40 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



will be given. — These 10 Drawings have been insured this morn- 

 ing against all Risk, for 2,000 $ at % per Centum — I hope you 

 will receive them in perfect order; they are carefully packed 

 by myself in a Tin Box securely sodered & c & c . 



We have now 54. Subscribers in America. 

 M r Inman is going to Paint the Portrait of your Dear Mother, 

 and I have not a doubt that it will be "good & true." The 

 Weather is extremely Warm — The Thermometer ranges at 

 nearly 72. The Martins are flying over the City and To- 

 morrow I shall fly toward the Coast of Labrador — If fortunate 

 I shall bring a load of Knowledge of the Water Birds which 

 spend the Winter in our Country and May hope to Compete 

 in the study of their Habits with any Man in the World. 



My Good Friend Charles Bonaparte as (I am told) taken 

 umbrage at a Passage in My Introduction (first Volume) 10 

 Which proves how difficult it is to please every one — I am going 

 to write to him by Duplicate to try to correct that Error of 

 his — God ever bless You my Dear Son, and May We all meet 

 Well & Happy 



Yours ever affectionately, 



John J. Audubon. 



Audubon was particularly anxious to enlist a number 

 of enthusiastic young men in the Labrador enterprise, 

 and had hoped that his friend, Edward Harris, would 

 join the party. Upon his return to Boston he started 

 at once for Eastport, Maine, where he expected to char- 

 ter a vessel and complete his preparations. On May 9, 

 1833, he wrote to Harris from that point: 



The more I approach the desired object of this voyage, 

 the more bouyant my spirits, and the greater my hopes that 

 when I return I will bring a cargo (not of codfish) but of most 

 valuable information. Make up your mind ; shoulder your fire- 

 lock, and away to the fields where science awaits us with ample 



10 See Chapter XXIX, p. H8, and the letter which Audubon wrote 

 to Bonaparte at this time. 



