,^^S^S' 



CHAPTER X, 



Edinburgh — The Royal Society — Scott — Edinburgh People '—Syd' 

 ney Smith and a Sei'mon — Miss O'Neill the Actress-— Mrs. 

 Grant of Laggan — Prospectus of the Great Work. 



EBRUARY I. Dr. Brewster proposed that I 

 should exhibit the five plates of my first number 

 of the Birds of America at the Royal Society 

 this evening. He is a great optician, and advises me to 

 get a camera-lucida, so as to take the outline of my birds 

 more rapidly and correctly. Such an instrument would 

 be useful in saving time, and a great relief in hot weather, 

 since outlining is the hardest part of the work, and more 

 than half of the labor. I visited the Royal Society at 

 eight o'clock, and laid my large sheets on the table : they 

 were examined and praised. After this we were all called 

 into the great room, and Captain Hall came and took my 

 hand and led me to a seat immediately opposite to Sir 

 Walter Scott, the President, where I had a perfect view 

 of this great man, and studied nature from nature's 

 noblest work. A long lecture followed on the introduc 

 tion of the Greek language into England, after which the 

 President rose, and all others followed his example. Sir 

 Walter came and shook hands with me, asked how the 

 cold weather of Edinburgh agreed with me, and so 

 attracted the attention of many members to me, as if I 

 had been a distinguished stranger. 



^^ February lo. Visited the Exhibition at the Royal 

 Institution. Saw the picture of the Black Cocks, which 

 was put up there for public inspection. I know that the 

 birds are composed and drawn as well as any birds ever 



