318 LIFE OP AUDUBON. 



make the excursion into some of the southern States, which 

 he had been contemplating for a long time, for the purpose of 

 increasing the new varieties of birds for his great work. 



July 30, 1836, the journal begins, saying that Mr. Audubon 

 left London that day with his son John for Portsmouth, where 

 he arrived the next day, and took passage on board the packet 

 ship Gladiator, Captain Britton, for New York. 



"August 1. Somewhat before the setting of the sun we went 

 on board, ate and drank, and laid ourselves down in those float- 

 ing catacombs, vulgarly called berths. When the Gladiator left 

 St. Katherine's Dock she had on our account two hundred and 

 sixty live birds, three dogs received as a present from our noble 

 friend, the Earl of Derby, and a brace of tailless cats from our 

 friend George Thackery, D.D., provost of King's College. They 

 had been on board several days, and seemed not to have received 

 much care, and some of the birds had died. But the dogs and 

 some of the birds were alive, and crossed the Atlantic safely. 



" August 2. About five this afternoon the anchor was apeak, 

 several new persons were hoisted on deck, our sails were spread 

 to the breeze, and the Gladiator smoothly glided on her coui-se. 

 The passengers were a fair average as to agreeability, and 

 among them was Wallack the actor, who amused us with some 

 admirable puns. The voyage was prosperous, and the time 

 passed pleasantly, until ^^e approached the banks of Newfound- 

 land, when we began to fear and dream of icebergs and disasters ; 

 but none came, and the Gladiator kept her course steadily 

 onward, when, just five weeks after leaving England, in the 

 afternoon, the highlands of Neversink were discovered, about 

 fifteen miles distant. The welcome news of our approach to 

 the Hook thrilled my heart with eostacy. 



"The evening was dark, and no pilot in sight; and rockets 

 were thrown up from the ship to attract one. This soon brought 

 one alongside, and an American tar leaped on board. Oh ! my 

 Lucy, thou knowest me, but I cried like a child, and when our 

 anchor was dropped, and rested on the ground of America, thy 

 poor husband laid himself down on his knees, and there thanked 

 God for His preservation of myself and our dear son. 



" All was now bustle and mutual congratulations ; our com- 

 mander was praised for his skill by some, and others praised his 



