392 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



grace, or lordship, or [her] ladyship was not at home, 

 until I have grown wiser, and stay at home myself, and 

 merely attend to my political business, and God knows 

 when I will have done with that." 



As the American Ambassador had predicted, King 

 George evinced no ardent desire to meet the American 

 woodsman, though he consented to take the work under 

 his patronage and to become a subscriber on the usual 

 terms; this plan, however, fell through, for the King, 

 who was reported to have taken his copy, failed to pay 

 for it. With Queen Adelaide, on the other hand, the 

 naturalist was more successful, and in his "Prospectus" 

 of 1831 she was announced as his special patron, with 

 her name heading his list. Negotiations to interest the 

 Queen were going on when the following note was sent 

 to Audubon by Sir J. W. Waller, who occupied some 

 position in the king's household and was spoken of as 

 "oculist to his majesty": 



Sir J. W. Waller to Audubon 



Saturday 9 o clock [1830]. 



I have scarce an Instant as I am going to Town to break- 

 fast with the Dk. of Gloucester, but yr. Letter is urgent & 

 therefore I can only desire Mr. A. to send his Number imme- 

 diately to the Stable Yard, directed to her Majesty, & the first 

 moment I can see her, I will speak on the subject, but at this 

 Moment I will not promise to mention it to the King for reasons 

 I cannot put on paper. 



Yrs. ever, 



J. W. Waller 



At Edinburgh Audubon was alarmed to find that 

 subscribers were rapidly deserting him, six having can- 

 celled their names without the formality of giving rea- 



