The Audubon Reader (44 page)

The Ohio was in good order for navigation and I reached Louisville, distant from you about 1,000 miles, in one week. As you spoke of traveling westwardly, I give you here an a/c of the fare. To Pittsburgh, all included, 21$. To Louisville, 12$. And 25$ more to Bayou Sarah where I landed. 30$ is the price from Louisville to N[ew] Orleans. Our steamboats are commodious and go well. But my dear friend, the most extraordinary change has taken place in appearance as I have proceeded. The foliage had nearly left the trees in Pennsylvania; the swallows had long since disappeared; severe frost indeed had rendered Nature gloomy and uninteresting. Judge of the contrast: I am now surrounded by
green trees
and swallows gambol around the house as in Pennsylvania during June & July. The mock bird is heard to sing and during a walk with my wife yesterday I collected some 20 or 30 insects. That is not all; a friend of mine here says that he has discovered 2 or 3
new birds!!!
New birds are new birds our days, and I shall endeavor to shew you the facsimile when again I shall have the pleasure of shaking your hand.

Although so lately arrived, I have established the fact that Mrs. A. and myself will be on our way towards “Old England” by the 15th of Jan’y. We will ascend the Mississippi, and after resting ourselves at Louisville with our sons and other relatives about one month and then proceed with the rapidity of the Wild Pigeon should God grant our wishes!

… I will begin drawing next week having much scratching with
the pen to perform this one, and I am also desirous to make [illegible] large shipment of aborigines both animal and vegetal as soon as possible: Turkeys, alligators, opossums, Paroquets and plants [such] as begonias, &c., &c., &c., will be removed to the Zoological Gardens of London from the natural ones of this magnificent Louisiana!

Meantimes I will not forget
my friends in Phila
. No, I would rather forgive all, to all my enemies there. Assure Dr. Hammersley that Ivory-billed and
Pileated Woodpeckers will be skinned, and who knows but I may find something more for him. I will give free leave to Dr. Pickering to choose amongst the insects and who knows but I may find something new for him. Remember me most kindly to both, nay, not in the common manner of saying “Mr. Audubon begs to be remembered,” no, not [at] all. This way Mr. A remembers
you
and
you
and
I
will remember
you
and
you
and
I
always!!

May I also beg to be remembered in humble words to a fine pair of eyes divided, not by the Allegany Mountains; but by a nose evidently imported from far
East
, to a placid forehead, to a mouth speaking happiness to ——

Should you see Friend Sully remember me to him also—and should you see
George Ord, Esq.
Fellow
of all the Societies
imaginable
, present him my most humble ——

Should you see that good woman where I boarded at Camden, tell her that I am well and thankful to her for her attentions to me.

I cannot hope the pleasure of an answer from you here, but you may do so, and I say pray do so, directed to the care of N. Berthoud Esq., Louisville, Kentucky. By the bye, my sons are taller than me, the eldest one so much altered that I did not know him at first sight, and yet I have
eyes …

[Written across the first page:]

I reopened my letter to say that I have just now killed a large new falcon—yes, positively a new species of hawk, almost black, about 25 inches long and 4 feet broad, tail square, eye yellowish-white, legs and feet bare, short and strong. I will skin it!!!!

Remember me to [George] Lehman ——

What I have said about the hawk to you must be [made]
lawful to academicians
and you will please announce
Falco Harlanii
[
Buteo borealis harlanii
] by John J. Audubon.

Louisville, Kentucky

29 January 1830

My dear Mr. Havell,

The last of your letters are dated 2nd and 20th of November, both of which I received at this place a few days since. Thank you for them and their contents. We left New Orleans on the 7th instant and after an agreeable passage up the Mississippi and the Ohio Rivers reached this place in 14 days in a fine steamer called the
Philadelphia
. The same that brought up
Captain Basil Hall, and we occupied the same staterooms that he had. We have found here our dear sons quite well. So you see we are now regularly underway for Old England again. Mrs. Audubon’s health is good, although her frame is delicate, and we will rest here until the last of next month, when we will again take a steamer and ascend the Ohio up to Wheeling. Then we will cross the mountains and go to Washington City, as I am desirous to pay my respects to the President of these United States. Thence to Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York from which place we intend sailing either on the 1st or the 8th of April for Liverpool, unless we may think it more agreeable to sail from Boston. Within 2 months past I have traveled about 4,000 miles, have made several drawings, skinned a great number of birds, shipped 1,150 forest trees to England and whilst at New Orleans shipped also 14 live
opossums and a beautiful male
Turkey for the Gardens.

