The Audubon Reader (29 page)

I will leave this [place] on Monday for Manchester. The president of the
Royal Institution here gives me a letter to the one there and so on throughout the country. This procures me the Exhibition Room gratis. I have letters to introduce me to the famous critics [and] reviewers of Edinburgh—to
Sir Walter Scott, Thomas Lawrence,
Maria Edgeworth, Anna Moore,
Baron de Humboldt, [Conrad Jacob] Temminck and 500 besides I believe. I shall go more game shooting at the seat of the famous
Thomas Coke and at the one of Selby’s in Northumberland.

Remember me to your uncle [
Nicholas Berthoud, under whom Victor was clerking] and ask him to write to me. I have written to him since here. Ask my beloved sister, your Aunt Eliza, to put a few words for me either in yours or your Uncle’s letters to me. Remember me to all besides who are not ashamed of my being a relation or an acquaintance …

Edinburgh, Scotland

21 December 1826

My beloved wife,

After postponing day after day for the last two weeks writing to thee full of hopes that each new day would bring some tidings of thee or of someone connected with me in America I am forced to sit and write filled with fear and sorrow. Many of the vessels I have wrote by have returned from America with full cargoes but nothing from thee—it is the more surprising because, a fortnight since,
Dewitt Clinton answered a letter of mine dated Manchester and enclosed one of recommendation to
General Lafayette.

My situation in Edinburgh borders almost on the miraculous; without education and scarce one of those qualities necessary to render a man able to pass through the throng of the learned here, I am positively looked on by all the professors & many of the principal persons here as a very extraordinary man. I brought from Liverpool 13 letters of most valuable introduction. After I had delivered them and my drawings had been seen by a few of those persons, I requested them to engage all their acquaintances to call on me and see them also. For that purpose I remained each day for a week at my lodgings from 10 till 2 and my room was filled constantly by persons of the first rank in society. After that, the Committee of the Royal Institution having met, an order was passed to offer me the Exhibition Rooms gratis for some weeks. My drawings were put up in the splendid room; all the newspapers took notice of them in a very handsome manner, and having continued to do so constantly, the rooms have been well-attended when the weather has in the least permitted it. Last Saturday I took in £15. It will continue open to the last of Christmas week when I will remove them to Glasgow, 50 miles from here where I expect to do well with them. I have had the pleasure of being introduced to several noblemen here and have found them extremely kind indeed. About a fortnight since,
Sir William Jardine came to spend a few days here purposely to see
me—he was most constantly with me—he and Mr. [Prideaux John] Selby are engaged in a general ornithological work and as I find I am a useful man that way, it is most likely that I shall be connected with them, with a good share of credit and a good deal of cash. They both will be in in a few days when this matter will be discussed over at length and probably arranged.

It is now a month since my work has been begun by Mr.
W. H. Lizars of this city. It is to come out in Numbers of 5 prints [each], all the size of life and in the same size paper of my largest drawings, that is called double elephant. They will be brought up & finished in such superb style as to eclipse all of the kind in existence. The price of each Number is two guineas, and all individuals have the privilege of subscribing for the whole or any portion of it. Two of the plates were finished last week; some of the engravings, colored, are now put up in my exhibition rooms and are truly beautiful. I think that the middle of January, the first number will be completed and underway to each subscriber. I shall send thee the very first, and I think it will please thee. It consists of the Turkey Male, the Cuckoos in the papaws and three small drawings that I doubt thou dost not remember, but when thou seest them I am quite sure thou wilt. The little drawings in the center of those beautiful large sheets have a fine effect and an air of richness and wealth that cannot help insure success in this country. I cannot yet say that I will ultimately succeed but at present all bears a better prospect than I ever expected to see, I think, this under the eyes of the most discerning people in the world—I mean Edinburgh—if it takes here it cannot fail anywhere.

It is not the naturalist that I wish to please altogether, I assure thee; it is the wealthy part of the community: the first can only speak well or ill of me, but the latter will fill my pockets.

