AUDUBON IN LONDON 415 



In the following letter Swainson refers to the second 

 series of his Zoological Illustrations, 2i the sale of which 

 was irritating him, and to N. A. Vigors, with whom he 

 had entered upon a notorious controversy in 1828: 



William Swainson to Audubon 



18 January, 1829. 



My Dear Mr. Audubon, 



I write this in utter uncertainty whether it will find you in 

 London. My first number has now been out three weeks — it 

 has been seen and universally admired, and how many copies 

 do you think the Publisher has sold? now pray guess as the 

 Americans say. 100 — no. twentyfive, no. fifteen, no. ten? yes. 

 positively ten copies and no more, has been sold. I blush almost 

 to confess this mortification to even, you, but so it is. Now, 

 my dear Sir, what am I to think of. the "generally diffused 

 taste," as the phrase is, for Natural History. 



This allthough vexing to me, may be a consolation to you, 

 who are able to exhibit on what I call your Red Book the names 

 of a good portion of 150 subscribers to a 200 guinea Book. 

 Think yourself my friend exceedingly well off. 



The amount of sale must be kept silent, it would be a nice 

 nut to crack for V [igors]. & his friends. 



I shall be able to do without the water birds, if you have 

 not found any. 



I have had a most extraordinary letter from Waterton, 

 which will highly amuse you. The man is mad — stark, staring 



mad. 



Yours very faith'ly 



W. Swainson. 

 Can you tell me any safe expeditions made of sending and 

 receiving letters and Parcels from Philadelphia. 



J. J. Audubon Esq. 



79 Newman St. 



Oxford St. 



24 The three volumes of this series hear date of 1832-33, but the 

 preface is inscribed "Tittenhanger Green St. Albans, 24 th July, 1829." 



