Letter from Audubon to the Editor, 359 



been but indifferently amused, if you had been with us in our 

 journey from this latter place to Charleston, in South Carolina ; 

 and as an ornithologist, I cannot boast of the enjoyment I found; 

 poor coaches, dragged through immense deserted pine forests, mis- 

 erable fare, and neither birds or quadrupeds to be seen. We at 

 length approached Charleston, and the view of that city from 

 across the bay, was hailed by our party with unfeigned delight. 

 Charmed as we were with having terminated our dreary jour- 

 ney, it did not occur to us to anticipate the extraordinary hospi- 

 tality which awaited us there, and which led to a residence of a 

 few of the happiest weeks I ever passed. 



I had passed but one night in the city, when I was presented 



to the Rev. Mr. . This benevolent man, whom I am proud 



to call my friend, would not suffer the ' American woodsman' to 

 repose any where but under his roof ; and not him alone — all his 

 assistants too. When I tell you that he was an old friend of Alex- 

 ander Wilson, that he shoots well, is an ornithologist, a philo- 

 sophical naturalist, and that during the time we enjoyed his hos- 

 pitaHty, he took us all over the country with his carriages and 

 servants, in search of specimens, and that he was every thing 

 that a kind brother could be to me, j^ou may suppose that it is 

 with great sincerity I say, and ever shall say, God bless him ! 

 W^hen I first saw this excellent man, he was on horse-back ; but 

 upon my being named to him, it seems the love of ornithology 

 rose within him, he leaped from his saddle, suffered his horse to 

 stand at liberty, and gave me his hand with a pressure of cordiali- 

 ty that electrified me. I saw in his eyes that all he said was good 

 and true ; and although he spoke of my labours in terms far ex- 

 ceeding what is due to them, I listened to him, pretty well as- 

 sured that he did not intend me to play the part of Gil Bias over 

 again; for myself my assistants George Lehman and Henry 

 Ward, our arms, with our baggage, were removed in a jifl^- to 

 his own mansion, introduced to the family, and at work the very 

 next morning. Whilst there, the weather, to be sure, was shock- 

 ingly hot great part of the time ; we nevertheless shot a vast 

 quantity of birds, without meeting with any thing new. The 

 picked specimens, after preparation, were despatched to our mu- 

 tual friend H — , where great care will be taken of them until my 

 return. I believe we prepared about 300 specimens, consisting of 

 about sixty species of land and water birds. I jumped at once 



