2IO AUDUBON 



that great man, and I studied from Nature Nature's noblest 

 work. After a lecture on the introduction of the Greek 

 language into England, the president. Sir Walter, rose and 

 we all followed his example. Sir Walter came to me, shook 

 my hand cordially, and asked me how the cold weather of 

 Edinburgh agreed with me. This mark of attention was 

 observed by other members, who looked at me as if I had 

 been a distinguished stranger. 



February 9. I have been, and am yet, greatly depressed, 

 yet why I am so it is impossible for me to conceive, 

 unless it be that slight vexations, trifling in themselves, are 

 trying to me, because, alas ! I am only a very, very com- 

 mon man. I dined to-night at Professor Jameson's, and 

 as my note said " with a few friends," was surprised to 



find thirty besides myself. The engineer, Mr. S , was 



here, and many other noted men, including the famous 

 Professor Leslie, ^ an enormous mass of flesh and an ex- 

 tremely agreeable man, who had been in Virginia many 

 years ago, but recollects those days well. 



February 10. I visited the Royal Institution this morn- 

 ing, and saw my Black Cocks over the first of the first- 

 room doors. I know well that the birds are drawn as well 

 as any birds ever have been; but what a difference exists 

 between drawing one bird or a dozen and amalgamating 

 them with a sky, a landscape, and a well adapted foreground. 

 Who has not felt a sense of fear while trying to combine 

 all this? I looked at my work long, then walked round the 

 room, when my eyes soon reached a picture by Landseer, 

 the death of a stag. I saw much in it of the style of those 

 men who know how to handle a brush and carry a good 

 effect; but Nature was not there, although a Stag, three 

 dogs, and a Highlander were introduced on the canvas. 

 The Stag had his tongue out and his mouth shut ! The 

 principal dog, a greyhound, held the Deer by one car 



1 Sir John Leslie, 1766-1832, Scottish geometer and natural philosopher 

 and voluminous author on these subjects. 



