128 



A UDUBON 



with proper letters, and follow the same course, thereby 

 becoming able to judge of the advantages and disad- 

 vantages attached to each country and to determine myself 

 ivhcn, w/icre, and how the work should be undertaken; 

 to be during this time, through the medium of friends, 

 correspondence, and scientific societies, announced to the 

 world in some of the most widely read periodical publica- 

 tions. " Then, Mr. Audubon, issue a prospectus, and bring 

 forth one number of your work, and I think you will 

 succeed and do well ; but remember my observations on 

 the size of your book, and be governed by this fact, that 

 at present productions of taste are purchased with delight, 

 by persons who receive much company particularly, and 

 to have your book laid on the table as a pastime, or an 

 evening's entertainment, will be the principal use made 

 of it, and that if it needs so much room as to crowd out 

 other things or encumber the table, it will not be pur- 

 chased by the set of people who now are the very life of 

 the trade. If large public institutions only and a few 

 noblemen purchase, instead of a thousand copies that may 

 be sold if small, not more than a hundred will find their 

 way out of the shops ; the size must be suitable for 

 the English market'' (such was his expression), "and 

 ought not to exceed that of double Wilson." This con- 

 versation took place in the presence of Dr. Traill, and 

 both he and Mr. Roscoe are convinced it is my only plan. 

 Mr. Bohn told Dr. Traill, as well as myself, that exhibiting 

 my pictures would not do well ; that I might be in London 

 a year before I should be known at all, but that through 

 the scientific periodicals I should be known over Europe 

 in the same time, when probably my first number would 

 be published. He strongly advised me to have the work 

 printed and finished in Paris, bring over to England say 

 two hundred and fifty copies, to have it bound and the 

 titlepage printed, to be issued to the world of England 

 as an English publication. This I will not do ; no work of 



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