248 Deaxe, Letters of MacGillivray to Audubon. \j^y 



having got twelve subscribers, two at Salem, four at Boston, and 

 six at New York. At the Ac. of Nat. Sciences at Philadelphia he 

 saw the collections of Messrs. Nuttall and Townsend, and ascer- 

 tained that they had procured forty new species of birds. Mr. 

 Nuttall afterward presented him with six other species. The birds 

 in spirits for the new edition are upwards of 200, besides 20 large 

 jars, which Mr. Bachman has filled. They intended to remain at 

 Phila. and at Great Egg Harbor some days, and then proceed to 

 Charleston, whence, accompanied by Mr. Harris, they were to 

 search the shores of the gulf of Mexico as far as Sabine River. 



We have removed from Gilmore Place to Newington, which 

 is a much more pleasant situation in every respect. My young 

 baby, who has received the name of Audubon, is thriving and 

 the other children are in good health, as is Mrs. MacGillivray. 

 Dr. Aitkin is very well, preparing for his winter classes which 

 begin five days hence. We had a very unexpected fall of snow 

 last week, which however remained only three days. Provisions 

 are expected to be dear this winter, on account of the badness of 

 the summer and autumn, although in the lower districts I believe, 

 the crops were all got in safely. 



I have in hand just now a work on British Birds on a larger 

 scale than that on the Rapacious species, and was anxious for the 

 specimens of the wild Turtle Dove and the Black Dove, which 

 Mr Audubon could not procure in London. I have desired my 

 bookseller, Mr. Scott of Scott, Webster & Geary, Charterhouse 

 Square, to procure for me among the dealers all my desiderata, 

 there will be several plates representing the digestive organs, and 

 a few skeletons with a multitude of wood-cuts, and I expect the 

 first volume to be out by the middle of March at the latest. I 

 have scarcely done anything in the way of money making since 

 you left this, but must brush up, otherwise I shall be gazetted as 

 an insolent book-maker. In the meantime I have plenty of offers, 

 indeed if I had three heads and six hands, I have work enough 

 for all. 



I must endeavor to get through as much as possible before 

 Mr Audubon comes back, which I hope will be about this time 

 next year, when we shall have plenty of pickles. By the bye, it 

 will certainly be necessary for him to take a small house for the 



