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Aware that Squier did not share his sentiments on slavery, Nott explained that he “had to mix a little sweet sauce with it in the way of Politics, Sectional feeling &c–religion you know is a funny thing–a man’s conscience is always on the side of his interest–” He had recently lost by shipwreck “upwards of $300 worth of rare scientific” works ordered from Europe and hoped the Lectures would sell enough copies to make up the loss. He was sure it would be favorably received “at the South where the public mind is at present morbidly excited about the nigger business.”
–The Leopard’s Spots: Scientific Attitudes Toward Race in America 1815-59, William Stanton
