96 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



town. I called on Mr. Lea at Philadelphia, but he told me 

 that you had countermanded your wishes to me & has given 

 me a memorandum to that effect Mr. Gilpin on whom I also 

 called told me that your travelling boxes had forward**. I 

 saw Mr Ward at New York he is doing extremely well if what 

 he told me is true. I saw M. le Comte also. I have just 

 taken the Reins of my Mammoth Publication which by the way 

 I am glad to find in a good way of process or progress. I am 

 greatly indebted to Mr. Children and grateful to him Havell 

 has done his part I think well and now I will set about pro- 

 curing subscriptions with new ardour. Now in return of this 

 packet of information I am very desirous to know what you 

 are engaged at present in the way of science; I feel as if I 

 had a world of talk for you. Bonaparte's 4th volume is print- 

 ing have you seen the third? I have it at Liverpool by this 

 time. I wrote to the author this morning. I am well pleased 

 with my voyage I think it will be of material advantage to my 

 work my health & my comfort We have left our two sons 

 quite well and doing well at the Falls of the Ohio where I killed 

 a fine Turkey about -forty days since. Those sent to the Zoo- 

 logical Gardens alive have had ill luck. They received only one 

 and 3 Oppossums The blue Gias [?] and Parakets are not yet 

 arrived, and Mr. Rathbone as well as Mr. Shepherd told me 

 (to my great sorrow) that the last shipment of 10,000 forest 

 trees were all dead. How did those sent to you? I have 

 commenced the having a complete collection of the Birds of 

 America in skins & have instituted some agents in the U. S. 

 to provide for me. So much have I seen of those dear creatures 

 of the feathered creation that I feel even now as if I heard 

 their notes and saw their all elegant movements. I am going to 

 write a book! but more of this when we meet. do you know 

 that the poor woodsman who now is scribling to you will take 

 his seat at the Royal Society of London tomorrow the very 

 words make my head whirl and I will stand it I do not know I 

 will indeed be glad when I am seated. Mrs A and myself had 

 the pleasure of being very kindly received and treated by our 

 President Jackson Congress subscribed, I procured there four 



