60 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



more, I doubt if I could procure more subscribers there than 

 yourself, I am truly desirous for your sake, and that of your 

 dear Mother and Brother, to do all in my power for the com- 

 pletion of this great work. I wish to finish here all that is to be 

 done both in the way of drawing, and increase of knowledge, in 

 black and white, and also in Patrons, as much as possible, ere 

 I return to Europe, where, when I do go, I must remain sev- 

 eral years, if not until the completion of the engraving. I am 

 growing old very fast; in 3 or 4 years my career as a travel- 

 ler will be ended, and should I be obliged to renew my field- 

 labours, it is doubtful if my constitution could bear it. One 

 year now is equal to 3, 3 years hence. I receive much assist- 

 ance from the Government, and have John to accompany me. 

 I am still able to undergo some fatigue, and, as I have said, I 

 am anxious, very anxious, to do all that can be done ere I 

 return to Europe. Now the whole time which I conceive neces- 

 sary to enable me to perform these desideratums cannot ex- 

 ceed 12 or 15 months. What pleasure it would be to us all, 

 when I take your hand and press you to my heart, I should 

 also have a list of 100 new names from America!; all the draw- 

 ings and the manuscripts ready for the completion of this our 

 wonderful undertaking. I would advise you to address a cir- 

 cular letter to all those who may be concerned in Europe, to 

 acquaint them with what I call the necessity of my being in 

 America, for the sole purpose of increasing the value of our 

 publications, either Illustrative or graphical. This, and the 

 constant improvement now exhibited to them with each new 

 number of the work, could not fail, I think, to render them 

 quiet, if not pleased, that I am now doing all I can for the 

 advantage of the work. Tell them the facts, that I have greatly 

 added to the Ornithology of the United States since my absence 

 from Europe, that the number of species which I now have, 

 and that are not given by Wilson or Bonaparte, combined, 

 amounts to nearly one hundred, and that the Water Birds will 

 be fully equal in point of interest and beauty, to any of the 

 land Birds that are published. And, not the least part of this, 

 my remaining in America has already [given], and will con- 



