i^m 





200 



AUDUBON 



brown Deer, that like sheep were feeding within a few 

 hundred paces of the Hall. I approached quite close to 

 them, and saw that many had shed their horns; they 

 scampered off when they sighted me, knowing perhaps 

 what a hunter I was ! Lady Morton wished me to remain 

 longer, but as I had promised to dine with Captain Hall I 

 could not do so; it was therefore decided that I should 

 return next week to spend another night and give another 

 lesson. My ride to Edinburgh was soon over, and a letter 

 and a book from Charles Bonaparte were at my lodgings. 

 Captain Hall told me at dinner that he was a midshipman 

 on board the Leander when Pierce was killed off New 

 York, and when I was on my way from France, when our 

 captain, seeing the British vessel, wore about round Long 

 Island and reached New York by Hell Gate. There is a 

 curious notice about me by Professor Wilson in " Black- 

 wood's Magazine." 



Friday, December 20. I painted all day, and did this most 

 happily and cheerfully, for I had received two long letters 

 from my Lucy, of October 14 and 23. The evening was 

 spent with Captain Hall, Mr. Lizars, and his brother. 



Saturday, December 30. So stormy a day that I have 

 not been disturbed by visitors, nor have I been out, but 

 painted all day. 



Sunday, December 31. This evening I dined at Captain 

 Hall's, especially for the purpose of being introduced to 

 Francis Jeffrey, the principal writer in the " Edinburgh 

 Review." Following the advice given me I did not take 

 my watch, lest it should be stolen from me on my return, 

 for I am told this is always a turbulent night in Edinburgh. 

 Captain Hall and his wife received me with their usual 

 cordiality, and we were soon joined by Mr. McCuUoch, a 

 writer on Political Economy and a plain, agreeable man. 

 Then Francis Jeffrey and his wife entered ; he is a small 

 (not to say tiny) being, with a woman under one arm and 

 a hat under the other. He bowed very seriously indeed, 



