288 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



rounded by his large family, including his devoted wife, his 

 two sons, and their wives, his enjoyment of life seemed to 

 leave little to him to desire. He was very fond of the rising 

 generation, and they were as devoted in their affectionate re- 

 gards for him. He seemed to enjoy to the utmost each moment 

 of time, content at last to submit to an inevitable and well 

 earned leisure, and to throw upon his gifted sons his uncom- 

 pleted tasks. A pleasanter scene or a more interesting house- 

 hold it has never been the writer's good fortune to witness. 



Audubon's last ( ?) letter to Edward Harris, here re- 

 produced, is dated at "Minnie's Land, Feby 22, 1487," 

 and refers to the letterpress of the Quadrupeds. His 

 last published letter to Baird, in which he recommended 

 him to the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution,^'^ was written at "Minnie's Land, Feb. 11, 

 1847." In Spencer F. Baird's last published letter^* 

 to him, dated at "Carlisle April 24, 1847," he refers to 

 "a fine specimen living of a Red Fox," and added: "If 

 you want him let me know immediately and I will send 

 him on immediately." On July 16 of that year Baird 

 entered this note in his diary: ^^ "Went to Mr. Audu- 

 bon's by stage. Found him much changed." 



While Audubon never became blind, as has been 

 erroneously stated, it troubled him to use glasses, and 

 when from failing powers he could no longer paint, his 

 heart seemed broken. Like Jonathan Swift, who com- 

 pared his own case with that of the proud forest tree 

 whose withering top showed to every passerby the first 

 sign of decrepitude, so the mind of Audubon gave way 

 before his splendid physique utterly broke down. 



Bachman, who visited his old friend in the spring of 



« See Vol. II, p. 279. 



^ See Ruthven Deane, loc. cit., p. 70. 



"See WiUiam H. Dall, op. cit., p. ISS. '. 



