Scribner's magazine. / Volume
13, Issue 3
Publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons :
March, 1893, pages 267 -288
AUDUBON'S STORY OF HIS YOUTH.
page 267
INTRODUCTION.
By Maria P.
Audubon.
THE following pages of
autobiography of my grandfather, John James Audubon, the
naturalist, were found accidentally in an old
calfskin-bound volume where for many years they had been
hidden. They have proved of so much interest to those who
have read them or heard them read, that it is deemed well
to publish them unchanged, though in one or two instances
paragraphs and names which bear on purely family matters
have been omitted. Indeed, with the pictured faces of the
father who wrote the sketch and those of the two sons for
whom it was written looking from the wall of the room
wherein the ancient book lies, it has seemed impossible
to 'make any alteration in the quaint phraseology and
rather irregular arrangements of incidents; all,
therefore, has been left untouched. Those who are - the
manuscript must long have passed away; and it is hoped,
therefore, that there is no objection to be raised as to
retaining the few names to be found in it.
That a transcript from
these pages was part of the material placed by my
grandmother, Mrs. Audubon, in the hands of the editor of
her Memoir of her husband, is probable from the
appearance there of several brief extracts from it, and
of a summary of the events here described; but the
narrative had never been even privately
printed.
Written at a time when
the struggle was over, fame and wealth having then come
to the man who rose so successfully after such heavy
losses and such continuous and unlooked - for
misfortunes, the manuscript shows that these things had
cut deep into the sensitive heart and mind of him of whom
we may surely say
"No bird that
cleaves the air
But his revealing thought
has made more fair.",
MYSELF, J. J.
AUDUBON.
THE precise period of my
birth is yet an enigma to me, and I can only say what I
have often heard my father repeat to me on this subject,
which is as follows: It seems that my father had large
properties in Santo Domingo, and was in the habit of
visiting frequently that portion of our Southern States
called, and known by the name of, Louisiana, then owned
by the French Government.
During one of these
excursions he married a lady of Spanish extraction, whom
I have been led to understand was as beautiful as she was
wealthy, and otherwise attractive, and who bore my father
three sons and a daughter, I being the youngest of the
sons and the only one who survived extreme youth. My
mother, soon after my birth, accom-
AUDUBON'S STORY OF HIS
YOUTH.
page
268
panied my father to the
estate of Aux Cayes, on the island of Santo Domingo, and
she was one of the victims during the ever-to-be-lamented
period of the negro insurrection of that
island.
My father, through the
intervention of some faithful servants, escaped from Aux
Cayes with a good portion of his plate and money, and
with me and these humble friends reached New Orleans in
safety. From this place he took me to France, where,
having married the only mother I have ever known, he left
me under her charge, and returned to the United States in
the employ of the French Government, acting as an officer
under Admiral Rochambean. Shortly afterward, however, he
landed in the United States and became attached to the
army under La Fayette.
The first of my
recollective powers placed me in the central portion of
the city of Nantes, on the Loire River, in France, where
I still recollect particularly that I was much cherished
by my dear stepmother, who had no children of her own,
and that I was constantly attended by one or two black
servants who had followed my father from Santo Domingo to
New Orleans and afterward to Nantes.
One incident, which is as
perfect in my memory as if it had occurred this very day,
I have thought of thousands of times since, and will now
put on paper as one of the curious things which perhaps
did lead me in after times to love birds, and to finally
study them with pleasure infinite. My mother had several
beautiful parrots, and some monkeys; one of the latter
was a full-grown male of a very large species. One
morning, while the servants were engaged in arranging the
room I was in, "Pretty Polly" asking for her breakfast as
usual, "Da pain an lait pour le perro~juet Miguonne," the
man of the woods probably thought the bird presuming upon
his rights in the scale of nature; e this as it may, he
certainly showed his supremacy in strength over the
denize~n of the air, for, walking deliberately and
uprightly toward the poor bird, he at once killed it,
with unnatural composure. The sensations of my infant
heart at this cruel sight were agony to me. I prayed the
servant to beat the monkey, but he, who for some reason
preferred the monkey to the parrot, refused. I uttered
long and piercing cries, my mother rushed into the room,
I was tranquillized, the monkey was forever afterward
chained, and Mignonne buried with all the pomp of a
cherished lost one.
