me know when you want money, for tho. our expenses are always great, _the Work_ must not, and shall not suffer, as long as my eyes and hands can work. Dec. 23d., last evening, we had the pleasure of yours of the 28 Oct, and one from Havell of the 9th. Regarding Havell, we are glad that all is well with him, and hope he will not trouble us about extra prices, not even for the _Water Birds_. The safe arrival of my last drawings has relieved me of that anxiety. You are quite right on the score of _advice_. _You_ in England, will do best to act as you may think proper. _We_, in America, are trying to do equally well, and our little _Alliance_ is as efficient as the Holy one at least. That Subscribers should die is an event we cannot help; that such fellows as V. should act so cannot be controlled, but depend upon our _industry_, our _truth_, and the regular manner in which we publish our work; this will always prove to the world and to our Patrons that nothing more can be done than what we do; nay, I doubt if any _family_, with our pecuniary means, ever will raise for themselves such a monument as the "Birds of America" is, over their tomb. How comes it that Harlan has not money enough to pay his expenses in Europe? I shall remember the 20 £, and the exchange. Chamley, of New Castle, was never prompt pay; indeed, my dear Victor, were you fully acquainted with the great difficulties which I had to surmount and did surmount, it would give you less fear than you now feel or experience. We shall be glad to receive the Brushes that are, I hope, now under way for us. Mr. Miesson resides [at] No. 2 Rue Pigalle, on the east side of the grand Boulevards. Present my regards to Mr. Yarrell, and thank him in my name for his kind offer of eggs, and add that I shall have it in my power to present him with many which I think he has not found, that our two collections will most likely comprise the whole of those published in my 4 volumes. I fear that to give the eggs in the 2d. of Biography would render that volume too large, and again too costly, and that a few plates of eggs at the end of the large work will answer better.[51] The _plates_ ought to be insured for at least 4 or 5 times the cost, for should they by an accident be destroyed, the amount of their cost would prove a poor remuneration, when compared with the time it would require to have them renewed. Attend to this as soon as you can. Henry Ward has rendered himself very obnoxious _here_. a letter came to Mr. B. on last evening from St. Augustine, to inquire how a certain amount left by him unpaid was to be settled. Mr. Bachman will inform you of the particulars.