TO EUROPE AND SUCCESS 365 
frigate, “wore around Long Island Sound, and reached 
New York by Hell Gate.” It was at Captain Hall’s 
home that Audubon met Francis Jeffrey. The indom- 
itable critic and reviewer was described as “a small (not 
to say tiny) man,” who entered the room “with a woman 
under one arm, and a hat under the other.” ‘His looks 
were shrewd,” said the naturalist, his eyes “almost cun- 
ning” and though he talked much, he appeared unsym- 
pathetic. Their meeting was productive of no friendly 
feelings on either side. 
: Three months after reaching Edinburgh, the long 
awaited opportunity of meeting the greatest literary 
figure of the day came to Audubon unexpectedly, for 
he did not wish to be introduced in a crowd. Under 
date of January 22, 1827, he wrote that Captain Hall 
came to his rooms and said: “Put on your coat, and 
come with me to Sir Walter Scott: he wishes to see you 
now.” “In a moment,” said Audubon, “I was ready. 
. . . My heart trembled; I longed for the meeting, yet 
wished it over.” When they were ushered into Sir 
Walter’s study, the great Scot came forward, and 
warmly pressing the hand of his visitor, said he was 
glad to have the honor of meeting him. Audubon’s 
record of the meeting continues: 
His long, loose, silvery locks struck me; he looked like 
Franklin at his best. He also reminded me of Benjamin West ; 
he had the great benevolence of William Roscoe about him, and 
a kindness most prepossessing. I could not forbear looking at 
him; my eyes feasted on his countenance. I watched his move- 
ments as I would those of a celestial being; his long, heavy, 
white eyebrows struck me forcibly. His little room was tidy, 
though it partook a good deal of the character of a laboratory. 
He was wrapped in a quilted morning-gown of light purple 
silk; he had been at work writing on the “Life of Napoleon.” 
