Since I last parted from you, my exertions have been unremitted, and my rambles extended as far as circumstances allowed, for I have been ever anxious to render the fourth and concluding volume of my Illustrations as worthy of your approbation as I could. Whether I have added to our knowledge of the birds which constantly reside within the limits of the United States and their Territories, or periodically visit us from the South, it is yours to say. That I have left undone much that might have been accomplished by an abler student of Nature, is doubtless quite true; but that any would have prosecuted the study of our numerous feathered denizens with more good will or more sincere desire to obtain facts and rectify errors, would, I think, be difficult to prove. If my “Birds of America,” and “Ornithological Biography,” are looked upon by you as having contributed in some degree to the improvement of our knowledge of these my favourite objects of observation, and as likely to stimulate other and perhaps more successful students to perfect it. I shall rest satisfied with my labours. Having hitherto given you some account of the occurrences that have taken place during the time intervening between the appearance of one volume and that of another, I again resume the subject, hoping that what I have now to say may prove not less interesting to a friend like you. When I last left Edinburgh, I proceeded to London, full of the desire to revisit my native land before concluding my work. It was my wish to cross the Continent of America, gaze on the majestic wilds of the Rocky Mountains, wander along the green valleys of the Oregon, and search the shores of the Pacific Ocean and a portion of North California; but circumstances denied me the pleasure anticipated. However, here we are on the way to the metropolis of England; we have already passed through Newcastle, York, Leeds, and Manchester, and are just about to alight in the Main Street of Sheffield. The gentleman who meets me at the coach door, is JOHN HEPPENSTALL, Esq., well known to me by correspondence, but not personally until now. Arrived here according to appointment, we shake hands, and in a few minutes are beneath his most hospitable roof, and in the midst of his family and friends. The expectations which we had formed, so far from being disappointed, were more than gratified, for this sincere and honourable man is distinguished, not less by liberality of sentiment than by a generosity commensurate with the goodness of his heart. In these respects every member of his family is a counterpart of himself; and, such being our hosts, you may judge how agreeable to us was our stay in Sheffield. It was while enjoying the hospitality of this excellent friend, that we became acquainted with EBENEZER ELLIOT, Esq. and subsequently with JONATHAN BRAMMELL, Esq. from whom we have since received many acts of kindness. Stopping afterwards at Derby, we saw our relations there,