176 Life of Audubon. 



twelve francs. As there will be published but five num- 

 bers a year, the annual expense would not be enormous. 

 It is desirabje, at least for art as well as science, that the 

 great public libraries — and the wealthy, who love to en- 

 rich their collections with works of luxury — should be 

 willing to secure it. 



'^ ^ Formerly the European naturalists were obliged to 

 make known to America the riches she possessed ; but 

 now Mitchell, Harler, and Bonaparte give back with in- 

 terest to Europe what America had received. Wilson's 

 history of the " Birds of the United States " equals in el- 

 egance our most beautiful works on ornithology. If that 

 of Mr. Audubon should be completed, we shall be obliged 

 to acknowledge that America, in magnificence of execu- 

 tion, has surpassed the old world.' 



" September 30. Mr. Coutant, the great engraver of 

 Paris, came to see my work to-day. When I opened the 

 book he stared ; and as I turned over the engravings, he 

 exclaimed often * Oh, mon Dieu ! quel ouvrage ! ' Old 

 Redoute also visited me, and brought an answer to my 

 letter from the Due d'Orleans. At one o'clock I went 

 with my portfolio to the Palais Royal ; and as I do not 

 see dukes every day, dearest, I will give you an account 

 of my visit. 



" The Palais Royal of the Duke of Orleans is actually 

 the entrance of the Palais Royal, the public walk to 

 which we go almost every evening, and which is guarded 

 by many sentinels. On the right I saw a large, fat, red- 

 coated man, through the ground window, whom I sup- 

 posed to be the porter of his Royal Highness : he opened 

 the door, and I took off my fur cap, and walked in with- 

 out ceremony. I gave him my card, and requested him 

 to send it up-stairs. He said Monseigneur was not in, 

 but I might go into the antechamber, and I ascended 

 one of the finest staircases my feet had ever trod. They 



