48 
MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 
were young again ! I woulrl go to America too. 
Hey! what a country it will be, Mr Audubon.’ I 
retorted by exclaiming, ‘ Hey 1 what a country it is 
already, Mr Bewick !” In the midst of our conver- 
sation on birds and other animals, he drank my health 
and the peace of all the world in hot brandy toddy, 
and I returned the compliment, wishing, no doubt, 
in accordance with his own sentiments, the health of 
all our enemies. His daughters enjoyed the scene, 
and remarked, that, for years, their father had not 
been in such a flow of spirits. 
“ I regret that I have not by me at present the 
letter which this generous and worthy man gave me 
that evening, otherwise, for his sake, I should have 
presented you with it. It is in careful keeping, how- 
ever, as a memorial of a man whose memory is dear 
to me ; and be assured I regard it with quite as much 
pleasure as a manuscript ‘ Synopsis of the Birds of 
America,’ by Alexander Wilson, which this cele- 
brated individual gave to me at Louisville in Ken- 
tucky, more than twenty years ago. Bewick’s let- 
ter, however, will be presented to you along with 
many others, in connection with some strange facts, 
which I hope may be useful to the world. We pro- 
tracted our conversation much beyond our usual time 
of retiring to rest, and at his earnest request, and 
