TO AMERICA IN SEARCH OF BIRDS 483 
through which it was hoped that a competent successor 
might be secured for the duties of the position which 
Mrs. Audubon had so ably filled: 
Audubon to Robert Havell 
Brecn Grove, Louisiana 
Decr 16th 1829 
My Dear Mr Havetit.— 
I received yesterday from New York your letter of the 
29th. Sept. which must have reached Philadelphia 3 days after 
my departure for home= 
I am sorry that Bartley should have made you suffer a 
moment by sending you the intelligence of the failure of the 
several subscribers you mention in your favor—it cannot be 
helped—there is none of your fault and J must repair these 
matters when I reach England again= 
I am considerably more sorry and much vexed that Sowler 
should have failed in his written promise to accept your Dfts.— 
even in a case of the diminution of subscribers he could cer- 
tainly have sent you a progressional amount—I am now almost 
sure that Pitois has failed or acted the Rogue= 
We are making all preparations in our power to leave 
Louisiana on the 5 or 10th. of Jan.y and we will proceed as 
fast as Steam Boats, Coaches and the weather will admit of 
and we will sail for England from New York with all possible 
dispatch. I have made a shipment of Forest trees to England 
that I hope will turn to good account as they are to be presents 
to Public Institutions &c and that I think it necessary to 
be remembered myself.— 
We are both well—our sons are at Louisville, Kentucky 
where we will see them about the 20th. of next month.—I sent 
you in my letter a proposal for your sister and should you 
not have received it I send it you again here in Mrs A.’s. hand 
writing.—I would advise your sister to come if the money is 
an object.—I think that besides she will be comfortable with 
the familly Johnson—if she thinks fit to wait untill we see 
her, we can tell her all about it.= 
