82 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 



In February he learned that it was 

 Sir Thomas Lawrence who prevented 

 the British Museum from subscribing 

 to his work : "He considered the 

 drawings so-so, and the engraving and 

 colouring bad j when I remember how 

 he praised these same drawings in my 

 presence, I wonder that is all. 7 ' 



The rudest man he met in England 

 was the Earl of Kinnoul : "A small 

 man with a face like the caricature of an 

 owl." He sent for Audubon to tell 

 him that all his birds were alike, and 

 that he considered his work a swindle. 

 "He may really think this, his knowl- 

 edge is probably small ; but it is not 

 the custom to send for a gentleman to 

 abuse him in one's own house." Au- 

 dubon heard his words, bowed and left 

 him without speaking. 



In March he went to Cambridge and 

 met and was dined by many learned men. 

 The University, through its Librarian, 

 subscribed for his work. Other subscrip- 