The
University of Edinburgh having subscribed, I look to the rest of them—11 in number—to follow. I have here strong friends who interest themselves considerably in the success of my work [and] who will bear me a good hand, but I cannot do wonders at once. I must wait patiently until the first number is finished & exhibit that for although my drawings are much admired, if the work itself was inferior nothing could be done, and until I have it I cannot expect many subscribers.

As soon as it is finished I will travel with it over all England, Ireland and Scotland and then over the European Continent, taking my collection with me to exhibit it in all principal cities to raise the means of supporting myself well, and would like most dearly to add thyself & my sons also but can I or can I not expect it? Alas it is not in my power to say; it does not depend on me, or it would soon be accomplished. The first professor of the place, Mr. [Robert] Jameson, the conductor of the [
Edinburgh
]
Philosophical Journal …
gives a beautiful announcement of my work in his present number along with an account of mine of the Turkey Buzzard. Dr. [David] Brewster also announces it with an introductory letter to my work and professor of natural philosophy
John Wilson also in
Blackwood’s Magazine
. These 3 journals print upwards of 30,000 copies so that my name will spread quickly enough. I am to deliver lectures on natural history at the
Wernerian Society at each of its meetings whilst here and I will do the same at all the cities where I will be received [as] an honorary member. Prof. Jameson, who also is professor of natural history, told me that I would soon be a member of all the societies here and that it would give my work a great standing throughout Europe. In the event of ultimate success I must have either my son or some other person to travel for me to see about the collection of payments for the work and to procure new subscribers constantly. As I conceive my Victor a well-fit man for such business, and as it would at once afford him the means of receiving a most complete education and a knowledge of Europe surpassing that of probably any other man—in case I say of success I will write for him immediately, when I hope no more constraint or opposition will be made to my will. I am now better aware of the advantages of a family in unison than ever and I am quite satisfied that by acting conjointly and by my advice we can realize a handsome fortune for each of us. It needs but industry & perseverance. Going to America is mere song and I now find that most valuable voyages could be made by procuring such articles as are wanted here and most plentiful there.

It is now about time to know from thee what thy future intentions are. I wish thee to act according to thy dictates but wish to know what those dictates are. Think that we are far divided and that either sickness or need may throw one into a most shocking
situation without either friend or help, for as thou sayest thyself, “the world is not indulgent.” Cannot we move together and feel and enjoy the natural need of each other? Lucy, my friend, think of all this very seriously. Not a portion of the earth exists but will support us amply, and we may feel happiness anywhere if careful. When you receive this sit and consider well. Consult N. Berthoud, thy son Victor or such a person as
Judge Matthews. Then consult thyself and in a long, plain, explanatory letter give me thy own heart entire. In this country John can receive an education that America does not yet afford, and his propensities are such that, attached to me, he would be left at my death possessor of a talent that would be the means of his support for life. I earnestly begged of thee in all my letters since I discovered that I was advancing in the world to urge him by all means to set to and begin a collection of drawings of all he can, and not to destroy one drawing, no matter how indifferent, but to take all from nature. I find here that although I have drawn much I have not drawn half enough. Tell him to employ my method of putting up birds &c.; to draw fishes, reptiles, eggs, trees, landscapes, all—all he can draw—it will be most valuable to him if he be industrious and work well and closely. By the time he comes of age he would be quite able to have a collection that would be a little fortune for him to begin upon.

I was much surprised at hearing of Charles Bonaparte in Liverpool last week. He arrived on the very vessel that took thy watch to New York—the
Canada
.

The difference of manners here from those of America are astonishing. The great round of company I am thrown in has become fatiguing to me in the extreme and does not agree with my early habits. I go to dine out at 6, 7 or 8 o’clock in the evening and it is one or two in the morning when the party breaks up; then painting all day with my correspondence that increases daily. My head is like a hornet’s nest and my body wearied beyond calculation, yet it has to be done. I cannot refuse a single invitation.

Edinburgh must be the handsomest city in the world. Thou wouldst like it of all things I think for a place of residence. When I send thee the first number of the
Birds of America
I will also send a book given me containing 51 views of this place. In the event of you all removing from America, keep those things, I beg …

I regret exceedingly not having brought barrels of reptiles of all sorts with me. I could get fine prices, I assure thee, and also for rare bird skins [and] seeds of plants—but I thought I had enough to attend to.