I think that the drawings I take with us will please you much and will in fact be a great acquisition to my works. I will be in time (God willing) for the 16th Number and will be on the spot to give you materials for the 17th …

London, England

5 May 1830

My dear sir,

It is with pleasure that with the announcement of my return to England, I sit to write you to renew a correspondence at all times so valuable to me and of which I have ever been proud. I hope you are well and happy!!

I received a letter from you on my reaching New York last spring which enabled me to receive from Mr. Lea your fine work, volumes 2 & 3; but previously to my going to Philadelphia I presented to the members of the Lyceum at New York 11 Numbers of my work, bound up. It was kindly received and myself kindly treated, particularly so by your amiable friend Mr. [William] Cooper. A committee was appointed to review my work, it was done and the report highly flattering. I then left for the seashore of New Jersey, where I made ample collections of skins, eggs and memorandums accompanied by valuable drawings. From there I threw myself into the center of the Great Pine Forest on the headwaters of the Lehigh and found work enough to do. I returned to Philadelphia with a valuable cargo and well satisfied and pleased with the two months of my life spent in that grand forest. As the weather grew colder I marched towards my favorite river the Ohio, navigated it, and reached my house where winter seldom intrudes. There and [in the] neighborhood I ransacked closely the woods, the lakes and prairies.

January the 1st saw my wife and self reascending the [illegible] stream. Some time was spent with our relations and our sons at the
Falls of the Ohio, and as spring chased the black clouds northward again, we made our way to
Washington City. The President was kind and polite to us [and] the Congress subscribed to my work … At Baltimore I secured 4 more names, and doubt not would have had more at those cities had not my desire to return quickly to Europe urged us onwards.

Philadelphia, oh Philadelphia! I stayed through 2 days. At New York I remained only 2 days and have crossed the Atlantic in the
Pacific
and am again in great London taking the reins of my work in my hands. Thanks to my excellent and worthy friend [George] Children and the industry of my engraver, all has gone on well, and I think the execution improved. I may perhaps think so because I am desirous it should be so; therefore, judge yourself and let me have your opinion. The 16th Number is finished, the 17th began and the drawings that I have brought will I trust be of material advantage to the whole. Permit me to say that I regret that the name of the
Earl of Shrewsbury is not yet on my augmented list. May I call on him? I will write again very soon and give you longer details. I see much said respecting the
Horticultural & Zoological Society in the papers but know little of the cause. The King’s health is very low—the weather very fine …

On March 19th I was honored with the title F.R.S.L. [Fellow of the Royal Society of London]; now the query is, do I deserve all that honor!

Liverpool, England

15 May 1830

My beloved children,

This is the second time I have written to you since my arrival in this beautiful country. I wrote to Brother William and to Sister Eliza each week in succession and though I have nothing very new to say, I will write by the
Pacific
and then wait till I am in London. I have heard once from your Papa since he has been there … I have had some visitors and been at some dinners, and I am invited to an evening party which I wish I could avoid; there is so much ceremony, so many little forms of etiquette and many little things to be attended to.

As I have nothing better to say, I will give you a sketch of dinner. In the first place, there are 3 wine glasses at each plate; no tumblers, for nobody drinks any water, and beer … is handed from the sideboard. Then comes the soup, as rich as gravy. Then fish. The plates are hot and changed as well as knives & forks, every article you eat. During this time the company keep drinking wine, the ladies choose what kind and the gentleman who drinks will take the same. Then comes the butcher’s meat and poultry, and the third course is pastry and jellies, changing plates, &c., all the time. Then the cloth is removed and the dessert of nuts and fruit, then more wine glasses to everyone and in half or 3/4 of an hour the ladies retire, in an hour or more coffee is in the drawing room and a little delicate cake. The gentlemen are informed of coffee but they do not always come. This is generally about 9—at 11 they go home, and the same form is observed everywhere.

