110 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 
turned over a few of the plates, and had already taken a pen 
to write my name in his favor, when my partner.rather ab- 
ruptly said to me in French, “My dear Audubon, what 
induces you to subscribe to this work? Your drawings are 
certainly far better, and again you must know as much of 
the habits of American birds as this gentleman.” Whether 
Mr. Wilson understood French or not, or if the suddenness 
with which I paused, disappointed him, I cannot tell; but I 
clearly perceived that he was not pleased. Vanity and the 
encomiums of my friend prevented me from subscribing. Mr. 
Wilson asked me if I had many drawings of birds. I rose, 
took down a large portfolio, laid it on the table, and showed 
him, as I would show you, kind reader, or any other person fond 
of such subjects, the whole of the contents, with the same 
patience with which he had shown me his own engravings. 
His surprise appeared great, as he told me he never had 
the most distant idea that any other individual than himself 
had been engaged in forming such a collection. He asked 
me if it was my intention to publish, and when I answered in 
the negative, his surprise seemed to increase. And, truly, 
such was not my intention; for, until long after, when I met 
the Prince of Musignano in Philadelphia, I had not the least 
idea of presenting the fruits of my labors to the world. Mr. 
Wilson now examined my drawings with care, asked if I 
should have any objections to lending him a few during his 
stay, to which I replied that I had none: he then bade me 
good morning, not, however, until I had made an arrange- 
ment to explore the woods in the vicinity along with him, and 
had promised to procure for him some birds, of which I had 
drawings in my collection, but which he had never seen. 
It happened that he lodged in the same house with us, but 
his retired habits, I thought, exhibited either a strong feeling 
of discontent, or a decided melancholy. The Scotch airs 
which he played sweetly on his flute made me melancholy 
soo, and I felt for him. I presented him to my wife and 
