192 AUDUBON 



puzzle to me. They asked my permission to read the 

 notes at their next meeting, to which I consented. I then 

 went to court to meet Mr. Simpson the advocate, who was 

 to introduce me to Francis Jeffrey. I found Mr. Simpson 

 and a hundred others in their raven gowns, and powdered, 

 curled wigs, but Mr. Jeffrey was not there. After doing 

 many things and writing much, I went this evening to Mr. 

 Lizars', and with him to Dr. Greville, the botanist. 1 He 

 rarely leaves his house in winter and suffers much from 

 asthma ; I found him wearing a green silk night-cap, and 

 we sat and talked of plants till 2 A. M. When I entered 

 my rooms I found Mr. Selby had sent me three most 

 beautiful Pheasants, and to-morrow I begin a painting of 

 these birds attacked by a Fox for the Exhibition in Lon- 

 don next March. Also I had a note from the Earl of 

 Morton to spend a day and night at his home at Dalma- 

 hoy, saying he would send his carriage for me next 

 Wednesday, one week hence. 



Thursday, December 21. To-day I received letters from 

 De Witt Clinton and Thomas Sully in answer to mine in 

 forty-two days ; it seems absolutely impossible the distance 

 should have been covered so rapidly; yet it is so, as I 

 see by my memorandum book. I have written already 

 in reply to Thomas Sully, promising him a copy of my 

 first number when finished, say a month hence, with the 

 request that he forward it, in my name, to that Institution 

 which thought me unworthy to be a member. There is 

 no malice in my heart, and I wish no return or acknowl- 

 edgment from them. I am now determined never to be 

 a member of that Philadelphia Society, but I still think 

 talents, no matter how humble, should be fostered in one's 

 own country. The weather is clear, with a sharp frost. 

 What a number of Wild Ducks could I shoot on a morning 

 like this, with a little powder and plenty of shot ; but I had 



1 Robert Kaye Greville, author of "Plants of Edinburgh" and other 

 botanical works, 1 794-1 866. 



