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284 



AUDUBON 



if he has committed slight errors, it becomes men of science 

 not to dwell upon these to the exclusion of all else. I was 

 to-day elected an original member of the Zoological So- 

 ciety. I also learned that it was Sir Thomas Lawrence 

 who prevented the British Museum from subscribing to my 

 work ; he considered the drawing so-so, and the engraving 

 and coloring bad ; when I remember how he praised these 

 same drawings in my presence, I wonder — that is all. 



February '£0. A most gloomy day ; had I no work what 

 a miserable life I should lead in London. I receive con- 

 stantly many invitations, but all is so formal, so cere- 

 monious, I care not to go. Thy piano sailed to-day; with 

 a favorable voyage it may reach New Orleans in sixty days. 

 I have read the Grand Turk's proclamation and sighed at 

 the awful thought of a war all over Europe; but there, thou 

 knowest I am no politician. A fine young man, Mr. J. F. 

 Ward, a bird-stuffer to the King, came to me this afternoon 

 to study some of the positions of my birds. I told him I 

 would lend him anything I had. 



Fcbriuiry 28. To-day I called by appointment on the 

 Earl of Kinnoul, a small man, with a face like the cari- 

 cature of an owl ; he said he had sent for me to tell me 

 all my birds were alike, and he considered my work a 

 swindle. He may really think this, his knowledge is 

 probably small ; but it is not the custom to send for a 

 gentleman to abuse him in one's own house. I heard his 

 words, bowed, and without speaking, left the rudest man I 

 have met in this land ; but he is only thirty, and let us 

 hope may yet learn how to behave to a perfect stranger 

 under his roof. 



February 29. A man entered my room this after- 

 noon, and said: "Sir, I have some prisoners to deliver to 

 you from the town of York." "Prisoners!" I exclaimed, 

 "why, who are they.^" The good man produced a very 

 small cage, and I saw two sweet little Wood Larks, full 

 of vivacity, and as shy as prisoners in custody. Their 



