JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 79 

 and spends his time playing whist at a 

 shilling a rubber. I had to wait six 

 weeks before I was presented to him in 

 my position of embassador." But his 

 work was presented to the King who 

 called it fine, and His Majesty became a 

 subscriber on the usual terms. Other 

 noble persons followed suit, yet Audu- 

 don was despondent. He had removed 

 the publication of his work from Edin- 

 burgh to London, from the hands of Mr. 

 Lizars into those of Eobert Havell. 

 But the enterprise did not prosper, his 

 agents did not attend to business, nor to 

 his orders, and he soon found himself 

 at bay for means to go forward with the 

 work. At this juncture he determined 

 to make a sortie for the purpose of col- 

 lecting his dues and to add to his sub- 

 scribers. He visited Leeds, York, and 

 other towns. Under date of October 9, 

 at York, he writes in his journal : 

 "How often I thought during these 

 visits of poor Alexander Wilson. Then 



