On The Aforesaid Walk, Once Trodden Over By The Prince Of American
Naturalists, The Great Audubon, Whilst On A Visit To Mr. Atkinson At
Spencer Wood, Was Conferred The Name Of Audubon Avenue, By His Sillery
Disciple, The Author Of The Birds Of Canada.
The grand river views of
Spencer Wood, are replaced by a woodland scenery, sure to please the eye
of any man of cultivated taste, accustomed to the park-like appearance of
the south of England.
In front of the mansion, close to the lawn, stands
the noblest elm tree of Sillery (Ulmus Americanus), leafy to its very
roots. Here, amidst literature and flowers, after leaving Spencer Wood,
lived for several years Henry Atkinson, a name in those regions once
synonymous with ornamental gardens and flowers. Graperies, conservatories,
an orchid house soon sprung up under his hand at this spot, larger than
Spencer Wood had ever boasted of in its palmiest days, since 1860, it is
the seat of J. M. LeMoine.
The advent in Quebec of the great Audubon is heralded thus in the
Quebec Gazette of the 23rd September, 1842: -
"To the Editor of the Quebec Gazette"
SIR, - It does not appear to be known to the Quebec public that one of
the most distinguished men of the present age is now on a visit to our
city - John James Audubon, the author of the magnificent work entitled
'Ornithological Biography; or an Account of the Habits of the Birds of
America, etc.' I understand that Mr. Audubon devoted nearly fifty
years of his life to this interesting subject, and has placed before
the world, at a cost of L27,000 sterling, the whole family of the
feathered tribe, giving to each its natural size, and coloured to the
very life. Mr. Audubon has brought one copy [232] of his work with
him, let as hope it may be secured by our citizens. It is his first
visit to Quebec, the splendid scenery of which has induced him to
prolong his stay a few days. His present portfolio contains several
beautiful specimens of the quadrupeds of America, now in course of
publication by him as a companion to the above splendid work, which
only requires to be seen to ensure him a numerous list of subscribers
in this neighborhood.
"In order to afford Mr. Audubon every facility in the pursuit of his
arduous and interesting undertaking, the President of the United
States and the Commander-in-Chief, General Winfield Scott, have
furnished him the necessary documents to ensure him a cordial
reception throughout the Union.
"Mr. Audubon thus speaks of his meeting on the coast of Labrador, a
British officer well known to us all in Quebec - "But few days had
elapsed, when one morning we saw a vessel making towards our
anchorage, with the gallant flag of England waving in the breeze and
as she was moored within a cable's length of the Ripley, I soon
paid my respects to her commander, Captain Bayfield, of the Royal
Navy.
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