98 AUDUBON 



tancy of Bills, hunting up lodgings, — again my heart fails 

 me ; I must on deck. 



Mersey River opposite Liverpool, 9.30 P.M. The night 

 is cloudy, and we are at anchor ! The lights of the city 

 show brightly, for we are not more than two hundred 

 yards distant from them. 



Liverpool, July 21. This morning when I landed it 

 was raining, yet the appearance of the city was agree- 

 able; but no sooner had I entered it than the smoke 

 became so oppressive to my lungs that I could hardly 

 breathe; it affected my eyes also. All was new to me. 

 After a breakfast at an inn with Mr. Swift for 2/6, we went 

 to the Exchange Buildings, to the counting-house of Gor- 

 don and Forstall, as I was anxious to deliver my letters 

 to Mr. Gordon from Mr. Briggs. I also presented during 

 the morning my bill of exchange. The rest of the day 

 was spent in going to the Museum, gazing about, and 

 clearing my brains as much as possible ; but how lonely I 

 feel, — not a soul to speak to freely when Mr. Swift leaves 

 me for Ireland. We took lodgings at the Commercial Inn 

 not far from the Exchange Buildings ; we are well fed, and 

 well attended to, although, to my surprise, altogether by 

 women, neatly dressed and modest. I found the persons 

 of whom I enquired for different directions, remarkably 

 kind and polite ; I had been told this would not be the 

 case, but I have met with only real politeness from all. 



Liverpool, July 22. The Lark that sings so sweetly, 

 and that now awakened me from happy dreams, is nearly 

 opposite my table, prisoner in a cage hanging by a win- 

 dow where from time to time a young person comes to 

 look on the world below ; I think of the world of the 

 West and — but the Lark, delightful creature, sings sweetly, 

 yet in a cage ! 



The Custom House suddenly entered my head, and 

 after considerable delay there, my drawings went through 

 a regular, strict, and complete examination. The officers 



