[Isidore GEOFFROY SAINT-HILAIRE]. Catherine (or Kate) McKEAN, American woman of science; she worked at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris and was in contact with French scientists such as Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire and Constant Duméril; she was also a collaborator of Henry Charles Carey (1793-1879). 6 autograph letters signed to Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 23 pp. in-8. Paris, London, Philadelphia and Baltimore, 1860-1861. On the situation in America at the time of Abraham Lincoln's election and on his translation and attempt to publish Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire's works in the United States. She recounts her trip to southern Europe and then her return to the United States, where she attempted to have her translations of Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire's works published. She then evoked the political climate that prevailed in America at the time of the presidential elections, which saw the victory of Abraham Lincoln. "This election has never been of greater importance because it involves a complete change in our politics, a change which will only become possible by shaking off the yoke of a party which, despite its name of "Democrat", is that of slavery. No doubt you take little interest in our political struggles, but I hold them to be of immense importance, not only to us, but also to the whole world [...]". She attached two lists of questions, asking for clarification, in order to complete her translation: "[...] 410. His resignation in 1841. Did you replace him? Have these two chairs at the Faculty of Science and the Museum only ever been held by your father and yourself? [...] ". After Lincoln's election, tensions in the country were higher than ever. "You know, no doubt, the threatening position in which we now find ourselves in this country, on the eve, it seems, of a revolution, the expectation of which paralyses everything and affects the interests of everyone. There is an almost complete suspension of social action and movement, with everyone congratulating themselves on being able to live from day to day. God only knows what the outcome will be, but I have a lot of faith in the people and in republican institutions, and I no longer see things as black as many people do. Almost all our ills are summed up in the burning issue of slavery [...]. Believe me, I often revisit, in my thoughts, this Jardin des plantes, which is of such interest to me and which I would like one day to be able to revisit in person. I see, with great regret, that you have lost the venerable M. Duméril. Another ring broken with this generation that has seen and done so many great things [...]. During the Christmas holidays, having a few hours at my disposal, I spent them going through the plates of the great work on Egypt [...]. I shall be very happy to receive a copy of your new work on the acclimatisation of animals [...]. I have sent your little article on the Species to the American Journal of Science, but I have not yet had a decisive reply; we have so many contributors that we often have to wait a few months before anyone pays any attention to it. Mr Agassiz is the journal's zoology associate [...]".