240 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



Chamber and House, without being able to see or hear any- 

 thing of your excellency. In the evening as in the morning I 

 was again at Fuller's without avail, went up the street, lis- 

 tened awhile to the Circus music, came back, you were in bed. 



One thing I wanted to ask you about, was respecting your 

 proposed trip next spring. . . . Nothing would delight me 

 more than to go, if I can afford it. Next what preparation 

 would I have to make to fit myself to accompany you. The 

 journey ought to be a sort of "Humboldt & Bonpland" one, for 

 the purpose of increasing the general sum of knowledge in 

 every department of science, physical as well as natural. . . . 

 If there is anything I can do for you here, do not hesitate to 

 command me. 



Audubon's interesting reply to this letter will be 

 given in full: 



Audubon to Spencer Fidlerton Baird 



NEW YORK, July 30, 1842. 

 MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND, 



Your letter of the 27th Inst. reached me yesterday. I am 

 truly vexed that I should have missed you at the Library or 

 the Congress Chambers, where I went (perhaps too late) be- 

 tween 3 and 4 o'clock of the afternoon, having been detained 

 at the different Departments of State where it was my duty to 

 call, preparatory to the next coming Great Western Journey. 



Now it proves by your letter that you feel favorably dis- 

 posed to accompany me on this long thought-of and contem- 

 plated Tour, and wish me to give you some idea of the expenses, 

 attached to such an undertaking; but to this question I am 

 quite unable to reply at present, although I may do so in a 

 few weeks, and which I shall do, provided you write to me 

 again on the subject. 



I have no very particular desire to embark as deep in the 

 Cause of Science as the great Humboldt has done, and that, 

 simply because I am too poor in pecuniary means and too in- 



