202 CouES: "BeJmid the Veil." 



\_LeUer from John J. Audubon, superscribed to " Richd Harlan Esq""- M. D. 

 &c &c &c Philadelphia Pens'*"; now in the possession of R. W. Shufeldt, 

 M. Z)., and heretofore unpublished.^ 



St Francisville Louisiana Novembr IS'Ii 

 1829 — 



My Dear Friend. — 



You will see by the data of this the rapidity with which I have crossed 

 two thirds of the United States. I had the happiness of pressing my 

 beloved wife to my breast Yesterday morning ; saw my two sons at Louis- 

 ville and all is well. — from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh I found the lloads, 

 the Coaches, horses Drivers and Inns all much improved and yet need- 

 ing a great deal to make the traveller quite comfortable — The slownesse 

 of the stages is yet a great bore to a man in a hurry — I remained part of 

 a day at Pittsburgh where of course I paid my respects to the Museum ! 

 I was glad to see the germ of one — it is conducted by a very young man 

 named Lambdin — I made an arrangement with him [place of seal — paper 

 gone] &<=• &c. &c. at Cincinnati I also visited the Museum [paper gone] 

 it scarcely improves since my last view of it, except indeed by wax 

 figures and such other shows as are best suitable to make money and the 

 least so to improve the mind. — I could not see D[illegible] my time was 

 very limited. — The Ohio was in good order for Navigation and I reached 

 Louisville distant from you about 1 ,000 Miles in one week. = as you spoke 

 of travelling westwardly I give you here an " ,. of the Fare. — to Pittsburgh 

 all included 21 $. — to Louisville 12 S. — and 25 $ more to Bayou Sarah 

 where I Landed. 30 $ is the price from Louisville to N. Orleans. = 

 our Steam Boats are commodious and go well — but my Dear Friend the 

 most extraordinary change has taken place in appearance as I have pro- 

 ceeded. — The foliage had nearly left the Trees in Pensylvania, the Swal- 

 lows had long since disapeared severe frost indeed had rendered Nature 

 gloomy and uninteresting — Judge of the contrast : I am now surrounded 

 by Green Trees and Swallows gambole around the house as in Pennsylva- 

 nia during June & July ::= The mock bird is heard to sing and during a 

 Walk with my Wife yesterday I collected some 20 or 30 Insects =: that is 

 not all, a friend of mine here says that he has discovered 2 or 3 New 

 Birds ! ! ! — new Birds are new birds our days, and I shall endeavour to 

 shew you the Facts Simile when again I shall have the pleasure of shaking 

 your hand — 



although so lately arrived, I have established the fact that M" A. and 

 myself will be on our way towards " Old England" by the 15* of Jan.y- 

 we will ascend the Mississijji and after resting ourselves at Louisville with 

 our sons and other relatives about one month and then proceed with the 

 Rapidity of the Wild Pigeon should God grant us our wishes ! — 



have you seen or heard any thing of Ward ? — have you the little sketch 

 of Dear ? = we had a passenger on Board the Huntress named Potts from 

 your City who knows you well a lively young Gentleman ; has a Brother 

 (a Clergyman) established and married at Natchez. — 



