270 John Bachman. 



A large empty room which opened from their 

 chamber was put at their disposal A few wooden 

 tables and chairs, were brought in, and specimens, 

 papers, etc., were soon arranged in readiness for work, 

 " Avhen the old love for it came back." Perfect rest, 

 aided by the healing waters, had an almost magical 

 effect. 



Rejoicingly he writes to Victor Audubon : 



Madison Springs, June 30th, '49. 



"I have very cheering news to give you. I have 

 been here eleven days ; the day after my arrival the 

 giddiness in my head and other horrid symptoms 

 that have distressed me for months, began to leave 

 me. I sleep well, drink the water, and take a 

 shower-bath daily. Best of all, I am able to work 

 without suffering from my eyes. 



I begun working four hours a day, now I can 

 work for twelve. I shall lessen the hours, should I 

 find my strength failing. This is my tenth work- 

 ing-day. I have finished seventeen articles, and ar- 

 ranged notes for another. I have used as many of 

 your notes as I could. Maria copies carefully. She 

 lops off to the right and the left with your notes and 

 mine; she corrects, criticises, abuses, and praises us 

 by turns. Your father's notes, copied from his jour- 

 nal, are valuable — they contain real information ; 

 some of the others are humbug and rigmarole ; l)ut 

 you have done so well as to surprise us. 



To-day, I wrote the life and doings of the 

 Opossum ; my article will occupy me for another 

 day. Three days ago, I wrote the article on 

 the Ermine; what ^o\\ sent me lacked informa- 

 tion, and I possessed it; in going over its history, 

 I found and described a new Ermine — a small 



