SERMON BY REV. SYDNEY SMITH. 121 



were raw ; there were learned and ignorant, wise and fooKsh, 

 making up the heterogeneous assembly. I enjoyed myself; but 

 there was an actor, named Vandenhoff, who performed some 

 theatrical pantomimes, which were disgusting to me. I never 

 saw such pranks in good society before : he tucked one lady's 

 fan in his boot, and broke it, and made an apology for it, and 

 by his familiarity annoyed every one present. I felt more pain 

 for his host than shame for himself. During the evening he 

 made some unjust remarks about Mr. Lizars, and I rebuked him 

 for it, telling him that he was my friend, and a good man. He 

 left soon after, to the great relief of all. 



" Mwrch 4. To-day the snow is so deep that the mails &om all 

 quarters are interrupted, and people are waddling through it in 

 the streets, and giving a lively representation of a Lapland 

 winter. Breakfasted with the Eev. Mr. Newbold, and after- 

 wards was toted to church in a sedan chair. I had never been 

 in one before, and 1 like to try everything which is going on 

 on the face of this strange world. But so long as I have two 

 feet and legs, I never desire to try one of these machines again ; 

 the quick up-and-down, short-swinging motion, reminded me of 

 the sensations I felt during the great earthquake in Kentucky. 

 But I was repaid for the ride by hearing a sermon from the 

 Hev. Sydney Smith. It was a sermon to me. Oh ! what a soul 

 there must be in the body of that famous man; what a mingling 

 of energetic and sweet thoughts, what a fount of goodness there 

 must be within him ! He made me smile, and he made me think 

 more deeply perhaps than I had ever before in my life. He 

 interested me now by painting my foibles, and then he pained 

 me by portraying my sins, until he made my cheeks crimson 

 with shame, and filled my heart with penitential sorrow. And 

 I left the church filled with veneration for God, and reverence 

 for the wonderful man who is so noble an example of his 

 marvellous handywork. We returned to Mr. Newbold's for 

 lunch, and from there I walked, tumbled, and pitched home in 

 the deep snow." 



March 5. In a letter to Mrs, Audubon of this date, he tells 

 her of his election as a member of the Eoyal Society, and says : 

 " So poor Audubon, if not rich, thou wilt be honoured at least* 

 and held in esteem among men. 



