108 John Bachman. 



cholera. Fifty are dead and lying beneath the 

 sands. I hope that it will come no nearer to 

 Charleston. 



My compliments to your son John, with my 

 thanks for his kindness.* Tell him I can only repay 

 when he calls on me, professionally, to tie the knot 

 for him and all shall be done for bird skins. 



And now, my friend, farewell ! soon I hope to hear 

 from you again and again to thank you that old 

 friends are not forgotten. 



Your friend, J. B. 



To AUDUBON : 



CHARLESTON, Dec. 20th, 1832. 

 There has not a day passed over my head, for the 

 last two weeks, in which I have not made the reso- 

 lution, " To-day I will write to Audubon," but I was 

 dull and gloomy (which you will say is uncommon 

 for me). 1 had nothing to write, but bad news, and 

 I hoped, every day, to see our political atmosphere 

 a little brighter. Do not ask me about birds I 

 scarcely know a Buzzard from a King Bird. I will 

 wait until I have had a cup of tea, and then I shall, 

 perhaps, be in a better humor for writing. Now is 

 your time to show your love and charity towards 

 me, by writing me often, although I may not answer 

 immediately. (October 21st.) This is not an answer 

 to your two very kind letters ; I hope to make some 

 returns for them, ere long. The first made me laugh 

 for nearly a week, and the other, caused me to say, 

 " I thank you.'." I possess none of the bird-skins 

 you speak of sending me ; and the Grouse you killed 

 in Maine, I have never seen. I am quite pleased to 

 hear that you have a new owl. By the very first 



*At this date he had not met Victor G., or John W., 

 the two sons of Audubon. 



