THE EUROPEAN JOURNALS 



333 



on to Cuvier's, who had promised me a letter to some one 

 who would, he thought, subscribe to my book; but with 

 his usual procrastination it was not ready, and he said he 

 would write it to-morrow. Oh, cursed to-morrow ! Do men 

 forget, or do they not know how swiftly time moves on? 



October 6. Scarce anything to write. No letter yet 

 from the Minister of the Interior, and I fear he too is a 

 "To-morrow man." I went to Cuvier for his letter; when 

 he saw me he laughed, and told me to sit down and see 

 his specimens for a little while ; he was surrounded by 

 reptiles of all sorts, arranging and labelling them. In half 

 an hour he rose and wrote the letter for me to the Duke 

 of Levis, but it was too late to deliver it to-day. 



October 7. While with M. Lesson to-day, he spoke of 

 a Monsieur d'Orbigny ^ of La Rochelle ; and on my making 

 some inquiries I discovered he was the friend of my early 

 days, my intimate companion during my last voyage from 

 France to America; that he was still fond of natural 

 history, and had the management of the Musee at La 

 Rochelle. His son Charles, now twenty-one, I had held in 

 my arms many times, and as M. Lesson said he was in 

 Paris, I went at once to find him ; he was out, but shortly 

 after I had a note from him saying he would call to-morrow 

 morning. 



October 8. This morning I had the great pleasure of 

 receiving my god-son Charles d'Orbigny. Oh ! what past 

 times were brought to my mind. He told me he had often 

 heard of me from his father, and appeared delightM to 

 meet me. He, too, like the rest of his family, is a naturalist, 

 and I showed him my work with unusual pleasure. His 

 father was the most intimate friend I have ever had, except 

 thee, my Lucy, and my father. I think I must have asked 

 a dozen times to-day if no letter had come for me. Oh, 

 Ministers! what patience you do teach artists! 



^ Charles d'Orbigny, son of Audubon's early friend, M. le docteur 

 d'Orbigny. 



