316 AUDUBON 



if the work were done in London, and probably not so well. 

 This has ended with me all thoughts of ever removing it 

 from Havell's hands, unless he should discontinue the 

 present excellent state of its execution. Copper is dearer 

 here than in England, and good colorers much scarcer. 

 I saw Cuvier, who invited us to spend the evening, and 

 then returned to the Pont des Arts to look for bird-skins. 

 I found none, but purchased an engraved portrait of Cuvier, 

 and another of " Phidias and the Thorn." I have just 

 returned with Swainson from Baron Cuvier's, who gives 

 public receptions to scientific men every Saturday. My 

 book was on the table ; Cuvier received me with special 

 kindness, and put me at my ease. Mademoiselle Cuvier 

 I found remarkably agreeable, as also Monsieur de Condil- 

 lot. The first very willingly said he would sit to Parker 

 for his portrait, and the other told me that if I went to 

 Italy, I must make his house my home. My work was 

 seen by many, and Cuvier pronounced it the finest of its 

 kind in existence. 



September 14, Sunday. Versailles, where we have spent 

 our day, is truly a magnificent place ; how long since I have 

 been here, and how many changes in my life since those 

 days ! We first saw the orangerie, of about two hundred 

 trees, that to Frenchmen who have never left Paris look 

 well, but to me far from it, being martyrized by the hand 

 of man, who has clipped them into stiff ovals. One is 

 407 years old. They produce no golden fruit, as their 

 boxes are far too small to supply sufficient nourishment, 

 and their fragrant blossoms are plucked to make orange- 

 flower water. From this spot the woods, the hunting- 

 grounds of the King, are seen circling the gardens, and are 

 (we are told) filled with all kinds of game. The King's 

 apartments, through which we afterwards went, are too full 

 of gilding for my eyes, and I frequently resorted to the 

 large windows to glance at the green trees. Amongst the 

 paintings I admired most little Virginia and Paul standing 



