Address to the care of
Thos Fowler Esq.
Bookseller
Manchester.
Aug 22nd 1830
[Superscribed] Wm Swainson Esq.
Tittenhanger Green
Nr
St Albans,
Herts.
In Swainson's clear and candid reply,[96] which followed at once, all was figured "to a nicety"; he would supply his share of the matter at the rate of three dollars and seventy-eight cents per printed page, with an extra charge for corrections; he would follow his own ideas, but strive to avoid any conflict of opinion, and would expect his name to stand on the title.
William Swainson to Audubon
[between August 24 and 28, 1830]
Thursday
My Dear Mr. Audubon.
I received your letter yesterday, and hasten to reply to it. By some mistake or other, of Havell's, he has not sent the birds to which you allude, and I did not of course know that you had left them with him, now to your two propositions.
First, as to boarding with us, you do not know probably, that this is never done in England, except as a matter of necessity or profession, in which case the domestic establishment is framed accordingly. But this consideration would have no influence with me, in your case did other circumstances allow of it. It would however be attended with so many changes in our every-day domestic arrangements, that it becomes impossible.
Secondly, as to the proposition I once made to you, I am fearful you have put it out of my power to do so much as I might have done, from your having distributed the very birds which would have been the materials I was to work upon; and upon which only, any scientific observations truly original, (& therefore worth putting into your book), must be founded. Fortunately, however, my own collection is not poor in North American Specimens, and these would still furnish a mass of interesting information to the Scientific. It would be, however, highly advisable that all these species which I have not, but which you have brought home, and given away, should be borrowed back again, without delay.
Next as to plan. I have always told you that the plan you mention, so far as your own narrative goes, is the very best which could possibly be chosen. You have to speak of the birds as they are alive, I to speak of their outward form, structure, and their place in the great System of their Creator, for the true system, if I have, or anybody else, has discovered is not a Human System. If my views are correct, every observation you make, plain, unvarnished, and strictly accurate, will fully and perfectly harmonize. Our parts are totally distinct, and we have no occasion to consult with each other what we should say at every page. Where our views may differ, I shall not, of course, say anything. My own remarks had better be kept distinct, in the form of "Scientific Notes" to each letter, at the end, and in this way you will make the work, the standard authority on American Ornithology, which without Science, it certainly would not be, however interesting or valuable in other respects.
As to time, and remuneration, I shall have completed all my portion of Dr. Richardson's works in two months. I can then devote a portion of each day to yours. The terms of my remuneration will be those which I always receive from the Booksellers, and which are fixed, worth twelve guineas a sheet of the same size and Type as the Zoölogical Journal, each sheet being 16 pages, and each page averages 390 words, the calculation is there brought to a nicety, and you may spend as much as you choose. If I have to revise and correct the proofs, make alterations etc. that will be something additional, I always charge this by the time each sheet takes me, and would come to from 5/ to 7/6 a sheet but the booksellers generally give me a round sum, which I name after trying the three first sheets of a work, with Dr. Richardson's the case was different, I there had 300 £ for my assistance and drawings. It would of course be understood that my name stands in the title page as responsible for such portion as concerns me.