ther, holding fo faft that I was obliged to get the affiftance of a negro to separate them, which we had no fooner affected, than, with the swiftness of a bird, it darted to a block, on which was a wig of my father's, and clinging round it appeared fatisfied; I therefore let him continue, feeding him with goat's milk. He remained in this fituation for three weeks when he abandoned his nurfe, and became by his tricks and merry conceits the friend of the family.

I had without fufpicion placed the wolf in the fheep-fold, for one morning as I entered my apartment, the door of which I had imprudently left open, I faw my unworthy pupil breakfafting on my superb collection: In my first transports of fury I could have ftrangled him, but rage foon gave place to pity, when I faw how dreadfully he was punished for his gluttony, having, in cracking the Scarabees, fwallowed

a 4

lowed the pins on which they were stuck. His torments made me forget his fault, and I only thought of giving him fuccour, but my tears and all the art of the flaves could not fave him from death. This accident threw me confiderably back, but did not entirely difcourage. I fought new difcoveries, and not content with one treafure, wished to re-unite feveral. By a natural progreffion I now thought of birds, the flaves did not procure them to my liking, I therefore armed myself with a Sarbacane, (a tube to shoot with) and an Indian bow, which in fome time I used with great skill, laying wait for whole days, it was now my former taste become a paffion, that disturbed even my hours of rest, and which time daily strength ed.

Some friends have accufed me of coldnefs and infenfibility; a greater number have found the travels I have undertaken rafh, but I readily forgive the first, and

have nothing to fay for the latter. Yet if they deign to glance an eye on the first pursuits of my infancy, this appearance of originality will occafion less surprise, when they find my education at once the cause and the excufe.

Some time after my parents, who had fixed their departure for Europe, anxious to be re-united to their relatives, having settled their affairs, embarked, attended by me, on board the Catharina; on the 4th of April, 1763, we weighed anchor and failed for Holland. In the joy of my heart I partook of all the pleafure and projects of my parents, during the voyage, a curiofity natural to my age, added to my tranfports; but this agitation, or rather delirium, did not render me insensible of regret, I could not fo foon become ungrateful, my eyes were often caft back to the country where I received my being, to the fhores which gradually leffened to my

fight, and as I approached the frozen climates of the North, a profound melancholy overwhelmed me, preyed upon my foul and diffipated the promised enjoyments of the future. After a dangerous voyage we caft anchor in the Texel, at nine or ten o'clock in the morning of the twelfth of July following.

Arrived in Europe, all I beheld was new to me; I fhewed fo much impatience, fatiguing every one with questions, all appeared fo extraordinary, that I, myself, was an object of astonishment to all that furrounded me; notwithstanding, my importunity did not always give the laugh against me, for I paid amply, in keen remarks on America, the information I gained of Europe.

After fome stay in Holland, we went to a city in France, where my father was born; I was now in the bosom of my

family,

family, and my inclinations had full scope for gratification, in the cabinet of Monf. de Becoeur; who, for the Ornithology of Europe, had the best and most numerous collection I have ever seen.

At Surinam I had a manner of skinning birds which anfwered well enough, but spoke little to the imagination, and yet lefs to the fight; I knew no method then of preferving the skins, but placing them in large books: Here a new idea presented; as well as preferving, I could make them retain their natural forms. I determined to study this art particularly, and became a keen sportsman.

During a stay of two years in Germany, and seven in Lorraine and Alface, I made prodigious havock among the birds. I was alfo willing to be acquainted with their manners, and the distinction of their various fpecies; and have often paffed whole