This made, as I have
said, a very deep impression on my youthful mind. But
now, my dear children, I must tell you somewhat of my
father, and of his parentage. John Audubon, my
grandfather, was born and lived at the small village of
Sable d'Olhonne, and was by trade a very humble
fisherman. He appears to have made up for the want of
wealth by the number of his children, twenty-one of whom
he actually raised to man and womanhood. All were sons,
with one exception; my aunt, one uncle, and my father,
who was the twentieth son, being the only members of that
extraordinary numerous family who lived to old age. In
subsequent years, when I visited Sable d'Olhonne, the old
residents assured me that they had seen the whole family,
including both parents, at church many times.
When my father had
reached the age of twelve years, his father presented him
with a shirt, a dress of coarse material, a stick and his
blessing, and urged him to go and seek means for his
future support and sustenance.
Some ldnd whaler or
cod-fisherman took him on board as a "Boy." Of
his
Profile of J. J. Audubon
from his Death Mask.
(Since destroyed by
fire.)
John J.
Audubon.
(Reproduced from an
engraving by C. Turner, A.R.A., of the portrait by F.
Cruickshank.)
AUDUBON'S STORY OF
HIS YOUTH.
page
270
life during his early
voyages it would be useless to trouble you, let it
suffice for me to say that they were the usual most
uncomfortable nature. How many trips he made I cannot
say,
General
Washington.
(From a portrait
presented to J. J. Audubon, by Washington, a few days
before going into winter-quarters at Valley
Forge.)
but he told me that
by the time he was seventeen he had become an able seaman
before the mast; when twenty-one, he commanded a
fishing-smack,and went to the great Newfoundland Banks;
at twenty-five he owned several small crafts, all
fishermen, and at twenty-eight sailed for Santo Domingo -
with his little flotilla heavily loaded with produce of
the deep. "Fortune," said he to me one day, "now began to
smile upon me. I did well in this enterprise, and after a
few more voyages of the same sort gave up the sea, and
purchased a small estate on the Isle a Vaches; the
prosperity of Santo Domingo was at its zenith, and in the
course of ten years I had realized something very
considerable. The then Governor gave me an appointment
which called me to France, and having received some
favors there, became once more a seafaring man, the
Government having granted me the command of a small
vessel of war."
How long my father
remained in the service it is impossible for me to say.
The different changes occurring at the time of the
American Revolution, and afterward during that in France,
seem to have sent him from one place to another as if a
foot-ball; his property in Santo Domingo augmenting,
however, the while, and indeed till the liberation of the
black slaves there.
During a visit he paid to
Pennsylvania when suffering from the effects of a
sunstroke, he purchased the beautiful farm of Millgrove,
on the Schuylkill and Perkiomen streams. At this place,
few days only before the memorable bat-
AUDUBON'S STORY OF
HIS YOUTH.
page
271
tie (sic) of Valley
Forge, General Washington presented him with his
portrait, now in my possession, and highly do I value it
as a memento of that noble man and the glories of those
days.*
Admiral Audubon, Father
of the Naturalist*
At the conclusion of the
war between England and her child of the 'West, my father
returned to France, and continued in the employ of the
naval department of that country, being at one time sent
to Plymouth, England, in a seventy - five - gun ship, to
exchange prisoners. This was, I think, in the short peace
that took place between England aud France in 1801. He
returned to Rochefort, where he lived for several years,
still in the employ of Government. He finally sent in his
resignation and returned to Nantes and La Gerbertlltre.
He had many severe trials and afflictions before his
death, having lost my two older brothers early in the
French Revolution; both were officers in the army. His
only sister was killed by the Chouans of La Vendee, and
the only brother he had was not on good term with him.
This brother resided at Bayonne, and, I believe, had a
large family, none of whom I have ever seen or
known.
In personal appearance my
father and I were of the same height and stature, say
about five feet ten inches, erect, and with muscles of
steel; his manners were those of a most polished
gentleman, for those and his natural understanding had
been carefully improved both by observation and by
self-education. In temper we much resembled each other
also, being warm, irascible, and at times violent, but it
was like the blast of a hurricane, dreadful for a time,
when calm almost instantly returned. He greatly approved
of the change in France during the time of Napoleon, whom
he almost idolized.
