i m 



194 



AUDUBON 



a perfect levee ; it is Mr. Audubon here, and Mr. Audubon 

 there ; I only hope they will not make a conceited fool 

 of Mr. Audubon at last. I received every one as politely 

 as I could, palette and brushes in hand, and conducted 

 each in his turn to the door. I was called from my work 

 twenty-five times, but I was nevertheless glad to see one 

 and all. I supped with Sir William Jardine, Mr. Lizars, 

 and Mr. Moule, Sir William's uncle, at Barry's Hotel; 

 we talked much of fish and fishing, for we were all sports- 

 men. I left at midnight and found at my room a long 

 letter from Charles Bonaparte. 



Saturday, December 23. I had to grind up my own 

 colors this morning; I detest it, it makes me hot, fretful, 

 moody, and I am convinced has a bad effect on my mind. 

 However, I worked closely, but the day was shockingly 

 short; I cannot see before half-past nine, and am forced 

 to stop at three. . . . 



The 24th and 25th I remained closely at my work 

 painting; on the 24th my drawings were all taken down 

 and my paintings also. I wrote to the president of the 

 Royal Institution and presented that society with my 

 large painting of the " Wild Turkeys." I should have 

 hesitated about offering it had I not been assured it had 

 some value, as Gaily, the picture dealer, offered me a 

 hundred guineas for it the previous day; and I was glad 

 to return some acknowledgment of the politeness of the 

 Institution in a handsome manner. My steady work 

 brought on a bad headache, but I rose early, took a walk 

 of many miles, and it has gone. 



December 26. My steady painting, my many thoughts, 

 and my brief nights, bring on me now every evening 

 a weariness that I cannot surmount on command. This 

 is, I think, the first time in my life when, if needed, I could 

 not rouse myself from sleepiness, shake myself and be 

 ready for action in an instant; but now I cannot do that, 

 and I have difficulty often in keeping awake as evening 



