30 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 
was not my intention; for, until long 
after, when I met the Prince of Musig- 
nano in Philadelphia, I had not the 
least idea of presenting the fruits of my 
labours to the world. Mr. Wilson now 
examined my drawings with care, asked 
if Ishould have any objection to lend- 
ing 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 arrangement to ex- 
plore 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 
a strong feeling of discontent, or a de- 
cided melancholy. The Scotch airs 
which he played sweetly on his flute 
made me melancholy, too, and I felt for 
him. I presented him to my wife and 
friends, and seeing that he was all enthu- 