I very frequently spoke to thee respecting the very great kindness I have experienced from the family Rathbone of Liverpool. This kindness they continue to me so constantly and in such a manner that I feel quite anxious to repay them through our humble means.
William Rathbone is one of the principal members of the Royal Society of London and one of the wealthiest merchants there. I wrote thee from his mother’s house, dated Green Bank, to forward him some seeds, flowers, leaves &c. and some segments of the largest trees. I hope that thou wilt attend to these things, for in the event of thy coming to England thou would land and come to their care and they would be as kind to thee as they have been to me. The seal with which I now close all my principal letters was given me by Mrs. Rathbone, the mother of that excellent family, and accompanied by a letter that would honor any man living. Keep always directing thy letters to them and write to Mrs. R. herself; she will be a most valuable friend to thee.

Since here, I have painted 2 pictures in oil now in the exhibition. One contains 11 Turkeys with a landscape; the other is my
Otter in a Trap
. My success in oil painting is truly wonderful—I am called an astonishing artist &c. What different times I see here, courted as I am, from those I spent at the Beech Woods where certain people scarcely thought fit to look upon me …

I must now close this and bid thee adieu for a while. I have to copy it as I do all I write. The task is an arduous one, but the consolation of seeing what I say to thee from time to time compensates amply. I very frequently forward thee the newspapers; each of these contain my name. I dined at the Antiquarian Society and was toasted by
Lord Elgin. Thou wilt see it in the papers I sent thee. I would have forwarded thee books and other objects but [am] uncertain if thou wouldst not come to [England] as soon as my plans are solidly fixed. I thought not to do so, but I assure thee I cannot at present conceive failure on my part, and may God grant that it may be true. If I can procure in the whole of 2 years, 300 subscribers we will be rich indeed. God forever bless thee—remember me kindly to all about thee—kiss my son and believe me forever

Thine husband and friend,

John J. Audubon

[Added the next day]

Thou hast here a copy of my last because it contains much of all sorts. But my sweet friend the very morning that I forwarded thee the original, I had the pleasure of receiving two kind letters from thee forwarded me here from London by Mrs. Middlemist. I need not say how gratified I was and how happy I felt at knowing thee quite well and our dear sons also. I sincerely hope that thou wilt continue thy rides on horseback every fair day and walk a great deal besides in the rich magnolia woods about thee. I never felt so much in my life the want of a glance at our forests as I now do. Could I see thee but a moment there, hear the mellow mock bird or the wood thrush to me always so pleasing, and be able to give thee a kiss of affection—ah, my wife, how happy I would again be.

Since I received thy letters (they are dated 9th and 27th August) I have felt delighted at the idea of thy probably coming to Europe sometime next summer. But my Lucy, we must not hurry too much. I wish to sound all well and be perfectly assured of the general ultimate success of my work. The engravings are proceeding apace and are thought beautiful. My exhibition closes here on Saturday next and I will remove it either to Glasgow or to Newcastle-on-Tyne, but this place will continue my residence until my first number is quite finished.

I received a kind letter from [Thomas] Sully a few days ago, dated only 29 days [previously], enclosing one to
Sir Thomas Lawrence. I continue to be well with everybody for an astonishing round of company. I will have copied here for thee some of the invitations I received; it will give thee an idea of the circles I move in—I was elected a member of the
Society of Arts & Sciences a few days ago by acclamation, and when I was presented to the
Wernerian Society (this is the natural [history] society) for an honorary member[ship] I had the same acclamation, and no doubt I will be elected next meeting, for the President told the committee that on such occasions the usual time wanted for consideration
must be laid aside. I have the honor of being at the
Royal Academy meeting; the halls are beautiful indeed. The great British ornithologist
Sir William Jardine and Mr. [Prideaux John] Selby have spent two days with me drawing in my style. I am very much pleased with both and would have gone to Jardine Hall to spend a week but I am really too much engaged at present … I wish I could see John to tell him to draw all he can, for his and my sake.