JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 79 
and spends his time playing whist at a 
shilling a rubber. I had to wait six 
weeks before I was presented to him in 
my position of embassador.’’ But his 
work was presented to the King who 
called it fine, and His Majesty became a 
subscriber on the usual terms. Other 
noble persons followed suit, yet Audu- 
don was despondent. He had removed 
the publication of his work from Edin- 
burgh to London, from the hands of Mr. 
Lizars into those of Robert Havell. 
But the enterprise did not prosper, his 
agents did not attend to business, nor to 
his orders, and he soon found himself 
at bay for means to go forward with the 
work. At this juncture he determined 
to make a sortie for the purpose of col- 
lecting his dues and to add to his sub- 
seribers. He visited Leeds, York, and 
other towns. Under date of October 9, 
at York, he writes in his journal: 
‘“‘How often I thought during these 
visits of poor Alexander Wilson. Then 
