He paused in New York to exhibit his drawings at the Lyceum of Natural History, of which he had become a member in 1824, but soon hurried to Philadelphia, and finally settled down for work at Camden, in New Jersey, later known to fame as the home of "the good gray poet." There, at a boarding house kept by a Mr. Armstrong, he remained three weeks, from about May 23 to June 13, hunting and painting every day. From Camden he went to Great Egg Harbor, then a famous resort of both land and water birds in great variety, and for three weeks more he lived and worked in a fisherman's cabin by the sea. It is interesting to recall that Alexander Wilson, in company with George Ord, had spent a month at this point in the spring of 1813. The following letter[367] from Swainson was probably the one to which Audubon replied from New Jersey on September 14: _William Swainson to Audubon_ MY DEAR MR. AUDUBON I welcomed the news of your arrival in America yesterday, and as I am making up a packet for Liverpool today, I seize the opportunity of wishing you joy and happiness in the new world. I am surprised and disappointed as not receiving one line from Ward it is at the best negligent, and somewhat ungrateful. Hope you have begun your studies among the birds on a better plan than formerly, that is, in preserving the skins of every one on which there is the least doubt whether the bird is young or old, particularly the former. If you are to give scientific descriptions and definitions of the species this precaution is absolutely necessary. What your Americans do with their money I know not, Mr. Lea tells me he cannot procure one purchaser for my new Illustrations: _here_ it is now going on very well. You asked me what you can do for me in America. I will tell you. Send me a cart load of shells from the Ohio, or from any of the _Rivers near New Orleans_. The _very smallest_, as well as the _very_ largest—_all sizes_. I have been long expecting those which your son promised you for me near twelve months ago! _but I have heard nothing of them_! you may spend a few dollars for me and send people to fish the shells at the dry season, when the waters are _low_, that is the best time.