TO AMERICA IN SEARCH OF BIRDS 431 



Bring me two Grey Squirrels alive, and a cage full of little 

 birds, either the painted or non-Pareil finch the Blue finch, or 

 the Virginian Nightingale, as they are called, 3 or 4 of each 

 to guard against casualties by death on the voyage. I do not 

 care one farthing whether they sing or not, so that I presume 

 they may be got for a mere trifle. The Squirrels would delight 

 the little people beyond measure, and would prove a never- 

 failing source of amusement to them. I believe you have other 

 kinds than the grey, so that any will do. If you cannot get 

 them pray supply their place by two Parrots of America. 



We continue pretty well at the Green. Seldom go to town, 

 but I find people begin to discover the true character of V 

 [igors]. and many that were formerly his friends now speak 

 very differently of him. His father having died the property 

 has come to him. He has now taken a fine house in the Re- 

 gents park, and holds conversaziones (in humble imitation of 

 those of the President of the Royal Society) every Sunday 

 evening during the season!! all this is very grand, and he ap- 

 pears to have abandoned writing any more papers on or- 

 nithology, since I have begun to point out his errors. 



Ward wrote to me since my last, he is a poor weak fellow, 

 with a good natural disposition, but so little to be depended 

 upon, that he is turned round by every feather, after insert- 

 ing that he could not go on "in my service" as he called it, 

 under ten dollars a week, he now says he should be most happy 

 to receive four. He says not a word of his marriage, which 

 proves his wish to decive one. I have done with him. ... I 

 hope you have got me lots of River shells. 



About the beginning of the year 1827 Mrs. Audu- 

 bon gave up her "Beechwoods" school, and thereafter 

 took a position as governess in the home of Mr. William 

 Garrett Johnson, whose plantation, called "Beech- 

 grove," was situated in the same parish. An anony- 

 mous writer thus referred to this house in 1851: 10 



10 Thomas B. Thorpe (Bibl. No. 64), Godey's Lady's Book, vol. xlii, 

 1851. 



