128 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 
Charles d’Orbigny, who was Audubon’s most inti- 
mate early friend and in all probability his father in 
natural history, was always spoken of in terms of great 
affection. While at Paris in October, 1829, Audubon 
learned from the naturalist Lesson that D’Orbigny was 
then in charge of the museum at La Rochelle and that 
“his son, Charles, then twenty-one,” whom “he had held 
in his arms many times,” was in the city; on October 8 
he wrote in his journal: “this morning I had great 
pleasure in meeting my godson, Charles d’Orbigny. 
Oh! what past times were brought to my mind.” ? 
In later life the elder D’Orbigny seems to have fallen 
on evil times. He appeared as a debtor to Lieutenant 
Audubon’s estate, and the cordial relations that had 
long existed between the two families were broken; this 
is shown only too plainly by the following sharp letter * 
written by Gabriel du Puigaudeau and addressed to the 
doctor, on August 8, 1819, when the family had become 
reduced in means: ’ 
Gabriel du Puigaudeau to Charles M. d’Orbigny 
Your letter of the twenty-fifth of January reached me in 
due time. I am grieved to see that you are annoyed because 
?Dr. d’Orbigny had three sons, all of whom were born in Couéron: 
Alcide Charles Victor in 1802, Gaston Edouard in 1805, and Charles in 
1806; the youngest and eldest became distinguished naturalists. So far 
as known, Audubon was godfather only to the second, Gaston Edouard, 
who according to the records of the Catholic church at Couéron, “was 
born on the 3d day of the present [month], the issue of the legitimate 
marriage of Mr. Charles Marie d’Orbigny, doctor of medicine, and of 
Anna Pepart,” was christened on August 20, 1805, in the presence of the 
godfather, John James Audubon, the godmother, Rosa Audubon, the 
father and mother, together with the “undersigned” (Extracted by Monsieur 
Lavigne). D’Orbigny appears as a witness to the powers of attorney 
which Jean Audubon and his wife issued jointly to their son and to 
Ferdinand Rozier at Couéron in 1805 (see Appendix I, Document No. 8) 
and on November 20, 1806 (see Vol. I, p. 153). 
*For copies of this and the following letters, which are here trans- 
lated from the French, I am indebted to Monsieur Lavigne. 
