64 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 
and hat came to me instead of my going 
to them. My heart trembled ; I longed 
for the meeting, yet wished it over. 
Had not his wondrous pen penetrated 
my soul with the consciousness that here 
was a genius from God’s hand? I felt 
overwhelmed at the thought of meeting 
Sir Walter, the Great Unknown. We 
reached the house, and a powdered 
waiter was asked if Sir Walter were in. 
We were shown forward at once, and 
entering a very small room Captain Hall 
said: ‘Sir Walter, I have brought Mr. 
Audubon.’ Sir Walter came forward, 
pressed my hand warmly, and said he 
was ‘glad to have the honour of meeting 
me.’ His long, loose, silvery locks 
struck me; he looked like Franklin at 
his best. He also reminded me of Ben- 
jamin West; he had the great benevo- 
lence 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 