The ladies at table are placed alternately between guests, but if there are but two or one they are placed next the master of the house, and always gentleman next the mistress of the house. To live in England known requires an immense sum—to live unknown [and] quite secluded, a very moderate sum. The dressing
for company is expensive, but handsome things such as are worn in America for dress can be had quite moderate.

I shall begin your shirts as soon as I get settled. I wish I could send you both something now, but you must wait a little. The weather has for two days been uncommonly rainy and gloomy. I can see to work and sew till half past eight in the evening without candle—and at five in the morning I am up … I hope you are both well and very attentive to your business; look forward to our being all together and spending some happy hours at last. But really so far I have nothing to regret but [not seeing] you, my children, and my brothers and sisters …

Preserve your morals, my dear sons; let me never have to blush for you or shed a tear of reproach; be guarded but prudent, and have resolution to turn from temptation not only on account of punishment here, and mortification, but eternal sorrow hereafter …

Liverpool, England

18 June 1830

Yours my dear LaForest of the 16th came last night to me. I am afraid you are rather dull from the air of the letter, but keep up your spirits and always hope for the best. You do not wish for me more than I do to be with you, and I still hope to join you on the last of this month somewhere. As to sister Ann, it is impossible to say when she will be well, if ever (but this you must keep to yourself). She has had another violent attack of fever and pain and has had to go through all the leeches, &c., &c., again, and is now not able to leave her bed though free from pain almost, but in a few days she may be as bad as ever. Her spirits are very bad of such repeated returns, but they do not know of any danger. Mr. Gordon is very attentive to her and sat up the other night with her to give the medicines.

What will become of the poor boy [i.e., the Gordons’ son Will] I know not, but we must hope the best even here, and if she is at all tolerable I will join you when you write me to do so at Birmingham, though I dread traveling without you …

Mr.
Richard Rathbone bought me some flowers again. The “Lady Rathbone” is expected home next week, they heard from her yesterday. I have not seen anybody else. Mr. Gordon’s respects; he says that yesterday he saw the Athenaeum people and he thinks it likely they will subscribe; but he will see more into it and we will send your things to you direct, but the [live passenger] pigeons I will keep till I go or [find] someone who will take care of them, as they are very well here …

Ann told me say her love to you when I wrote and thank you kindly for leaving me with her, but when you say so, she says she must try and do without me as well as she can. Little Will is well; the other day his Mamma said “perhaps he would soon have no Mamma; what would he do?” to which he gaily replied “but I have Aunt Audubon.” I hope sincerely she may recover and that soon.
Now I have filled my paper and must say farewell with a return kiss in exchange for you, and I hope I shall hear of your having subscribers at Birmingham. In the meantime, be informed of the unalterable affection of your wife …

Birmingham, England

21 June 1830

My dearest friend,

I left London last evening at 4 and reached this place this morning at ½ past six, quite well. On Friday last I had a long visit from Lord Stanley, who kneeled down (not to me my Lucy) but to my drawing with as much anxiety as I myself did in our young days to beg thy favors! I subsequently received two letters from him and he seems rather anxious to have my collection of original drawings and besides asks how much I would charge for drawings of birds unconnected with my present work. The matter stands thus, for he did not call upon me yesterday when I fully expected him. I met Capt. Basil Hall and his brother, the confessor, at the Royal Society’s last meeting for this year on Thursday last. He gave me his card and I gave him mine (I could have wrote better by saying that we exchanged cards, but never mind). They both called yesterday at 3 and on my opening the conversation about America, the Capt. exhibited symptoms of madness that surprised me indeed—he took his hat, flew towards the door and said that if a word respecting the U.S. was uttered he must go [Hall had recently published his
Travels in North America
, which took a dim view of American democracy]. His brother sat mute & quiet but I also flew to the door, held him fast and having promised not to say America he became [calmer]. We shook hands several times and at this very moment I cannot return to that scene without thinking it highly ludicrous and theatrical. He offered me a full copy of his work and doubtless it will be in waiting for me when I return. But Lucy, I watched the muscles of his countenance and I will say no more. He asked after thee, spoke much of Mr. Gordon & Mr. Berthoud.