Name/Title
LetterEntry/Object ID
JJA.1938.405Description
This is a handwritten letter from Lucy Audubon to Victor Audubon concerning the "Birds of America." The letter contains that original red, wax seal and is addressed to Victor G. Audubon Esq. Care of Robert Havell, Esq., Engraver, 77 Oxford St. , London, England. Transcription is as follows:
"Victor Audubon, esq.
Care of Robt. Havell, esq.
Engraver
77 Oxford ST. London
Sent Boston Nov. 5, 1832
Rec'd. Dec. 20th.
Boston Nov. 25th., 1832
Sunday
My Dear Child,
Since the last we sent which was from the pen of your brother, nothing new has occurred to us except some drawings of Water Birds, amongst them a wild goose we have I believe averaged one a day since your departure from us and we are now talking of the time when we shall hear of your safe arrival, an event which we calculate happened sometime since & I hope you may succeed in managing all things to our mutual advantage. We have heard from Mr. Blackman of the new hummingbird. We saw the other day young E. Lincoln and Mr. Chadbourn who inquired after you, indeed many persons inquire after you. Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich arrived from England a few days ago, they came in the packet "Virginia". We have in the house three families all very agreeable to me and in wet weather we visit from room to room. Mr. and Mrs. Davis continue even more kind than before. Mr. Tudor has been ill of a nervous fever a long time, Mr. and Mrs. Garniner are here to nurse him no new names yet alas! But everyone seems to take an interest in our labor and invite us our as usual, next Thursday is a great day of Thanksgiving and feasting and we are invited out to spend the evening with Mr. and Mrs. Lee who is the mother of Mrs. Goodrich. The cholera seems to be very bad in New Orleans we have not heard from Mr. Brand yet. My brother, Thomas has been very ill, I wrote to him a short time ago, he has another daughter and all is well. John wrote to his uncle William but we have not heard from him. John is a good fellow on the whole and his drawings is of great use to his father, who says it he was to apply with the zeal of himself he would shortly draw as well as himself at any rate in a year he will fully take his place, but habits of carelessness are hard to correct and I am very apt to attribute that want of vigilant and persevering industry which we should like to see in him, to the bringing up in a slave state where indolence is too much fostered. I pray you my beloved son to write to us and tell us everything we have not heard from Mr. Havell since you left us. John has skinned about a hundred birds which are hanging up in the adjoining rooms and on the whole we are very comfortable. Your Papa bids me say the proper name for the new Vulture you took with you will have found in a work entitled "The representations of the Zoological Gardens London". "The Brasilian Caracara Eagle" or "Polyborus Vulgaris" of Vicillo. And this latin and scientific name you must have put upon the plate which I have given you on the other side instead of whatever may be written on the drawing. You will have heard of the death of ___________ by the time this reaches you, every attention was paid to him while living and he was interred with every honor, they talk of erecting a monument to his memory n the college yard his seventeen lectures brought him in 2500$ and every hospitality. Your father took a sketch of him but the portrait has been made by Fischer which is pretty good, and casts are also made of plaster and Wax also. Your father is very busy with two beautiful Eider Ducks. We wrote to you for some drawing paper of the second size precisely, the middle size of the drawings and a portfolio. Jackson is our president for four more years. Not having anything more, my dear son to say but advise that you guard well yourself from all temptations and snares and hoping you may enjoy good health, and find good luck with our united best love and blessings, we remain ever your truly Affectionate Mother,
Lucy Audubon
Regards to Mr. Cuthbertson and Mr. and Mrs. Havell. Your Papa hopes he shall have a hundred drawings by spring. If you meet with the honorable Thomas Liddell, say I shall try to bring the mockingbirds to him. The things for Miss Banks we will send from here and the leaves for Mrs. Gifford."Collection
L. S. Tyler CollectionMade/Created
Manufacturer
Audubon, Lucy BakewellDate made
1832 - 1832Notes
Date: November 5, 1832Lexicon
Search Terms
* Communication Artifacts, Letters, Correspondence