The Trees and Segments have not yet arrived, but I hope to hear soon that they have—I have not a word about the Seeds reaching yet. do my Love always say by what vessel any thing comes, as John as concluded to take Lessons of Music I have no wish to sell my Gun but wish to give it him as his ow[n] in Fee Simple, as soon as he deserves it from thy own Hands. May God bless him!—if all continues well with me Victor and him may rise to eminence and therefore try Johny's Spunk. do beg or make him draw all kinds of Limbs of Trees or Flowers for me and whenever he kills a bird of any kind tell him to measure the Guts particularly and make a regular list of the names of the Birds, length and thickness of those Guts and their contents==[338]
I wrote a long letter to each Victor and N. Berthoud on the 27 February, but not a word from either of them as yet reached me. I was quite shocked to see thy last letter of the 8th of January without the print of thy new Seals, I am quite frightened at thy watch not having reachd thee, yet I hope every new Letter will bring me better tidings. I now collecting Letters from all my Friends here and will have God knows enough of them. I only hope I may soon be in a regular way of making a comfortable living for ourselves all:
All the papers and books I send thee mention my name. My work is lookd upon as unrivalled in any Country, I will soon know how it will pay.—I can only add that I will write to thee from all the places I visit==Let Victor have a copy of this==Collect all kinds of Curiosities whatever==try to send or bring with thee but send first if Possible Live Birds of hardy kinds such as Blue Jays by THEMSELVES. Red Birds Do. red wingd Starling Do, Partridges &c &c.—present my humble respects to Mr & Mrs Johnsons and remembrances to good Friend bourgeat—try to send me an account of the growing of Cotton from A to Z, written by an able Planter—I wish thee to make regular memorandums thyself respecting all about Habits & Localities &c &c.==thou wilst scarce believe that this day there [are] in many places 16 feet of snow. the weather has been tremendous—yet with all this no Invitation is ever laid aside and the other evening I went to Diner in a Hackny Coach drawn by 4 Horses, and to church on Sunday last in a Sedan chair to hear the famous Sidney Smith, curious diferences of manners here I assure thee.
I have seen and know personally all the great men of Scotland and many of England.
What a curious interesting book a Biographer—well acquainted with my Life could write, it is still more wonderfull and extraordinary than that of my Father!
Fear not my connecting myself in any way with Charles M. he is a mere worm on the hearth, and since he has abandoned his Grand Flora is out of my books—it has perhaps been an error in our Lives that thou didst not come with me. So much indeed do I now think so that I have advised Capn Hall to take his Lady and child with him. be sure to pave the way for them to Judge Mathews and N. Berthoud to whom I have given him letters to.—I send thee his Travels, read his interview with Napoleon; I write my Journal every day, it seems that that portion of it forwardd thee long ago as never reachd thee as thou dost not mention it. I am sorry for all these little misfortunes and can hardly a/c for them. I have not heard from H. Clay but will refresh his memory, I hope at the same time to receive a Letter from the President==I hope this day the last beautiful broach I sent thee as a new Years gift is shining on thy bosom, as I have witnessed the brightness of thy own sweet Eyes, oh my Lucy what would I give now in my possession for a kiss on thy Lips and——God for ever bless thee thine Husband and Friend for ever—
John J. Audubon
| F.R.S.E. | Fellow | Royal Society Edinburgh— |
| F.A.S.— | Fellow | Royal Society antiquarians— |
| M.W.S.N.H.— | Member | Wernerian Society of Natural History |
| M.S.A.— | Member | Society of Arts of Scotland— |
| M.P.L.S.— | Member | Philosophical & Literary Society Liverpool |
| M.L.N.Y.— | Member | Lyceum of New York. |
My Dear John—