88 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 
From John J. Audubon to S. F. Baird. 
New York, January 2, 1843. 
My pear Frienp,— 
On my return from Boston where I have been for upwards of 
a fortnight, I found your letter at home, and now will answer to 
your questions as far as is in my power at present. 
First however I am glad to know that you are desirous of going 
with me and this because I know I understand you well; and that it 
would be a pleasure to my whole family to know that you are my 
companion during such an absence as is now to take place between 
me and them, and which cannot be calculated under any circum- 
stances to be less than eight months from the 1* of April next, when 
I must be at St. Louis, ready to embark on board of my friend’s Mr. 
Chouteau’s Steamer leaving for the Yellowstone River, etc. etc. 
It is next to impossible for me to say with any degree of accuracy 
the amount of money which this Journey may require; but I can 
safely say that the sum of $500. would prove all sufficient, as our 
passages to the Yellow Stone will be granted us free; and the expenses 
from here or from Carlisle cannot exceed 50% to St Louis, and may 
be less. 
It is now necessary that you should inform me as soon as possible 
whether you can go with me or not, that I may answer to several 
Young Gents who have applied to me to go on with me, but of whom 
I know but little. The principal want of money, will be required in 
all probability, for the purpose of purchasing horses and mules for 
our return over Land, should we be so unfortunate as not to meet 
with a transit by water, the latter of which of course we should no 
doubt greatly prefer. 
Are you at all likely to come to New York this Winter? I have 
given up all Idea of going South this season, being determined to 
draw quadrupeds until a few days of my leaving home for this grand 
and Last Journey, I intend to make as a Naturalist. Should you 
come here, come to us—We have ample room, and we can talk 
over matters more at leisure and more fully than by mere letter- 
writing. . . 
Do answer this at once in every point of view and be sure to 
tell me whether you can go with me or not. I trust that our friend 
Harris will be one of the party; it is my intention to join the party 
