98 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



So you are going to write a book 'tis a thing of little 

 moment for one who is not known, because they have no repu- 

 tation to loose, but much will be expected from you, and you 

 must, therefore, as the saying is, put your best leg foremost. 

 I am coming fast round to the prejudice, as you may think it, 

 against the Americans. 



Dr. Richardson's and my own volume on the Arctic Birds, 

 is now in press. Not being able to refer to your plates, I have 

 not had the power to quote your work, you know how repeatedly 

 I have applied on this head, both to you and Mr. Havell in 

 vain. 



Prince C. Bonaparte has long promised me his second & 

 third volume but they have never come. Ward 6 is a regu- 

 lar Scamp he has taught me a good lesson — fool that he is — 

 and that is, to steal my heart against distress such as his 

 was, and to consult, like all the rest of the world, my own 

 interest only. I am sick of the world and of mankind, and 

 but for my family would end my days in my beloved forests of 

 Brazil. 



So Mr. Lea 7 did not settle my account with you? I have 

 found him out, also, to be no better than he should be. He 

 also is one of your friends who would, if he could, cut your 

 throat. Another friend of yours has been in England, Mr. 

 Ord and has been doing you all the good he can : if these are 

 samples of American Naturalists, defend me from ever com- 

 ing in contact with any of their whole race. 



Mrs. Swainson's health I am grieved to say, has suffered 

 much the last twelve months, she is now at Birmingham with 

 the children. I have not failed to mention your kind inquiries 



8 Possibly Henry Ward, who came to America with Audubon in 1831 

 as his assistant and taxidermist (see Vol. II, p. 2) ; a Frederick Ward is 

 also mentioned in Audubon's letters. 



7 Isaac Lea, naturalist and Philadelphia publisher; Mr. Lea was a 

 member of the firm of Messrs. Carey & Lea, at one time the principal 

 proprietors of Wilson's American Ornithology, and it was thought that 

 the prejudice which he manifested towards Audubon and his friends was 

 traceable to his desire to maintain the sales of that work. His attitude 

 was compared with that of Judge Hall, whose brother, Harrison, was also 

 %» interested publisher. See Vol. I, pp. 223 and 281. 



