128 John Bachman. 



copper-plate, his son writes a somewhat better hand 

 than he does himself. There is room, however, for 

 improvement in all of us, and the time may come, 

 when he may be so superior in that department, as 

 to set up a patent Writing School, to teach the whole 

 system in one lesson, and perhaps, by that time, I 

 may do the same in drawing. 



You certainly underrate your talents as a stufFer 

 of birds — indeed, they are the best skins I have in 

 my possession, and I only wish that I could do them 

 as well — even Henry Ward acknowledges that you 

 are his equal in this art. 



I am anxious to feel m3^self at home in every part 

 of Ornithology, so that I may be able to review my 

 old friend's " Second Volume." In two or three 

 weeks we will know the result of the agitations of 

 Nullifying brethren — for weal or for woe ; and should 

 affairs terminate favorably, I shall be able to go on 

 with a little more spirit, in mv studies of Natural 

 History. 



Yes ! I am always ready with or without book, to 

 fulfil my pledge, and many a poor fellow has found 

 to his cost, that I can tie a knot that no Jack-knife 

 can sever. 



What chance is there of my ever shaking you by 

 the hand? Will the flowers of spring and sum- 

 mer be over, before I obtain even a promise ? 



Tell your good father, that if he is not too tired of 

 my long letters, he will hear from me, perhaps, too 

 soon. In truth, when I am dull, (and I never have 

 known what low spirits were, till I witnessed the 

 heart burnings of political strife), I begin to write 

 a letter to my old friend. Jostle, and after two or 

 three lines, all care and sorrow are forgotten. 



Perhaps, I ought to be ashamed to make one 

 other request about bird-skins, after your generos- 

 ity ; yet I would add a list of Northern birds that I 



