CHRISTMAS IN ENGLAND. 157 



have reduced my flesh very much, and I would have been off 

 for Manchester, Liverpool, &c., bnt have had no complete copy 

 of my woyk to take with me. 



" December 25. Another Christmas in England ! I dined at 

 Mr. Goddard's, in the furthest opposite end of London, with a 

 company mostly American. Sir Thomas Lawrence called to 

 see my paintings while I was absent. Mr. Havell showed them 

 to him, and made tbe following report to me : — ' Looking at the 

 picture of the Eagle and the Lamb, he said, " That is a fine 

 picture." He examined it closely, and then turned to the 

 Pheasants, which I call " Sauve qui pent ;" this he looked at 

 from different points, and with his face close to the canvas, and 

 had it rolled to different points, for more light and new views, 

 but expressed no opinion about it. The Otter came next. He 

 said, " The animal is very fine." He left, and promised to return 

 in a few days.' I met him soon after, and he told me he would 

 call and make selection of a picture to be exhibited at Somerset 

 House, and would speak to the council about it." 



By this time, as the journal shows, Audubon had resolved 

 to visit America, and had begun to make active preparations 

 for leaving. 



" March 31. It is so long since I have written in my life book, 

 that I felt quite ashamed on opening it to see that the last date 

 was Christmas of last year. Fie, Audubon ! Well, I have 

 made up my mind to go to America, and with some labour and 

 some trouble perfected all arrangements. I have given the 

 agency of my work to my excellent friend Children, of the 

 British Museum, who kindly offered to see to it during my 

 absence. I have settled all my business as well as I could, 

 taken my passage on board the packet-ship Columbia, Captain 

 Joseph Delano, to sail from Portsmouth, and paid thirty pounds 

 for my passage. 



" April 1. I went by mail to the smoky city of Portsmouth ; 

 have hoisted the anchor, am at sea, and sea-sich." 



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