shadows, the mellowness existing between these, and as the eye passes on to the finishing of that natural picture, it at once pronounces it complete. Do not forget to take from Kidd whatever pictures of ours he may have finished, and take good care of them. We have pretty nearly kilt G. Ord and Waterton with our Buzzard experiments. You say you wish you could see us at friend Bachman's; I assure you my pleasure at such an event would be equal to yours. We are indeed happy in having such a friend. Miss Martin, with her superior talents, assists us greatly in the way of drawing; the insects she has drawn are, perhaps, the best I've seen; at night we have some music and reading. When you receive Bird Skins, perhaps it would be as well to form a collection of each species in pairs, and variety of age or color. 24 Dec. We have just received yours of 18th. October. You are, my Dear Son, too low spirited respecting my immediate appearance in England. Cheer up, my beloved Victor! Believe me, when I repeat that our own Dear Country will support the efforts of us all, and will grant us more Patrons than the whole of Europe together; by the way of a nightcap, let me give you the name of Wm. J. Rees, of Sumpter district, Statesbury, South Carolina, who put his name to my list this afternoon at the moment when the Vultures lost their olfactory powers, for I daubed the imitation of a sheep, and the very first one that passed over the picture rounded and came to it. Respecting Kidd, and his prospectus, depend upon it, nothing is to be feared from that quarter; that work is _dead at the moment I write_, and as to his publishing the intention of the pictures, it signifies nothing. All you have to do is to _take all_ the pictures from him, _by goodwill or otherwise_, and _give him no more originals to copy_. If I regret anything at this moment, it is that you should have kept the 20 volumes in London, when, if I had them in America, I should at once be enabled to make you a valuable remittance. Ship them, ensured, as fast as possible, and doubt not my disposing of them. Lewis Atterbury writes me to night that all the numbers 34, 35, which Havell has shipped, are injured greatly by salt water. I do not know yet if they were insured or not. I write to him this evening. Do not ship anything without insurance; it is better to lose time in this case than money. I will write again in a few days, and I shall forward you _Water Birds_ in good time. God bless you, my dear fellow; keep up your spirits, and again may God bless you. Ever your affectionate father, J. J. AUDUBON.