112 AUDUBON 



my exhibiting my drawings for an admission fee, and he, 

 as well as Dr. Traill and others, have advised me so 

 strongly to do so that I finally consented, though not quite 

 agreeable to me, and Mr. Roscoe drew a draft of a notice 

 to be inserted in the papers, after which we passed some 

 charming hours together. 



August 9. The Committee of the Royal Institution met 

 to-day and requested me to exhibit my drawings by ticket 

 of admission. This request must and will, I am sure, take 

 off any discredit attached to the tormenting feeling of 

 showing my work for money. 



August 10. The morning was beautiful, and I was out 

 very early ; the watchmen have, however, ceased to look 

 upon me with suspicion, and think, perhaps, I am a harm- 

 less lunatic. I walked to the " Mound " and saw the city 

 and the country beyond the Mersey plainly; then I sat on 

 the grass and watched four truant boys rolling marbles 

 with great spirit; how much they brought before me my 

 younger days. I would have liked them still better had 

 they been clean; but they were not so, and as I gave 

 them some money to buy marbles, I recommended that 

 some of it be spent in soap. I begin to feel most power- 

 fully the want of occupation at drawing and studying the 

 habits of the birds that I see about me ; and the little Spar- 

 rows that hop in the streets, although very sooty with coal 

 smoke, attract my attention greatly ; indeed, I watched 

 one of them to-day in the dust of the street, with as much 

 pleasure as in far different places I have watched the play 

 of finer birds. All this induced me to begin. I bought 

 water colors and brushes, for which I paid dearer than in 

 New Orleans. I dined with Mr. Edward Roscoe. As you 

 go to Park Place the view is extensive up and down the 

 Mersey ; it gives no extraordinary effects, but is a calming 

 vision of repose to the eyes wearied with the bustle of the 

 streets. There are plenty of steam vessels, but not to be 

 compared to those on the Ohio ; these look like smoky, 



