SIDELIGHTS ON CONTEMPORARIES 101 



the Arctic ones. You will assist me very much by any Dupli- 

 cates you can spare me, I particularly want a pair of the 

 Ivory billed Woodpecker, the No Am : Parrots. Summer red 

 birds and the Painted Buntlings also the Pinecreeping Warbler, 

 m & fem. 



I do not expect that these most wonderful events in France 

 will deter you from going, seeing that everything is now quiet. 

 The french are certainly a great nation. I never had such an 

 opinion of them as I now have. 



I suppose you will be at the Dinner to Cuvier on Tuesday, 

 when you will no doubt hear complements passing about, and 

 a long speech from Mr Vigors. I have neither time nor health 

 for such things. 



Our united true regards to Mrs Audubon In haste 



very faithfully yours 



W Swainson 

 J. J. Audubon Esq. 

 43 Great Russell Street, 



Bloomsbury. 



From Manchester Audubon sent Swainson this let- 

 ter, in which he makes a quaint proposal regarding the 

 text of his projected work, suggesting that they com- 

 bine their resources and their families, he to provide the 

 ideas, as well as his own wine or ale, while Swainson 

 furnished the science. 



Audubon to William Swainson 



Manchester 22nd August 1830. 

 My dear Mr. Swainson, — 



At the time that I sent you the Woodpeckers skins, I had 

 not a moment to spare or be assured I would have answered 

 your note — When I opened my boxes of skins I had the mor- 

 tification to find most of them touched by insects — I felt a 

 desire that those nondescribed specimen [s] which I had should 

 go to a public institution & I therefore presented them to the 



