July 10, 1834
In Philadelphia, we stayed only 9 and 10 July. I immediately visited Mr. Krumbhaar, as well as Dr. [Richard] Harlan, who introduced me to Mr. Duponceau, a learned researcher in the Indian languages. Unfortunately, I had only a very little time to [take full advantage of] these acquaintances.
Dr. Harlan owned Audubon’s large ornithological work, which I had not seen so complete, as well as an interesting collection of skulls. Among them [were] many Indian [skulls] from different nations [and] a few, in which I was especially interested, [that] were artificially compressed [into] very [unusual] shapes.
Later, Dr. Harlan was so kind as to show me the collection of the Geological Society and that of the Society of Natural Sciences; I found in the latter very interesting objects [and] also Dr. Morton’s skull collection. This society owns very interesting items from all the branches of natural history, and I received a copy of their writings in exchange for my illustrations of Brazilian animals, which I promised to send to them.
Some of the remainder of my time was spent in the museum of Mr. Titian Peale, where I found very interesting objects. I did not find, as I expected, the white goat of the Rocky Mountain prairies. [A specimen] exists only in London. However, there were very good specimens of the antelope [and] the male and female bighorn—but not of the black-tailed deer. I was especially interested to know whether the Brazilian burrowing owl (urucurea des Azara) was identical to that of the Rocky Mountains. But Mr. Peale’s specimen was too bad and not exhibited. On the other hand, I saw one from the West Indian Islands that appeared only a little smaller to me. Peale’s collection of Indian artifacts was highly interesting and very rich. There were particularly nice pipes with figures [carved] in relief [that] I had never seen before. Mr. Peale wished to obtain the larger European animals—-deer, roebuck, wild boar, chamois, marmot, lynx, wolf, and more—-he wanted to give me a list. He had a live star-nosed mole (Condylura) when I was there; it is very common in Philadelphia.
Unfortunately, because of lack of time, I did not see Bartram’s botanical garden. I [did] visit Mr. Lea, for whom I had a letter [of recommendation?] from Charles Bonaparte (Prince of Musignano); [Lea] had traveled much in Europe. I found him an interesting man. His conchylia collection is highly interesting and especially rich in the most magnificent Unio species and in American river and saltwater crustaceans. He brought many interesting items from Europe and also received much from Férussac.
My last business in Philadelphia was the purchase of many books necessary for [my research] in Europe. Mr. Krumbhaar had been so kind as to order them for me from Mr. Dobson, one of the best book dealers. Most of them were available, and I received a full wooden crate that I took along with me to New York. I found out that the handsome work about Indians, from which I had seen trial plates two years ago, had not yet materialized.