60 AUDUBON 



scribers enough to warrant his continuing the vast under- 

 taking, and had given him many friends. His object now 

 was to make drawings of birds which he had not yet figured 

 for the completion of his work, and then to take his wife, 

 and possibly his sons with him to England. During these 

 years Mrs. Audubon was latterly alone, as John had taken 

 a position with Victor and was in Louisville. Victor, 

 meantime, had worked steadily and faithfully, and had 

 earned for himself a position and a salary far beyond that 

 of most young men of his age. Both parents relied on 

 him to an extent that is proof in itself of his unusual 

 ability; these words in a letter from his father, dated 

 London, Dec. 23, 1828, "Victor's letters to me are highly 

 interesting, full of candor, sentiment, and sound judgment, 

 and I am very proud of him," are certainly testimony 

 worth having. As the years went on both sons assisted 

 their father in every way, and to an extent that the 

 world has never recognized. 



Great as was Audubon's wish to proceed without delay 

 to Louisiana, he felt it due to his subscribers to get to 

 work at once, and wrote to his wife under date of New 

 York, May lo, 1829: "I have landed here from on board 

 the packet ship Columbia after an agreeable passage of 

 thirty-five days from Portsmouth. I have come to America 

 to remain as long as consistent with the safety of the 

 continuation of my publication in London without my 

 personal presence. According to future circumstances 

 I shall return to England on the 1st of October next, or, 

 if possible, not until April, 1830. I wish to employ and 

 devote every moment of my sojourn in America to draw- 

 ing such birds and plants as I think necessary to enable 

 me to give my publication throughout the degree of per- 

 fection that I am told exists in that portion already pub- 

 lished. I have left my business going on quite well ; my 



Colorado Valley," Appendix, 1878, pp. 612, 618, 625, 629, 644, 661, 666, 669 

 and 686. —E. C. 



