176 John Bachman. 



sister, Harriet Eva, who was then on a visit at a 

 plantation, near Charleston. 



December 11th, 1838. 



"Do not think, mv dear sister, from my long silence, 

 that I did not appreciate yonr i welcome letter. I am 

 in debt to all my correspondents ; and, when I tell 

 jou. that my dear Ria, (sister Maria), is included 

 among the number, you may console yourself. The 

 truth is, I have been busy and felt unsettled. Tlie 

 drawing and dining rooms, have, been newly 

 painted, so we have occupied the jminting room, as it 

 has long been called. Although the appearance of 

 the room is now changed, yet, I am constantly re- 

 minded of the time when the Audubons were here, 

 and when I spent so many happy days with our 

 dear Ria. I look at the seats, once so agreeably 

 tilled, with a feeling of regret that those who occu- 

 pied them are so far away from us. 



A letter has just been received irom Ria, written 

 in excellent spirits ; but, alas ! she gives us little 

 hope that we shall soon see her. Mr. Audubon's 

 letter-press, has occupied him a much longer time 

 than he expected, on account of the number of new 

 birds which have been discovered, and he now 

 fears that those delightful episodes, which seemed to 

 give universal pleasure, will have to be omitted 

 from want of space. 



Ria writes that the little Lucy already weighs 

 seventeen pounds ; she will soon, at that rate, 1)e a 

 weight to carr^^ 



The Audubons are delighted with Edinburgh. 

 If the cit}'' equals the descriptions I have so often 

 read, it must, both in point of natural scener}^ and 

 agreeable society, be far superior to the far-famed 

 London, with all its bustle and humbug. The latter 



