Reader, since I left you, I have felt towards you as towards
that parent. When I parted from him he evinced his sorrow;
when I returned he met me with an affectionate smile. If my
recollection of your kind indulgence has not deceived me, I carried
with me to the western world your wish that I should return
to you; and the desire of gratifying that wish, ever present
with me as I wandered amidst the deep forests, or scaled the
rugged rocks, in regions which I visited expressly for the purpose
of studying nature and pleasing you, has again brought
me into your presence :—I have returned to present you with all
that seems most interesting in my collections. Should you
accept the offering, and again smile benignantly upon me, I
shall be content and happy.
Soon after the engraving of my work commenced, I bade
adieu to my valued friends in Edinburgh, whose many kindnesses
were deeply impressed on my heart. The fair city gradually
faded from my sight, and, as 1 crossed the dreary heaths
of the Lammermoor, the mental prospect became clouded ; but
my spirits revived as I entered the grounds of Mr SEL-BY of
Twizel House, for in him I knew I possessed a friend. The
few days spent under his most hospitable roof, and the many
pleasures I enjoyed there, I shall ever remember with gratitude.
1 was then on my way to London, which I had never yet
visited. The number of letters given me to facilitate my entry
into the metropolis of England, and to aid me in procuring subscribers
to my work, accumulated during my progress. At
Newcastle-upon-Tyne I made my next halt. There the venerable
BEWICK, the ADAMSONS, the TURNERS, the DONKINS, the
HUDDLES, the CHARNLEYS and others, received me with great
kindness, and helped to increase my list of subscribers. The
noble family of the RAVENS WORTHS I also added to my friends,
and from them I have since received important benefits, particularly
from the Honourable THOMAS LIDDELL, whose partiality
for my pursuits induced him to evince a warm interest in
my favour, which I shall ever acknowledge with feelings of affection
and esteem.
It was there, reader, that, as my predecessor WILSON had
done in America, I for the first time in England exhibited some
engravings of my work, together with the contents of my portfolios.
I cannot say that the employment was a pleasant one to
me, nor do I believe it was so to him; but by means of it he at
the time acquired that fame, of which I also was desirous of obtaining
a portion ; and, knowing that should I be successful, it
would greatly increase the happiness of my wife and children, I
waged war against my feelings, and welcomed all, who, from
love of science, from taste, or from generosity, manifested an interest
in the " American Woodsman."
See him, reader, in a room crowded by visitors, holding at
arm's length each of his large drawings, listening to the varied
observations of the lookers on, and feel, as he now and then did,
the pleasure which he experienced when some one placed his
sign manual on the list. This occupation was continued all the
way until I reached the skirts of London ; but the next place
to which I went was the city of York, where I formed acquaintance
with a congenial spirit, Mr PHILLIPS, who is now well
known to you as an eminent Professor of Geology. There also
I admired the magnificent Minster, within whose sacred walls 1
in silence offered up my humble prayer to heaven.
At Leeds, the GOTTS, the BANKSES, the WALKERS, the
MARSH ALLS, the DAVYS, were all extremely kind to me, and