128 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



Charles d'Orbigny, who was Audubon's most inti- 

 mate early friend and in all probability his father in 

 natural history, was always spoken of in terms of great 

 affection. While at Paris in October, 1829, Audubon 

 learned from the naturalist Lesson that D'Orbigny was 

 then in charge of the museum at La Rochelle and that 

 "his son, Charles, then twenty-one," whom "he had held 

 in his arms many times," was in the city; on October 8 

 he wrote in his journal: "this morning I had great 

 pleasure in meeting my godson, Charles d'Orbigny. 

 Oh! what past times were brought to my mind." 2 



In later life the elder D'Orbigny seems to have fallen 

 on evil times. He appeared as a debtor to Lieutenant 

 Audubon's estate, and the cordial relations that had 

 long existed between the two families were broken; this 

 is shown only too plainly by the following sharp letter 3 

 written by Gabriel du Puigaudeau and addressed to the 

 doctor, on August 3, 1819, when the family had become 

 reduced in means : 



Gabriel du Puigaudeau to Charles M. d'Orbigny 



Your letter of the twenty-fifth of January reached me in 

 due time. I am grieved to see that you are annoyed because 



2 Dr. d'Orbigny had three sons, all of whom were born in Coueron: 

 Alcide Charles Victor in 1802, Gaston Edouard in 1805, and Charles in 

 1806; the youngest and eldest became distinguished naturalists. So far 

 as known, Audubon was godfather only to the second, Gaston Edouard, 

 who according to the records of the Catholic church at Coueron, "was 

 born on the 3d day of the present [month], the issue of the legitimate 

 marriage of Mr. Charles Marie d'Orbigny, doctor of medicine, and of 

 Anna Pepart," was christened on August 20, 1805, in the presence of the 

 godfather, John James Audubon, the godmother, Rosa Audubon, the 

 father and mother, together with the "undersigned" (Extracted by Monsieur 

 Lavigne). D'Orbigny appears as a witness to the powers of attorney 

 which Jean Audubon and his wife issued jointly to their son and to 

 Ferdinand Rozier at Coueron in 1805 (see Appendix I, Document No. 8) 

 and on November 20, 1806 (see Vol. I, p. 153). 



8 For copies of this and the following letters, which are here trans- 

 lated from the French, I am indebted to Monsieur Lavigne. 



