138 Life of Audubon. 



rather sheepish, I was warmly congratulated by the mem 

 bers. At one o'clock 1 visited the rooms of the Royal 

 Society, which were crowded, and tables were set, cover- 

 ed with wine and fruits and other refreshments. The 

 ladies were mostly of noble families, and I saw many 

 there whom I knew. But the Ladies Mansfield passed 

 me several times, without manifesting any recollection of 

 a man who, a few days before, had waited on their lady- 

 ships, and shown them his drawings, not for his pleas- 

 ure, but their benefit. Sir Walter Scott was present, and 

 came towards me and shook hands cordially, and point- 

 ing to a picture, said, ' Mr. Audubon, many such scenes 

 have I witnessed in my younger days.' We talked much 

 of all about us, and I would gladly have asked him to 

 join me in a glass of wine, but my foolish habit prevented 

 me. Having inquired after the health of his daughters, I 

 shortly left him and the room, for I was very hungry ; 

 and although the table was loaded with delicacies, and 

 the ladies were enjoying them freely, I say it to my 

 shame, that I had not the confidence to lay my fingers 

 on a single thing." 



An interval of a week occurs in the journal, and it is 

 explained by the fact that Audubon was busily engaged 

 in other compositions, and writing twelve letters of in- 

 troduction to persons in America for Captain Basil Hall, 

 and preparing an article on the habits of the wild 

 pigeon, which he had been requested to do, to read be- 

 fore the Natural History Society. Dr. Brewster saw the 

 latter before it was read, and requested permission to 

 publish it in his journal. " This," says Audubon, " was 

 killing two birds with one stone, because I had promised 

 to write Brewster an article. I began that paper on 

 Wednesday, wrote all day, and sat up until half-past 

 three the next morning ; and so absorbed was my whole 

 soul and spirit in the work, that I felt as if I were iji 



