2*2 LIFE OF AUDUBON. 



CHAPTER XLII. 



Eet0rn to Boston — Wandbbings in the Nbighbouehgod — Voyage to 

 Labbadob in the Schooner Ripley — Misadventures at Little 

 EivBB — Seal and Mud Islands — The Gut of Canseau. 



From Frederickton Audubon returned in a private conveyance 

 to Houlton, thence along the United States military road to 

 Bangor, and thence by public stages to Boston, where he 

 arrived early in October. Finding that it would improve his 

 great work on the " Birds " to remain another year in America, 

 and visit parts of the country yet unexplored by him, Audubon 

 determined to send his eldest son Victor to England, to 

 superintend the engraving, and to look after his general 

 interests there. Victor Audubon accordingly sailed from New 

 York for Liverpool, toward the end of October, while his father 

 remained in Boston during that and the following winter, 

 actively engaged in making drawings of new birds which he 

 had discovered, and also in redrawing and greatly improving 

 some of his older drawings. He also made frequent excursions 

 into the surrounding country. " Here," says the Journal, " I was 

 witness to the melancholy death of the great Spurzheim, and was 

 myself suddenly attacked by a short but severe illness, which 

 greatly alarmed my family ; but thanks to Providence and mj 

 medical friends, Parkman, Shattuck, and Warren, I was soon 

 enabled to proceed with my labour — a sedentary life and too 

 close application being the cause assigned for my indisposition. I 

 resolved to set out again in quest of fresh materials for my pencil 



