CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH 89 



of Sir William Drummond Stewart, Bar 1 ., on his return from the 

 Central part of the Rocky Mountains, and to come back with him 

 and his 100 followers to St. Louis next Oct r . or early in November! 

 God bless you. Present our best regards to all among you, and with 

 the best Wishes of my whole family, believe me always, 



Your friend, 



JOHN J. AUDUBON. 



Baird's reply to this is not found among the papers 

 accessible, but its import may be inferred from the follow- 

 ing letter: 



From J . J. Audubon to S. F. Baird. 



NEW YORK, Jany. 31, 1843. 

 MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND, 



I have this evening received yours of the 28th Inst., and reply 

 to its contents at once. 



It appears from the whole tenure of your letter, that that rascally 

 article cash is the cause which prevents you from going along with 

 me to the Yellowstone River and back. Now, it happens that al- 

 though we are very far from being rich, we all feel desirous that you 

 should go along with me, because we all know you, and I particularly 

 so. Therefore, if you will go with me, and assist me all you can, in 

 the way of hunting, measuring and dissecting Specimens when I am 

 otherwise engaged, etc. etc. I will furnish you with all that may be 

 necessary for your expenses, excepting your clothing and your gun 

 or guns, as you may have them. I do not at present expect to be 

 gone more than six months, and in all probability will go and return 

 by water. Now and then you may have to assist Mr. Bell of this city 

 in the skinning of a few large animals, but my principal wish is to 

 employ you as my Secretary, in friendship, and for the sake of that 

 Science to which I have now been devoted many years, and yourself 

 several. 



Therefore, I wish you to consider this matter, and write to me 

 as soon as you can, and send me your last decision at once. 



Besides John G. Bell, the stuffer, etc., I expect a young man 

 from Hingham, Mass tts ., some of whose drawings I believe you have 

 seen, and who will assist me when wanted, but who will especially 



