Sits for a Portrait of Jackson. 1 07 



volume, and who have represented that my drawings have 

 not been wholly done by myself. Full of despair, I look 

 to Europe as my only hope. With my friend Dr. De Kay 

 I visited the Lyceum, and my portfolio was examined by 

 the members of the institute, among whom I felt awkward 

 and uncomfortable. After living among such people I 

 feel clouded and depressed ; remember that I have done 

 nothing, and fear I may die unknown. I feel I am strange 

 to all but the birds of America. In a few days I shall be 

 in the woods and quite forgotten. 



^'August 10. My spirits low, and I long for the 

 woods again ; but the prospect of becoming known 

 prompts me to remain another clay. Met the artist Van- 

 derlyn, who asked me to give him a sitting for a j^ortrait 

 of General Jackson, since my figure considerably resem- 

 bled that of the General, more than any he had ever 

 seen. I likewise sketched my landlady and child, and 

 filled my time. 



^^ August 15. Sailed up the Hudson for Albany with 

 three hundred and seventy-five passengers, twenty-three 

 of whom were composed of a delegation of Indians from 

 six tribes, who were returning to the West from Washing- 

 ton. Arrived at Albany, but found both De Witt Clinton 

 and Dr. Beck absent. Money getting scarce, I abandoned 

 the idea of visiting Boston, but determined to see Niagara. 

 Engaged a passage at seven dollars on a canal-boat for 

 Rochester, distant two hundred and sixty-eight miles. 

 No incident happened to me worth recording, only that 

 the passengers were doubtful whether or not I was a 

 government officer, commissioner, or spy. I obtained 

 some new birds by the way, and in six days I arrived at 

 Rochester. 



''^ -Rochester, August 22. Five years ago there were 

 but few buildings here, and the population is now five 

 thousand ; the banks of the river are lined with mills 



