1 8 2 Life of Audubon, 



ings into pictures. I have dined out but once, with my 

 friend J. G. Children, of the British Museum, on the 

 Coronation Day ; and there I met several friends and 

 scientific acquaintance. The want of exercise, and close 

 application, have reduced my flesh very much, and I 

 would have been off for Manchester, Liverpool, &c., but . 

 have had no complete copy of my work to take with me. 



^^ December 25. Another Christmas in England! I 

 dined at Mr. Goddard's, in the furthest opposite end of 

 London, with a company mostly American. Sir Thomas 

 Lawrence called to see my paintings while I was absent. 

 Mr. Havell showed them to him, and made the following 

 report to me : — ' Looking at the picture of the Eagle and 

 the Lamb, he said, " That is a fine picture." He ex- 

 amined it closely, and then turned to the Pheasants, 

 which I call " Sauve qui peut ;" this he looked at from 

 different points, and with his face close to the canvas, 

 and had it rolled to different points, for more light and 

 new views, but expressed no opinion about it. The Otter 

 came next. He said, " The animal is very fine." He 

 left, and promised to return in a few days.' I met him 

 soon after, and he told me he would call and make selec- 

 tion of a picture to be exhibited at Somerset House, and 

 would speak to the council about it." 



By this time, as the journal shows, Audubon had re- 

 solved to visit America, and had begun to make active 

 preparations for leaving. 



" March 31. It is so long since I have written in my 

 life book, that I felt quite ashamed on opening it to see 

 that the last date was Christmas of last year. Fie, Au- 

 dubon ! Well, I have made up my mind to go to Ameri- 

 ca, and with some labor and some trouble perfected all 

 arrangements. I have given the agency of my work to 

 my excellent friend Children, of the British Museum, 

 who kindly offered to see to it during my absence. I 



