INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. xi 



I called on him, and showed him some of my drawings. He 

 presented me to the celebrated Charles Lucian Bona- 

 parte, who in his turn introduced me to the Natural History 

 Society of Philadelphia. But the patronage which I so much 

 needed, I soon found myself compelled to seek elsewhere. I 

 left Philadelphia, and visited New York, where I was received 

 with a kindness well suited to elevate my depressed spirits ; 

 and afterwards, ascending that noble stream the Hudson, glid- 

 ed over our broad lakes, to seek the wildest solitudes of the 

 pathless and gloomy forests. 



It was in these forests that, for the first time, I communed 

 with myself as to the possible event of my visiting Europe 

 again ; and I began to fancy my work under the multiplying 

 efforts of the graver. Happy days, and nights of pleasing 

 dreams ! I read over the catalogue of my collection, and 

 thought how it might be possible for an unconnected and un- 

 aided individual like myself to accomplish the grand scheme. 

 Chance, and chance alone, had divided my drawings into three 

 different classes, depending upon the magnitude of the objects 

 which they represented 5 and, although I did not at that time 

 possess all the specimens necessary, I arranged them as well as 

 I could into parcels of five plates, each of which now forms a 

 Number of my Illustrations. I improved the whole as much as 

 was in my power ; and as I daily retired farther from the haunts 

 of man, determined to leave nothing undone, which my labour, 

 my time, or my purse, could accomplish. 



Eighteen months elapsed. I returned to my family, then 

 in Louisiana, explored every portion of the vast woods around, 

 and at last sailed towards the Old World. But before we visit 

 the shores of hospitable England, I have the wish, goocl-natm-ed 



