AUDUBON IN LONDON 401 
review the latter so as to have your opinion in writting in time 
for the first no. of the magazine that will appear next month.— 
you also desire that I should send you a sett of the works as far 
as publishing which you wish to keep provided I will let you 
have it at the price ét costs me. I assure you my Dear Sir, that 
was I to take you at your word it would be a sore bargain for 
you as the a/m would be very nearly double that for which it 
is sold to my subscribers.—therefore you will permit me to 
alter your offer and to say that if it suits you to pay 35 
shillings per number I will be contented; I would be still more 
so was I rich enough to present it to you— 
It is the only set on hand at present except one which I 
must have to exhibit.— 
The answer respecting the Shrieke [Shrike] has I hope met 
with your wishes.— 
Ever since I became acquainted with our mutual friend Dr. 
Fraill [Traill] I have had a great desire to see and speak to 
you & I regret that I never have had an opportunity. My time 
is so completely taken up that it is with difficulty that I can 
enjoy a day’s rest—Should you come to town pray call on me 
when I may have the pleasure of shaking your hand and to as- 
sure you verbally that I am truly and sincerely 
yours obé® st 
Joun J. AUDUBON 
95 Great Russell St. 
Bedford Sq. 
Thus began an intimate friendship between William 
Swainson and John James Audubon which lasted until 
1830, and their intercourse did not wholly cease before 
From the context of the nine letters which are here reproduced with- 
out change, it is evident that Audubon paid little attention to grammar, 
syntax, or orthography, but if the reader will compare the letters written 
before and after 1830, or before and after his first serious discipline in 
English composition (see Chapters XXIII and XXIX), he will find marked 
improvement in all these respects. 
