AUDUBON AND MACGILLIVRAY 127 



answer is that I dissect, describe, and draw Birds, Quadrupeds, 

 whales, reptiles, and fishes, with view of astonishing the world, 

 and bettering my condition. I have about a hundred drawings, 

 all the size of life, excepting two dolphins. But I have deter- 

 mined nothing as yet respecting publication. Some time ago 

 a friend of mine called on Mr. Havell with a letter in which I 

 desired that person to engrave for me a few of my drawings, 

 for the purpose of being exhibited at the meeting of natural- 

 ists. I had no answer, and so Mr. Havell may go to Jerico, 

 or elsewhere, as he lists ; but further your correspondent saith 

 not. 



I am decidedly of opinion that, although you should con- 

 tinue the publication of the Ornithological Biography, you 

 might bring out various other works which could not fail to 

 be popular ; for example a biography of yourself, and sketches 

 of American scenery. But of these matters it is impossible to 

 speak to purpose unless I had the pleasure of seeing you, a 

 pleasure which I hope I shall have at the time of the general as- 

 sembly of the naturalists. 



With best respects to Mrs. Audubon, and best wishes for 

 the prosperity of all that bear that name, I have the honour 

 to be, Dear Sir, yours in sincerity, 



W MacGillivray. 

 [Superscribed] John J. Audubon, Esqr. Mr. Havell, 



77 Oxford St. London. 



A satisfactory arrangement was made and MacGil- 

 livray set to work on Audubon's second volume. On 

 the 16th of June he wrote from Edinburgh: 



If you send me twenty or twenty-five articles, I can revise 

 them without the books to which you refer, and without your 

 own presence, provided your descriptions be full, and the draw- 

 ings or plates sent to me. The skins and books might be con- 

 sulted afterwards, when we might go over the articles in com- 

 pany. Should you come here for the purpose, it would not, I 



