It is evident that some trouble-maker had disturbed the serenity of John Bachman's mind when the following interesting letter was written by Audubon to balm the feelings of his old friend. It is evident that Audubon at this time expected to collaborate in the letterpress of their work, but that plan, according to Bachman's own statement, was never carried out:
DRAWINGS FOR "THE VIVIPAROUS QUADRUPEDS OF NORTH AMERICA": ABOVE, AMERICAN PORCUPINE, DATED "NEW YORK, MARCH 6, 1842," AND PUBLISHED IN 1844; BELOW, RABBITS.
After the originals in water color in possession of the American Museum of Natural History, New York.
Audubon to John Bachman
[Minnie's Land] Jan. 8, 1845.
My dear friend
Never have I been so much astonished as I have been at reading your letter to Victor, and to which I feel myself bound to answer at once.