Audubon the Naturalist: A History of His Life and Time. Vol. 1 (of 2)Herrick, Francis Hobart
History
Audubon the Naturalist: A History of His Life and Time. Vol. 1 (of 2)
Herrick, Francis Hobart
Audubon, John James, 1785-1851
His surprise appeared great, as he told me he never had the
most distant idea that any other individual than himself had
been engaged in forming such a collection. He asked me if
it was my intention to publish, and when I answered in the
negative, his surprise seemed to increase. And, truly, such
was not my intention; for, until long after, when I met the
Prince of Musignano in Philadelphia, I had not the least
idea of presenting the fruits of my labours to the world. Mr.
Wilson now examined my drawings with care, asked if I should
have any objections to lending him a few during his stay, to
which I replied that I had none: he then bade me good morning,
not, however, until I had made an arrangement to explore the
woods in the vicinity along with him, and had promised to
procure for him some birds, of which I had drawings in my
collection, but which he had never seen.
It happened that he lodged in the same house with us, but his
retired habits, I thought, exhibited either a strong feeling
of discontent, or a decided melancholy. The Scotch airs which
he played sweetly on his flute made me melancholy too, and
I felt for him. I presented him to my wife and friends, and
seeing that he was all enthusiasm, exerted myself as much as
was in my power, to procure for him the specimens which he
wanted. We hunted together, and obtained birds which he had
never before seen; but, reader, I did not subscribe to his
work, for, even at that time, my collection was greater than
his. Thinking that perhaps he might be pleased to publish the
results of my researches, I offered them to him, merely on
condition that what I had drawn, or might afterwards draw and
send to him, should be mentioned in his work, as coming from
my pencil. I at the same time offered to open a correspondence
with him, which I thought might prove beneficial to us both.
He made no reply to either proposal, and before many days had
elapsed left Louisville, on his way to New Orleans, little
knowing how much his talents were appreciated in our little
town, at least by myself and my friends.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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