Success in Edinburgh. 129 



very kind, but his manner of speaking of my drawings 

 leaves me to suspect that he may have been quizzing me. 



'^November 2. Breakfasted with Professor Jameson 

 in his splendid house. The Professor's appearance is 

 somewhat remarkable, and the oddities of his hair are 

 worthy of notice. It seems to stand up all over his 

 head and points in various directions, so that it looks 

 strange and uncouth. Around a rough exterior he owns 

 a generous heart, but which is not at first discernible. 

 I felt my career now certain. I was spoken kindly of by 

 the newspapers, and in the streets I heard such remarks 

 made upon me as — 'That is the French nobleman.' I 

 spent three very delightful weeks, dining, breakfasting, 

 and visiting many agreeable people in Edinburgh. Pro- 

 fessor Jameson promised to introduce my work to the 

 public in his " Natural History Magazine,' and Professor 

 Wilson (Christopher North) offered me his services in the 

 pages of * Maga.' 



" Professor Wilson likewise volunteered to introduce 

 me to Sir Walter Scott, and Mr. Combe, the phrenolo- 

 gist. Mr. Syme, the portrait painter, requested me to 

 sit for my portrait. A committee from the Royal Insti- 

 tution of Edinburgh called upon me and offered me the 

 use of the rooms for the exhibition of my dravv'ings, and 

 the receipts from this source amounted to £^ per day. 



" What, however, most pleased me v/as the offer of 

 Mr. Lizars to bring out a first number of my ' Birds of 

 America,' the plates to be the size of life. I have 

 obtained from Mr. Rathbone his name as a subscriber, 

 and have written to him with a prospectus, and explained 

 that I shall travel about with a specimen number until I 

 obtain three hundred subscribers, which will assure the 

 success of the work. Sir William Jardine, now in the 

 midst of his extensive ornithological publication, spends 

 many hours a day beside me examining my manner of 

 6* 



