58 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



great, the Work must not, and shall not suffer, as long as my 

 eyes and hands can work. 



Dec. 23 d., last evening, we had the pleasure of yours of 

 the 28 Oct, and one from Havell of the 9 th. Regarding Havell, 

 we are glad that all is well with him, and hope he will not 

 trouble us about extra prices, not even for the Water Birds. 

 The safe arrival of my last drawings has relieved me of that 

 anxiety. You are quite right on the score of advice. You in 

 England, will do best to act as you may think proper. We, 

 in America, are trying to do equally well, and our little 

 Alliance is as efficient as the Holy one at least. That Sub- 

 scribers should die is an event we cannot help ; that such fel- 

 lows as V. should act so cannot be controlled, but depend upon 

 our industry, our truth, and the regular manner in which we 

 publish our work ; this will always prove to the world and to 

 our Patrons that nothing more can be done than what we do ; 

 nay, I doubt if any family, with our pecuniary means, ever 

 will raise for themselves such a monument as the "Birds of 

 America" is, over their tomb. 



How comes it that Harlan has not money enough to pay 

 his expenses in Europe ? I shall remember the 20 , and the 

 exchange. Chamley, of New Castle, was never prompt pay; 

 indeed, my dear Victor, were you fully acquainted with the 

 great difficulties which I had to surmount and did surmount, 

 it would give you less fear than you now feel or experience. 

 We shall be glad to receive the Brushes that are, I hope, now 

 under way for us. Mr. Miesson resides [at] No. 2 Rue 

 Pigalle, on the east side of the grand Boulevards. Present my 

 regards to Mr. Yarrell, and thank him in my name for his kind 

 offer of eggs, and add that I shall have it in my power to 

 present him with many which I think he has not found, that 

 our two collections will most likely comprise the whole of those 

 published in my 4 volumes. I fear that to give the eggs in 

 the 2 d. of Biography would render that volume too large, 

 and again too costly, and that a few plates of eggs at the end 

 of the large work will answer better. 32 The plates ought to 



32 



See Note, Vol. I, p. 426. 



