66 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



To tell you that I am surprised at your generous conduct 

 in remitting to me Four hundred, Ninety dollars in advance, 

 for all the numbers of my book, would be a poor gratification 

 to me. I feel your generosity, and I cannot say any more. 

 God bless you. 



Nos. 36 & 37 have reached this place ; my drawings shipped 

 from Charleston are safely in the hands of Victor at London. 

 I have been able to forward him 650 , and I have 30 sovereigns 

 to defray our expenses from Liverpool to the Great Metropolis. 

 In 1824, poor J. had dreams, but how far was I then from be- 

 lieving that I should ever have succeeded as I have ; who will 

 believe my story? Only one or two besides yourself, have 

 an Idea of what I have undergone, but, if God grants me life, 

 I shall publish that story, and send you the sheets thereof, as 

 they are struck by the printer. 



Audubon took with him to England all the collec- 

 tions which he had accumulated during nearly three 

 years of travel and search in different parts of the 

 United States and the British possessions. During this 

 eventful period he had renewed one hundred of his 

 older drawings, executed many new ones, discovered new 

 birds, extended his acquaintance, and added sixty-two 

 names to his list of patrons. 



After they had reached Liverpool, he wrote to Bach- 

 man, May 8, 1834, that they had returned on the "su- 

 perb packet of 650 tons, called the North America, com- 

 manded by an admirable gentleman, named Dixie of 

 Philadelphia" ; the voyage was made in not quite twenty 

 days. A little later they joined their son, Victor, in 

 London. 



