I shall be most thankful for the Grouse. I send 2 drawings to Havell to be engraved _spur him on_ for I want to have every thing ready before the new year. Yours most sincerely, W. SWAINSON. JOHN J. AUDUBON, Esq. 79 Newman St. In December the Swainsons invited Audubon to dine with them at Christmas; in his letter Swainson said: Why are you so sad? I would lay ten shillings that old Havell has been disappointing you as he has done me. He is in matters of business a complete _daudle_—an old woman, and I have done with him. His son I think better of he has a good idea of punctuality in business.... In one of your walks I hope you have thought about the _French Wine_ that we talked so much about and have ascertained the particulars from your friend, so that we may order a cask. I hope you have not mistaken the price,—for if not, nothing that can be drank in this country is one half as cheap. In the following letter Swainson refers to the second series of his _Zoölogical Illustrations_,[365] the sale of which was irritating him, and to N. A. Vigors, with whom he had entered upon a notorious controversy in 1828: _William Swainson to Audubon_ _18 January, 1829._ MY DEAR MR. AUDUBON, I write this in utter uncertainty whether it will find you in London. My first number has now been out three weeks—it has been seen and universally admired, and how many copies do you think the Publisher has sold? now pray guess as the Americans say. 100—no. twentyfive, no. fifteen, no. ten? yes. positively ten copies and _no more_, has been sold. I blush almost to confess this mortification to even, _you_, but so it is. Now, my dear Sir, what am I to think of the "generally diffused taste," as the phrase is, for Natural History. This allthough vexing to _me_, may be a consolation to _you_, who are able to exhibit on what I call your _Red Book_ the names of a good portion of 150 subscribers to a 200 guinea Book. Think yourself my friend exceedingly well off. The amount of sale must be kept silent, it would be a nice nut to crack for V [igors]. & his friends. I shall be able to do without the water birds, if you have not found any. I have had a most extraordinary letter from Waterton, which will highly amuse you. The man is mad—stark, staring mad. Yours very faith'ly W. SWAINSON. Can you tell me any safe expeditions made of sending and receiving letters and Parcels from Philadelphia. J. J. AUDUBON Esq. 79 Newman St. Oxford St. Early in 1829 Bonaparte wrote from Rome, where he had then settled, and the following letter shows that he had then heard of Audubon's visit to France, and was keenly interested in his success: _Charles L. Bonaparte to Audubon_