THE EUROPEAN JOURNALS 221 



it in a few hours, if they were placed on the opposite 

 hills. A large meadow lay below us, covered with bleach- 

 ing linen, and the place where we stood was perfectly 

 lonely, not even the reviving chirp of a single bird could 

 be heard, and my heart sank low while my mind was en- 

 gaged in recollections of the place. In silence we turned 

 and left the Castle and the little village, and returned by 

 another route to busy Edinburgh. The people were just 

 coming out of church, and as I walked along I felt a tap 

 on my shoulder and heard good Mr. Neill say, " Where 

 are you going at the rate of six miles an hour?" and he 

 took me home to dine with him, after we had been to my 

 lodgings, where I put my feet in ice cold water for ten 

 minutes, when I felt as fresh as ever. 



March 19, 1827. This day my hair was sacrificed, and 

 the will of God usurped by the wishes of man. As the 

 barber clipped my locks rapidly, it reminded me of the 

 horrible times of the French Revolution when the same 

 operation was performed upon all the victims murdered at 

 the guillotine ; my heart sank low. 



JOHN J. AuDUBON. 1 



Shortly after breakfast I received a note from Captain 

 Hall, and another from his brother, both filled with entrea- 

 ties couched in strong terms that I should alter my hair 

 before I went to London. Good God ! if Thy works are 

 hated by man it must be with Thy permission. I sent for 

 a barber, and my hair was mowed off in a trice. I knew I 

 was acting weakly, but rather than render my good friend 

 miserable about it, I suffered the loss patiently. 



March 20. I visited Mr. Hays at his office, and had 

 the pleasure of seeing all the curious ancient manuscripts, 

 letters, mandates, Acts of Parliament, etc., connected with 

 the official events of Scotland with England for upwards 



1 This entry is the only one on a large page, of which a facsimile is given. 

 It is written in the centre, and all around the edge of the paper is a heavy 

 black border, an inch in depth. 