* The family still
own this portrait of General Washington.
AUDUBON'S STORY OF
HIS YOUTH.
page
272
Fatland House on the
Schuylkill, Pa., as Rebuilt about 1846.
(The home of Lucy
Bakewell, whom Auduhon married.)
My father died in 1813,
regretted most deservedly on account of his simplicity,
truth, and perfect sense of honesty. Now I must return to
myself.
My stepmother, who was
devotedly attached to me, far too much for my good, was
desirous that I should be brought up to live and die
"like a gentleman," thinking that fine clothes and filled
pockets were the only requisites needful to attain this
end. She therefore completely spoiled me, hid my faults,
boasted to everyone of my youthful merits, and, worse
than all, said frequently in my presence that I was the
handsomest boy in France. All my wishes and idle notions
were at once gratified; she went so far as actually to
grant me carte blanche at all the confectionery shops in
the town, and also of the village of Coneron, where
during the summer we lived, as it were, in the
country.
My father was quite of
another, and much more valuable, description of mind as
regarded my future welfare he believed not in the power
of gold coins as efficient means to render a man happy.
He spoke of the stores of the mind, and having suffered
much himself through a want of education, he ordered that
I should be put to school, and have teachers at home.
"Revolutions," he was wont to say, "too often take place
in the lives of individuals, and they are apt to lose in
one day the fortune they before possessed; but talents
and knowledge, added to sound mental training, assisted
by honest industry, can never fail, nor be taken from
anyone once the possessor of such valuable means."
Therefore, notwithstanding all my mother's entreaties and
her tears, off to a school I was sent. Excepting only,
perhaps, military schools, none were good in France at
this period; the thunders of the Revolution still roared
over the land, the Revolutionists covered the earth with
the blood of man, woman, and child. But let me forever
drop the curtain over the frightful aspect of this dire
picture. To think of these dreadful days is too terrible,
and would be too horrible and
AUDUBON'S STORY OF
HIS YOUTH.
page
273
painful for me to relate
to you, my dear Sons.
The school I went to was
none of the best ; my private teachers were the only
means through which I acquired the least benefit. My
father, who bad been for so long a seaman, and who was
then in the French Navy, wished me to follow in his
steps, or else to become an engineer. For this reason I
studied much as I pleased; it was therefore drawing,
geography, mathematics, fencing, etc., as well as music,
for which I had considerable talent. I had a good
fencing-master, and a first-rate teacher of the violin;
mathematics was hard, dull work I thought ; geography
pleased me more. For my other studies, as well as for
dancing, I was quite enthusiastic; and I well recollect
how anxious I was then to become the commander of a corps
of dragoons.
My father being mostly
absent, on duty, my mother suffered me to do not to be
wondered at that, instead of applying closely to my
studies, I preferred associating with boys of my own age
and disposition, who were more
John J.
Audubon
(From a painting by his
son, J.W. Audubon, about 1841.)
AUDUBON'S STORY OF HIS
YOUTH.
page
274
Victor Gifford Audubon
aged about Thirteen.
(Painted by his father,
J. J. Audubon, about 1828.)
fond of going in search
of birds' nests, fishing, or shooting, than of better
studies. Thus almost every day, instead of going to
school when I ought to have gone, I usually made for the
fields, where I spent the day; my little basket went with
me, filled with good eatables, and when I returned home,
during either winter or summer, it was replenished with
what I called curiosities, such as birds' nests, birds'
eggs, curious lichens, flowers of all sorts, and even
pebbles gathered along the shore of some
rivulet.
The first time my father
returned from sea after this my room exhibited quite a
show, and on entering it he was so pleased to see my
various collections that he complimented me on my taste
for such things; but when he inquired what else I had
done, and I, like a culprit, hung my head, he left me
without saying another word. Dinner over he asked my
sister for some music, and, on her playing for him, he
was so pleased with her improvement that he presented her
with a beautiful book. I was next asked to play on my
violin, but alas! for nearly a month I had not touched
it, it was stringless; not a word was said on that
subject. "Had I any drawings to show?" Only a few, and
those not good. My good father looked at his wife, kissed
my sister, and humming a tune left the room. The next
morning at dawn of day my father and I were under way in
a private carriage; my trunk, etc., were fastened to it,
my violin-case was under my feet, the postilion was
ordered to proceed, my father took a book from his
pocket, and while he silently read I was left entirely to
my own thoughts.
