138 Life of Auduhon, 



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 in 



