164 Life of Audubon. 



and all went on with more simplicity than in London. 

 The waiter who handed the wine called out the names of 

 three or four different sorts, and each person had his 

 choice. The dinner finished (I mean the eating part), 

 the Baroness rose, and all followed her into the draw- 

 ing room, which is the library of the Baron ; and I 

 liked it much, for I cannot bear the drinking-matches 

 of wine at the English tables. We had coffee, and 

 the company increased rapidly ; and among the new 

 comers were my acquaintances Captain Parry, Monsieur 

 Condillot, and Mr. Lesson, just returned from a voyage 

 round the world. Cuvier stuck to Mr. Swainson and my- 

 self, and we talked ornithology : he asked the price of 

 my work, and I gave him a prospectus. The company 

 now filled the room, and as it grew late, and we had near- 

 ly five miles to ride we left ^ la Fran9aise, very well satis- 

 fied with this introductory step among the savans Fran- 

 9ais. 



" September 8. Went to pay my respects to Baron 

 Cuvier and Geoffroy St. Hilaire ; found only the former 

 at home ; he invited me to the Royal Institute, and I had 

 just time to return home and reach it before the sitting 

 of the Royal Acade'mie des Sciences. I took my port- 

 folio, and, on entering, inquired for Cuvier, who very 

 politely came to me, made the porter put my book on 

 the table, and assigned me a seat of honor. The sdance 

 opened, and a tedious lecture was delivered on the vision 

 of the mole. Mr. Swainson accompanied me. Baron 

 Cuvier then arose, and announced us and spoke of my 

 work. It was shown and admired as usual, and Cuvier 

 was requested to review it for the memoirs of the Acade- 

 my. Cuvier asked me to leave my book. I did, and he 

 commended it to the particular care of the librarians, 

 who are to show it to any who desire to see it ; he also 

 said he would i^ropose to the Academy to subscribe to it, 

 and if so, it will be a good day's work , 



