122 LIFE OF AUDUBON, 



" March 6. Finished my picture this morning, and like it 

 better than any I have painted." [He does not say what this 

 picture is, but it is evidently the one mentioned as begun with 

 young Kidd.] " Mr. Kitchie, editor of the ' Scotsman,' asked 

 for a copy of the first number of my birds, to notice it in his 

 paper. Went to the Society of Arts, and saw there many 

 beautiful and remarkable inventions, among them a carriage 

 propelled by steam, which moved with great rapidity and regu- 

 larity. I always enjoy my visits here more than to the literary 

 societies. The time for leaving Edinburgh is drawing near, 

 but I am yet undetermined whether to go first to Glasgow or 

 Dublin, or else to Newcastle, and then to Liverpool, Oxford, 

 Cambridge, and so on to London ; but I shall soon decide and 

 move. 



" March 7. Having determined to leave Edinburgh, my first 

 course is to settle up all my business affairs, and make prepara- 

 tions for the future, and to this end I set about collecting the 

 letters promised me by friends to the different places I propo^d 

 to visit. Professor Jameson and Dr. Brewster have made me 

 promise occasionally to contribute some articles for their journals. 

 I mentioned to Dr. Brewster the desire I had for a line from 

 Sir Walter Scott. He told me he was to dine with him that day, 

 and he would mention the subject to him, and he had no doubt 

 he would kindly grant it. Passed the evening at a large party 

 at Mr. Tytler's, where, among other agreeable ladies and 

 gentlemen, I was introduced to Sydney Smith, the famous 

 preacher of last Sunday. Saw his fair daughters, and heard them 

 sweetly sing ; and he and his daughters appointed next Saturday 

 to examine my drawings. 



" March 8. The weather was dreadful last night, wind howl- 

 ing, 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 letter 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 honoured by being the bearer of a few lines 



