m'c 



1 86 



AUDUBON 



'H Si 



at once in his bedroom and told me that if I wrote to 

 the Prince of Musignano at London this morning, the let- 

 ter would probably reach him. I returned home, wrote 

 my letter, or rather began it, when I received several 

 pages from my good friend Mr. Rathbone which quite 

 depressed me. He feared my work would not succeed 

 on account of the unusual size ; and Mrs. Rathbone, Senior, 

 refused me the pleasure of naming a bird after her, on 

 account of the publicity, she said ; yet I longed to do so, 

 for what greater compliment could I pay any lady than 

 to give her name to one of the most exquisite creations 

 of the Almighty? The whole made me most dismal, but 

 yet not in the least discouraged or disheartened about my 

 work. If Napoleon by perseverance and energy rose from 

 the ranks to be an emperor, why should not Audubon with 

 perseverance and energy be able to leave the woods of 

 America for a time and publish and sell a book? — always 

 supposing that Audubon has some knowledge of his work, 

 as Napoleon had great knowledge of his. No, no, I shall 

 not cease to work for this end till old age incapacitates me. 

 I thought long over Mr. Rathbone's lettef, then finished 

 mine to Charles and put it in the post-of^ce. I then pur- 

 chased a Pigeon, killed it, packed up my wires and hammer, 

 and at one o'clock took these things with my " position 

 board," called a coach, and went to the meeting of the Wer- 

 nerian Society at the University. Lady ]\!orton had joined 

 me, hence my need for the coach. Mr. Skene met me at 

 the door, where I parted from Lady Morton, who made me 

 promise to visit her at Dalmahoy. She is a small, hand- 

 some woman, who speaks most excellent French. Mr. 

 Lizars joined me, and we all entered the room of the Wcr- 

 nerian Society of Edinburgh ! The room is a plain one; 

 two tables, one fireplace, many long benches or seats, and a 

 chair for the president were all the furniture I saw, except 

 a stufTed sword-fish, which lay on one of the tables for ex- 

 amination that day. Many persons were already present, 



