THE ROYAL AOADl^MIE. 141 



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 myself, 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 nearly five miles to ride, we left a la Franpaise, very well 

 satisfied with this introductory step among the savans Fran9ais. 



" 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 Eoyal Academic des 

 Sciences. I took my portfolio, 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 honour. The seance 

 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 Academy. 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 propose to the Academy to subscribe to it, 

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



"September 9. Went to the Jardin du Eoi, where I met 

 young Geoffroy, who took me to a man who stuffs birds for the 

 Prince d'Essling. He told me the Prince had a copy of my 

 work (probably Wilson's or Selby's ?), and said he would sub- 

 scribe if I would call on him to-morrow with him. After 

 this I walked around the boulevards, looking at the strange 

 things I saw there, thinking of my own strange life, and how 

 wonderful my present situation in the land of my father and 

 ancestors. From here I went to the Louvre, and as I was about 

 to pass the gates of the Tuileries, a sentinel stopped me, saying 

 no one could enter there with a fur cap. I went to another 

 gate, and passed without challenge, and went to the Grand 

 Gallery. There, among the Eaphaels, and Correggios, Titians, 

 Davids, and thousands of others, I feasted my eyes and enlarged 

 my knowledge. From there I made my way to the Institut de 



