36 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



bers and paper on board the New York in time, is one which, 

 with him I can never correct. If you can do more than I on 

 this score of punctuality I will be gratified. I shall proceed to 

 New York as soon as the weather moderates, on Sunday last 

 the thermom. was 1 below zero. The work is now I am as- 

 sured free of duty. When you write give a word of recollection 

 to Dr. Parkman who is a most desirable and worthy friend. 

 God bless you, forever yours 



J. J. AUDUBON. 



In the spring of 1833 Audubon was determined to 

 carry out a long cherished desire to explore the coast of 

 Labrador, where he hoped not only to discover many 

 new birds, but to ascertain the summer plumages and 

 breeding habits of a host of water fowl that were known 

 to resort in the milder season to that stern and rock- 

 bound shore. Accordingly, he set about with charac- 

 teristic energy to organize and finance an expedition 

 upon his own responsibility. The number of his Ameri- 

 can subscribers was steadily increasing, and at that mo- 

 ment he felt a degree of confidence in the future of his 

 work to hazard almost any undertaking. In April, when 

 his plans were fixed, he went to New York to consult 

 with his wife's brother-in-law and agent, Nicholas A. 

 Berthoud, and to settle his business affairs before leaving 

 the country. While there he wrote the following long 

 letter 9 to his son, Victor, filled, as usual, with careful 

 instructions and interesting personal details. It will be 

 noticed that when he took pen in hand the number of 

 his American subscribers stood at 51, but before he laid 

 it down it had risen to 54 ; his belief that his efforts in the 

 cause of natural science would receive a hearty response 

 in his own country was fully justified. 



9 Originally published by George Bird Grinnell (Bibl. No. 54), The 

 Auk, vol. xxxiii, 1916. 



