100 AIvEXANDER WII^ON: P0ET-NATURAL,IST 



to procure subscriptions for his work. He opened 

 his books, explained the nature of his occupations, 

 and requested my patronage. 



"I felt surprised and gratified at the sight of his 

 volumes, turned over a few of the plates, and had 

 already taken a pen to write my name in his favour, 

 when my partner rather abruptly said to me in 

 French : "My dear Audubon, what induces you to 

 subscribe to the work? Your drawings are cer- 

 tainly far better; and again, you must know as 

 much of the habits of American birds as this gentle- 

 man.' Whether Mr. Wilson understood French 

 or not, or if the suddenness with which I paused dis- 

 appointed him, I cannot tell ; but I clearly perceived 

 that he was not pleased. Vanity and the encomium 

 of my friend prevented me from subscribing. Mr. 

 Wilson asked me if I had any drawings of birds. I 

 arose, took down a large folio, laid it on the table 

 and showed him the whole of the contents. His 

 surprise appeared great, as he told me that he never 

 had the most distant idea that any other individual 

 than himself had been engaged in the forming of 

 such a collection. He asked me if it was my inten- 

 tion to publish, and when I answered in the nega- 

 tive, his surprise seemed to increase. And, truly, 

 such was not my intention ; for until long after, 

 when I met the Prince of Musignano, in Philadel- 

 phia, I had not the least idea of presenting the 

 fruits of my labor to the world. Mr. Wilson next 

 examined my drawings with care, asked if I should 

 have any objections to lend him a few during his 

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

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



