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212 



AUDUBON 



eating freely, I must say to my shame / dared not lay my 

 fingers on a single thing. In the evening I went to the 

 theatre where I was much amused by " The Comedy of 

 Errors," and afterwards " The Green Room." I admire 

 Miss Neville's singing very much; and her manners also; 

 there is none of the actress about her, but much of the 

 lady. 



Tuesday^ 20th. A week has passed without writing here 

 because I have done nothing else but write — many letters 

 for Captain Hall, and at his request a paper to be read at 

 the Natural History Society. I pitched on the " Habits of 

 the Wild Pigeon." I began on Wednesday, and it took me 

 until half-past three of the morning, and after a few hours' 

 sleep I rose to correct it, which was needed, I can assure 

 thee. Were it not for \.\\q fads it contains, I would not 

 give a cent for it, nor anybody else, I dare say. I positively 

 brought myself so much among the Pigeons and in the 

 woods of America that my ears were as if really filled 

 with the noise of their wings ; I was tired and my eyes 

 ached. I dined at a Mr. Tytler's and met among the guests 

 Mr. Cruden, brother of the compiler of the famous con- 

 cordance. On Sunday I made for the seashore, and walked 

 eight miles ; the weather was extremely cold, my ears and 

 nose I thought would drop , off, yet I went on. Monday 

 Captain Hall called to speak to me about my paper on 

 Pigeons ; he complained that I expressed the belief that 

 Pigeons were possessed of affection and tenderest love, and 

 that this raised the brute species to a level with man. 

 man ! misled, self-conceited being, when wilt thou keep 

 within the sphere of humility that, with all thy vices and 

 wickedness about thee, should be thine. At the exhibi- 

 tion rooms I put up my drawing of the Wild Pigeons and 

 Captain Hall read my paper. I was struck with the silence 

 and attention of the audience. The president invited me 

 to supper with him, but I was too excited, so excused 

 myself. 



