78 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 
From J. J. Audubon to S. F. Baird. 
New York, July 30, 1842. 
My Dear Younc Frienp,— 
Your letter of the 27th Inst. reached me yesterday. I am truly 
vexed that I should have missed you at the Library or the Congress 
Chambers, where I went (perhaps too late) between 3 and 4 o’clock 
of the afternoon, having been detained at the different Departments 
of State where it was my duty to call, preparatory to my next coming 
Great Western Journey. 
Now it proves by your letter that you feel favorably disposed 
to accompany me on this long thought-of and contemplated Tour, 
and wish me to give you some idea of the expenses, attached to such 
an undertaking; but to this question I am quite unable to reply at 
present, although I may do so in a few weeks, and which I shall do 
provided you write to me again on the subject. 
I have no very particular desire to embark as deep in the Cause 
of Science as the great Humboldt has done, and that, simply because 
I am both too poor in pecuniary means and too incompetent; but 
I wish nevertheless to attempt to open the Eyes of naturalists to 
Riches untold, and facts hitherto untold. The portions of the country 
through which it is my intention to pass, never having been trodden 
by white Man previously. 
I have some very strong doubts whether the results of the 
Antarctic Expedition will be published for some time yet; for, alas, 
our Government has not the means, at present, of paying some 
half a Million of Dollars to produce publications such as they should 
publish, and connected with the vast stores of Information, collected 
by so many Scientific Men in no less than Four Years of Constant 
Toil and privation, and which ought to come to the World of Science 
at least as brightly as the brightest rays of the Orb of Day during 
the Mid-summer Solstice. Oh, my dear young friend, that I did 
possess the wealth of the Emperor of Russia, or of the King of the 
French; then indeed I would address the Congress of our Country, 
ask of them to throw open these stores of Natural Curiosities, and 
Comply with mine every wish to publish, and to Give away Copies 
of the invaluable Works thus produced to every Scientific Institution 
throughout our Country, and throughout the World. 
