Letter from Sir Walter Scott, 143 



" March 8. The weather was dreadful last night, 

 A'ind howling, and, what you would hardly expect, the 

 snow six feet deep in some places. The mail-carriers 

 from here for London were obliged to leave their horses, 

 and go on foot with their bags. Wrote the following let- 

 ter to Sir Walter Scott. 



" ' Dear Sir, 



" '■ On the eve of my departure to visit all parts 

 of the island, and afterwards the principal cities of the 

 Continent, I feel an ardent desire to be honored by being 

 the bearer of a few lines from your own hand to whomever 

 you may please to introduce me. 



" ' I beg this of you with the hope that my efforts to ad- 

 vance ornithological studies, by the publication of my col- 

 lections and manuscripts, may be thought worthy of your 

 kind attentions, and an excuse for thus intruding on your 

 precious moments. Should you feel the least scruple, 

 please frankly decline it, and believe me, dear sir, that I 

 value so highly my first reception, when presented to you 

 by my good friend Captain Basil Hall, and your subse- 

 quent civilities, that I never shall cease to be, with the 

 highest respect and admiration, 



" ' Your most obedient, humble servant, 



" ' John J. Audubon. ' " 



That same evening the following answer was received. 



" ' Dear Mr. Audubon, 



" ' I am sure you will find many persons better 

 qualified than myself to give you a passport to foreign 

 countries, since circumstances have prevented our oftener 

 meeting, and my ignorance does not permit me to say 

 anything on the blanches of natural history of which you 

 are so well possessed. But I can easily and truly say, 

 that what I have had the pleasure of seeing, touching your 



