39 



copies, and on its publication in 1842, presented him with five 

 hundred dollars. This sum, with the sales of his book, enabled 

 him to pay all his pecuniary obligations, with his large debt to 

 his publisher, in little more than one year from its publication. 



Professor Thompson, in all his actions, had a desire to benefit 

 all, whether rich or poor in worldly goods. When his publisher, 

 to whom he was indebted for his means for carrying out his plans, 

 and whose opinions were entitled to more consideration than any 

 and all others, for more than six months prior to his issuing pro- 

 posals for publishing his work, importuned him to publish his 

 History in three volumes at $6, instead of one volume at $2,50, 

 assuring him that his profits would be more than twice as great, 

 his only reply was, that many would want his book who could 

 pay $2,50. and could not afford to pay $6,00 ; and that it was 

 not right thus to deprive them of a benefit their richer neighbors 

 enjoyed. 



The prosecution of this purpose necessarily brought him into 

 contact or correspondence with the naturalists of the country. In 

 completing his account of the birds of Vermont he was greatly as- 

 sisted by Dr. Thomas M. Brewer, of Boston, in determining sever- 

 al species of Reptiles and Fishes, he was aided by Dr. D. H. Storer 

 also of Boston. For a full description of our molluscous animals, 

 he was indebted to Prof. Charles B. Adams, then of Middlebury 

 College, and to Prof. George W. Benedict, then of the University 

 of Vermont. For his catalogue of plants he was indebted to the 

 late William Oakes, of Ipswich, Mass., to Prof. Joseph Torrey 

 William F. Macrae, and John Carey, Esquires, and others. With 

 these aids in his arduous labors, Prof. Thompson succeeded in 

 embracing in his work everything of special importance relative to 

 the Natural and Civil History of Vermont ; and published it in 

 so condensed and cheap a form as to place it within the reach of 

 every family in the State, having but little regard to a pecuniary 

 recompense from the sale of a book which had cost him so much 

 travel, research, time and expense in its preparation. 



Prof. Thompson found time also to prepare annual astronomical 

 calculations for the Messrs. Walton of Montpelier and to publish 

 a valuable arithmetic and elementary work on the Geology and 

 Geography of Vermont for the use of schools, a Geography of 

 Vermont for children, with county maps, and to write for 



