OBSTACLES AKD PERPLEXITIES. 187 



Touching in his "homeward course at Balti- 

 more, Philadelphia, and New York, where he 

 remained a fortnight, he again paused at Liver- 

 pool, for the pleasure of once more greeting his 

 numerous friends there, before proceeding to 

 join his family in London. This meeting we 

 readily conceive to have been productive of un- 

 usual gratification and delight. After an interval 

 of anxious separation, doubly joyful for Audu- 

 bon, was reunion to the beloved companion of 

 his life. The gladness of the family gathering, 

 too, we imagine to have been increased, by the 

 especial interest and hilarity natural to the oc- 

 casion — the introduction of one in her newly 

 formed several relations, a daughter, a sister, and 

 a bride; for the son of Audubon, who had ac- 

 companied him in his recent expedition, had but 

 lately been united to the daughter of his friend, 

 Dr. Bachman. 



The " Birds of America" proceeded satisfac- 

 torily, though several subscribers manifested 

 impatience for the completion of the work, and 

 some even discontinued their subscription. Out 

 of deference to the wishes of these, Audubon 

 was induced to crowd, occasionally, a number 

 of species into one plate, and fortunate it was 

 that a laudable regard for his cherished plan 

 prevented him from further acquiescence to its 

 detriment. 



