152 Life of Audubon, 



and he left me very greatly relieved. In about two hours 

 he returned with two gentlemen, to whom he did not in- 

 troduce me, but who were pleased with my work, and one 

 purchased the ' Otter Caught in a Trap,' for which he 

 gave me twenty pounds sterling, and the other, ' A Group 

 of Common Rabbits,' for fifteen sovereigns. I took the 

 pictures to the carriage which stood at the door, and they 

 departed, leaving me more amazed than I had been by 

 their coming. 



" The second visit was much of the same nature, dif- 

 fering, however, chiefly in the number of persons he 

 brought with him, which was three instead of two ; each 

 one of whom purchased a picture at seven, ten, and thirty- 

 five pounds respectively ; and as before, the party and 

 pictures left together in a splendid carriage with liveried 

 footmen. I longed to know their names, but as Sir Thom- 

 as was silent respecting them I imitated his reticence in 

 restraining my curiosity, and remained in mute astonish- 

 ment. 



" The third call of this remarkable man was in conse- 

 quence of my having painted a picture, with the intention 

 of presenting it to the King of England, George IV. 

 This picture was the original of the * English Pheasants 

 Surprised by a Spanish Dog.' I had shown it to Sir 

 Walter Waller, who was his majesty's oculist, and he 

 liked the picture so much, and was so pleased with my 

 intention, as was also my friend Mr. Children, the cura- 

 tor of the British Museum, that they prevailed on Sir 

 Thomas to come and see it. He came, and pushed off 

 my roller easel, bade me hold up the picture, walked 

 from one side of the room to the other examining it, and 

 then coming to me tapped me on the shoulder and said, 

 ' Mr. Audubon, that picture is too good to be given 

 away -, his majesty would accept it, but you never would 

 be benefitted by the gift more than receiving a letter 



I 