After some days'
travelling we entered the gates of Rochefort. My father
had scarcely spoken to me, yet there was no anger
exhibited in his countenance; nay, as we reached the
house where we alighted, and approached the door, near
which a sentinel stopped his walk and presented arms, I
saw him smile as he raised his hat and said a few words
to the man, but so low that not a syllable reached my
ears.
The house was furnished
with servants, and everything seemed to go on as if the
owner had not left it. My father bade me sit by his side,
and taking one of my hands, calmly said to me: "My
beloved boy, thou art now
John Woodhouse Audubon,
aged Eleven.
(Painted by his father,
J. J. Audubon, about 1828.)
AUDUBON'S STORY OF
HIS YOUTH.
page
275
safe, I have brought thee
here that I may be able to pay constant attention to thy
studies, thou shalt have ample time for pleasures, but
the remainder must be employed with industry and care.
This day is entirely thine own, and as I must attend to
my duties, if thou wishest to see the docks, the fine
ships of war, and walk round the wall, thou may'st
accompany me." I accepted and off together we went; I was
presented to every officer we met, and they noticing me
more or less, I saw much that day, yet still I perceived
that I was like a prisoner-of-war on parole in the city
of Rochefort.
My best and most amiable
companion was the son of Admiral, or Vice-Admiral (I do
not precisely recollect his rank) Vivien, who resided
nearly opposite to the house where my father and I then
resided; his company I much enjoyed, and along with him
all my leisure hours were spent. About this time my
father was sent to England in a corvette with a view to
exchange prisoners, and he sailed on board the man-of-war
L'Institution for Plymouth. Previous to his sailing he
placed me under the charge of his secretary, Gabriel
Loyen Dupuy Gaudeau, the son of a fallen
nobleman.
Now this gentleman was of
no pleasing nature to me; he was, in fact, more than too
strict and severe in all his prescriptions to me, and
well do I recollect that one morning, after having been
set to a very arduous task in mathematical problems, I
gave him the slip, jumped from the window, and ran off
through the gardens attached to the Marine Secretariat.
The unfledged bird may stand for a while on the border of
its nest, and perhaps open its winglets attempt to soar
away, but his youthful imprudence may, and indeed often
does, prove inimical to his prowess, as some more wary
and older bird, that has kept an eye toward him, pounces
relentlessly upon the young adventurer and secures him
within the grasp of his more powerful talons. This was
the case with me in this instance. I had leaped from the
door of my cage and thought myself quite safe, while I
rambled thoughtlessly beneath the shadow of the trees in
the garden and grounds in which I found myself; but the
secretary, with a side glance, had watched my escape,
and, ere many minutes had elapsed, I saw coming toward me
a corporal with whom, in fact, I was well acquainted. On
nearing me, and I did not attempt to escape, our past
familiarity was, I found, quite evaporated; he bid me, in
a severe voice, to follow him, and on my being presented
to my father's secretary I was at once ordered on board
the pontoon in port. All remonstrances proved fruitless,
and on board the pontoon I was conducted, and there left
amid such a medley of culprits as I cannot describe, and
of whom, indeed, I have but little recollection, save
that I felt vile myself in their vile company. My father
returned in due course, and released me from these
floating and most disagreeable lodgings, but not without
a rather severe reprimand.
Shortly after this we
returned to Nantes, and later to La Gerbertiere. My stay
here was short, and I went to Nantes to study mathematics
anew, and there spent about one year, the remembrance of
which has flown from my memory, with the exception of one
incident, of which, when I happen to pass my hand over
the left side of my head, I am ever and anon reminded.
'Tis quite safe; one morning while playing with the boys
of my own a quarrel arose among us, a battle ensued, in
the course I was knocked down by a
Audubon
(From a picture made not
long before his death.)
AUDUBON'S STORY OF
HIS YOUTH.
Page
276
Mill Grove, now
Audubon's, on the Schuylkill, Pa &emdash; Early Home of
Audubon in America.
(From a photograph made
in 1884.)
DRAWN BY 0. H.
BACHER.
Audubon's
Story of his Youth continued
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