106 THE HISTOEY OF 



said, slowly. " No, I won't give that ' " and we parted. 

 Yet, I have no doubt, had I encouraged him with a prospect 

 of his obtaining them at all, he would have given me a 

 thousand dollars for that very cage of fowls ! To this 

 extent did the hen fever rage at that moment. 



I subsequently sent this gentleman two trios of my grey 

 chickens, for which he paid me $200. 



And now the Grey Shanghae trade commenced in ear- 

 nest. Immediately after the announcements were made 

 (which I have quoted) orders poured in upon me furiously 

 from all quarters of this country, and from Great Britain. 

 Not a steamer left America for England, for months and 

 months, on board of which I did not send more or less of 

 the " Grey Shanghaes." From every State in the Union, 

 my orders were large and numerous ; and letters like the 

 following were received by me almost every day, for months : 



" G. P. BURNHAM. 



" SiK : I have just seen the pair of superb Grey Shang- 

 hae fowls which you sent to Mr. , of this city, 



and I want a pair like them. If you can send me bettm- 

 ones, I am willing to pay higher for them. He informs me 

 that your price per pair is forty dollars. I enclose you 

 ffty dollars '; do , the best you can for me, but forward 

 them at once, — don't delay. Yours, &c.. 



