204 COJJES :" Behind tJie Veil." 



[^Letter fromW. MacGillivray, superscribed to ^^ Jolin J. Audubon, Esq' -'Mr. 

 Havell, 77 Oxford St. London." now in the jjossession of Jos. M. Wade, 

 Rockville, Conn., and hitherto unpublished.'] 



Edinburgh, 11 Gillmore Place. 

 . 28th May 1834. 



Dear Sir, 



I am glad to hear of your safe arrival, which I did not expect so soon, 

 and pleased to find you in good health and high spirits. As you have the 

 kindness to inquire respecting myself and family, I am happy to inform 

 you that we are all very well, contented and busy. My head and hands 

 are quite full — abundance of work, and sufficient pay — time to ramble 

 now and then for the purpose of hammering rocks, pulling plants, and 

 shooting birds. 



You say you have accumulated a mass of materials which you are desi- 

 rous of seeing in print, and propose that I should revise it as before. I 

 shall be glad to do so, if you please, and willing that you confer the ben- 

 efit on another, if you find it expedient. As to the terms, let them be 

 such as you please with respect to money ; but as time is valuable to me, 

 I should like that arrangements be made so as to prevent unnecessary loss 

 of it, by letting me have manuscripts, books, &c. in due array. 



The skins of which you speak I apprehend cannot be disposed of here 

 to any great extent ; but I believe shells might be sold to advantage, and 

 bring higher prices than in London. 



You ask if I draw Birds yet, with a view to publish. My 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 dol- 

 phins. But I have determined nothing as yet respecting publication. 

 Some time ago a friend of mine called on M^ ILavell with a letter.in which 

 I desired that person to engrave for me a few of my drawings, for the pur- 

 pose of being exhibited at the meeting of naturalists. I had no answer, 

 and so Mr Havell may go to Jericho, or elsewhere, as he lists ; but further 

 your correspondent saith not. 



I am decidedly of opinion that, although you should continue the publi- 

 cation 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 assembly of 

 the naturalists. 



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

 of all who bear that name, I have the honour to be. Dear Sir, yours in 

 sincerity, 



W MacGillivray. 



