OF AUDUBON. 



23 



years had elapsed, I had my portfolio filled 

 again." 



The conduct of Audubon on this occasion, 

 will be a useful lesson to the young, and will 

 point out to them the necessity of never relax- 

 ing in their exertions, or giving way to des- 

 pondency, whatever difficulties they may have 

 to encounter in their progress through life. 



" America being my country, and the principal 

 pleasures of my life having been obtained there, 

 I prepared to leave it with deep sorrow, after 

 in vain trying to publish my Illustrations in 

 the United States. In Philadelphia, Wilson's 

 principal engraver, amongst others, gave it as 

 his opinion to my friends, that my drawings 

 could never be engraved. In New York, 

 other difficulties presented themselves, which 

 determined me to carry my collections to 

 Europe. 



" As I approached the coast of England, and 

 for the first time beheld her fertile shores, the 

 despondency of my spirits became very great. 

 I knew not an individual in the country ; and 

 although I was the bearer of letters from 

 American friends, and statesmen of great emi- 

 nence, my situation appeared precarious in the 

 extreme. I imagined that every individual 

 whom I was about to meet, might be possessed 

 of talents superior to those of any on our side 



