392 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 
grace, or lordship, or [her] ladyship was not at home, 
until I have grown wiser, and stay at home myself, and 
merely attend to my political business, and God knows 
when I will have done with that.” 
As the American Ambassador had predicted, King 
George evinced no ardent desire to meet the American 
woodsman, though he consented to take the work under 
his patronage and to become a subscriber on the usual 
terms; this plan, however, fell through, for the King, 
who was reported to have taken his copy, failed to pay 
for it. With Queen Adelaide, on the other hand, the 
naturalist was more successful, and in his “Prospectus” 
of 1831 she was announced as his special patron, with 
her name heading his list. Negotiations to interest the 
Queen were going on when the following note was sent 
to Audubon by Sir J. W. Waller, who occupied some 
position in the king’s household and was spoken of as 
“oculist to his majesty”: 
Sir J. W. Waller to Audubon 
Saturday 9 o clock [1830]. 
I have scarce an Instant as I am going to Town to break- 
fast with the Dk. of Gloucester, but yr. Letter is urgent & 
therefore I can only desire Mr. A. to send his Number imme- 
diately to the Stable Yard, directed to her Majesty, & the first 
moment I can see her, I will speak on the subject, but at this 
Moment I will not promise to mention it to the King for reasons 
I cannot put on paper. 
Yrs. ever, 
J. W. Water 
At Edinburgh Audubon was alarmed to find that 
subscribers were rapidly deserting him, six having can- 
celled their names without the formality of giving rea- 
