82 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 
In February he learned that it was 
Sir Thomas Lawrence who prevented 
the British Museum from subscribing 
to his work: ‘‘He considered the 
drawings so-so, and the engraving and 
colouring bad; when I remember how 
he praised these same drawings in my 
presence, I wonder — that is all.”’ 
The rudest man he met in England 
was the Earl of Kinnoul: ‘A small 
man with a face like the caricature of an 
owl.’’ He sent for Audubon to tell 
him that all his birds were alike, and 
that he considered his work a swindle. 
“He may really think this, his knowl- 
edge is probably small; but it is not. 
the custom to send for a gentleman to 
abuse him in one’s own house.’”? <Au- 
dubon heard his words, bowed and left 
him without speaking. 
In March he went to Cambridge and 
met and was dined by many learned men. 
The University, through its Librarian, 
subscribed for his work. Other subscrip- 
