pursue his studies much more 

 exclusively than falls to the lot of many aspiring youths. His father, 

 he tells us, gave him what the Americans call a beautiful " plantation" 

 in Pennsylvania, which was refreshed during the summer heais by the 

 waters of the Schuylkil River, and very favourably situated for the 

 encouragement of his pursuits. There he set himself to work with as 

 little concern about the future as if the world had been made for him. 

 His rambles invariably commenced at day-break; and to return wet 

 with dew, and bearing a feathered prize, was, and ever will be, the 

 highest enjoyment of his life. He was not, however, incapable of 

 cherishing the ordinary sentiments of humanity, and accordingly lie 

 took to himself a partner for life. But it is not matter of wonder 

 that he should have had worldly difficulties to combat, whatever may 

 have been his patrimony. For a period of twenty years, a succession 

 of vicissitudes attended his career. He tried various branches of com- 

 merce, but they all proved unprofitable, doubtless because his whole 

 mind was devoted to rambling in search of subjects connected with 

 natural history. He had also to struggle against the will of all who 

 at that period called themselves his friends, excepting his wife and 

 children. At length he became so irritated by taunts and remon- 

 strances, that he broke through all bonds, and gave himself entirely 

 up to his loved pursuits. He undertook long and tedious journeys, 

 ransacked the woods, the lakes, the prairies, and the shores of the 

 ocean. Years were spent away from his family. Yet, he declares, 

 he had all this while no other object in view than simply to enjoy the 

 sight of Nature ; to become in any degree useful to mankind had 

 never occurred to him, indeed, until he accidentally formed an ac- 

 quaintance with Lucian Bonaparte, another eminent ornithologist, at 

 Philadelphia, to which place Audubon had proceeded, with the design 

 of advancing farther along the coast. 



Up to this period Audubon appears to have had no instructor, and 

 indeed no naturalist as a friend or adviser on the subject of ornitholo- 

 gy. Lucian Bonaparte, however, it must be presumed, did not with- 

 hold his best advice and directions. He also introduced the enthusiast 

 to the Natural History Society of Philadelphia. But the patronage he 

 most needed, he soon found was to be sought elsewhere. He therefore 

 visited New York, where he was received with a kindness well calcu- 

 lated to elevate his depressed spirits. He afterwards ascended the 

 Hudson, glided over many a broad lake, and sought the wildest soli- 

 tudes of the pathless forests. 



In these forests, he first contemplated a visit to Europe again, and 

 to fancy his drawings imder the multiplying efforts of the graver. 

 His days and nights were filled with happy dreams and pleasing 

 visions. He read over the catalogue of his drawings, and began to 

 suppose it possible that an unaid e d and unconnected individual like him- 

 self might be able to accompli^ such a grand scheme. Chance alone 



