heard their notes and saw their all elegant movements.—I am going to _write a book!_ but more of this when we meet.—do you know that the poor woodsman who now is scribling to you will take his seat at the Royal Society of London tomorrow—the very words make my head whirl and I will stand it I do not know—I will indeed be glad when I am _seated_.—Mrs A and myself had the pleasure of being very kindly received and treated by our President Jackson Congress subscribed, I procured there four more and an act will be passed to enter my works Paintings etc free of the customs.—It is past 5 and I have to pay a penny, I wish I were allowed to write untill time made it a shilling so much do I think I could still trouble you with, however as time and tide wait neither for me or others I must conclude by begging that you will remember me most kindly to your amiable wife—kiss your little Folk and believe me sincerely your friend JOHN J. AUDUBON _William Swainson to Audubon_ _Saturday, 1[10?] May, 1830. _ Welcome once more, my good friend to merry England: I had indeed heard from Havell, with the greatest pleasure, that you had safely landed at Liverpool; and I regret very much that you did not reach London before I had left it; for I am now much seldomer in town than formerly, and I know not when I may have the power to do so again. My old and most valued friend Mr. Burchell has also, to my great delight, just returned to England after _six years_ spent in wandering over the Forests and Andes of South America bringing with him collections, that will make everything else in this country _sink into utter insignificance_, he too, is longing to see me, and if I possibly can get away for a day next week, with two such desirable objects I will, but my literary engagements bind me, hand and foot. You think that I do not know that you are an F. R. S.—you are mistaken, furthermore, you will be surprised at knowing I have been fighting your battles against a rising opposition which originated among some of your _Ornithological friends_ (at least so I strongly suspect) for the purpose of your name being _blackballed_. But more of this when we meet, such matters had better not be committed to paper. The whole of your bundle of young trees reached me as withered sticks, not a spark of life in any one of them. So you are going to write a book 'tis a thing of little moment for one who is not known, because they have no reputation to loose, but much will be expected from _you_, and you must, therefore, as the saying is, _put your best leg foremost_. I am coming fast round to the prejudice, as you may think it, against the Americans.