342 AUDUBON 



different lights, but gave no opinion. The Otter came 

 next, and he said that the " animal " was very fine, and 

 told Havell he would come again to see them in a few 

 days. I paid him my respects the next morning, and 

 thought him kinder than usual. He said he would cer- 

 tainly come to make a choice for me of one to be exhib- 

 ited at Somerset House, and would speak to the Council 

 about it. 



The remaining three months before Audubon sailed for 

 America, April i, 1829, were passed in preparations for 

 his absence from his book, and many pages of his fine, 

 close writing are filled with memoranda for Mr. Havell, 

 Mr. J. G. Children, and Mr. Pitois. Audubon writes: 

 " I have made up my mind to go to America, and with 

 much labor and some trouble have made ready. My busi- 

 ness is as well arranged for as possible ; I have given the 

 agency of my work to my excellent friend Children, of 

 the British Museum, who kindly offered to see to it dur- 

 ing my absence. I have collected some money, paid all 

 my debts, and taken my passage in the packet-ship 

 'Columbia,' Captain Delano. I chose the ship on ac- 

 count of her name, and paid thirty pounds for my passage. 

 I am about to leave this smoky city for Portsmouth, and 

 shall sail on April i." The voyage was uneventful, and 

 America was reached on May i. Almost immediately 

 began the search for new birds, and those not delineated 

 already, for the continuation and completion of the " Birds 

 of America." 



