Footnotes

AUDUBON IN LIVERPOOL, ARRANGING FOR PUBLICATION OF THE BIRDS OF AMERICA. Having failed to make headway with plans for the book in his native America, Audubon had sailed for Liverpool in April 1826, carrying with him 250 of his watercolours and some letters of introduction; well aware that 'he was a fool to be gambling his family's future prosperity on so risky and grandiose a venture' (Daniel Patterson, Introduction, John James Audubon's Journal of 1826: The Voyage to The Birds of America, 2011, p. xix). He arrived at Liverpool on 21 July, and within a week received a warm reception from the leading families of the city, especially the Rathbones of Green Bank and the Roscoes. Indeed Green Bank (now part of the University of Liverpool) has been described as 'the nest where he incubated his Birds' (op. cit., p. xxiv). An exhibition of the drawings was held at the Royal Institution, Liverpool (to where our letter is addressed), on 31 July.

The recipient of our letter, Margaret née Lace, was married to Edward Roscoe, son of the historian, businessman and abolitionist William Roscoe. She, too, was something of an artist, publishing in 1829 Floral Illustrations of the Seasons. In his journal, written for the benefit of his wife Lucy, Audubon describes his first dinner with the family: 'I am received by the beautiful daughter... Her mother Comes. She is all amiability – and the chat is all Drawings – Her husband Comes, and his graceful look fills me with admiration – Lucy, there is really "un Certain Je ne sais quoi" in the Roscoe family!!!!!' (Journal, p. 114).

The book Audubon refers to in our letter is his autograph album. He had spent much of the day making a sketch of the Wild Turkey for Mrs Rathbone, who also wanted to have a seal cut for him. That evening, back at Green Bank, he recorded that: 'My principal objects to day were to attend on Mrs R[ichard] R[athbone] and to sketch the Wild Turkey... I sat opposite the 23 hours Picture and sketch[ed] it the size of my Thumb's nail in less than 23 minutes. If the Engraver does his duty, the seal will be beautifull in such a Case the Wild Turkey will revisit America, his Country. I sent my album to Mrs Ed Roscoe' (p. 210).