from statesmen and others of distinction, in his own country, he had seemingly a good foundation on which to establish an intercourse favorable to his intentions. But the busy unceasing engrossment of London existence subjected him to delay and disappointment. Wandering early and late, not a single one of those he sought could he find at home! Gradually however, through different mediums, his aim was accomplished. An intimacy with Lord Stanley led to his acquaintance with others of the nobility. Soon he was elected member of the Linnæan and Zoological Societies, and before long artists, men of science, and professors, were among the list of his subscribers.

During 1828 he again visited Paris, where investigating the many objects of interest in the great museum, enjoying intercourse with the illustrious Cuvier and his enlightened guests, the time, pleasantly and profitably spent, passed quickly away. He returned to England for the winter, and in 1829 sailed once more for his native soil. Notwithstanding the gratifying reception he had met with in Europe, the kindly courtesy with which he had been welcomed, and the honors with which he had been distinguished, the charm of novelty and the excitement of gay scenes, "with indescribable pleasure," he tells us, "he watched the outspread wings of the first American wanderer which hovered over the waters, and joyfully leapt again upon the shores of the New World. Scouring the Woods with a hunter's zeal he speedily traversed the middle states,

and at length reached his favorite Louisiana. A most disheartening disaster there occurred to him.

Returning from Philadelphia after an absence of several months, absorbed in the newly found delights of home, he failed to enquire the fate of a certain wooden box, which, before his departure, he had entrusted to the care of a relative, with the strictest injunctions as to its safety. At last, on interrogation this treasure was produced-the dearly prized deposit of all his drawings, more cherished than a casket of the rarest jewels! It was opened, and what was Audubon's dismay to perceive the misfortune which had befallen it. A pair of Norway rats having taken possession and appropriated it, had reared there a whole party! A few gnawed bits of paper were the only remains of what a few months before had been a thousand marvellous representations of the curious inhabitants of the air! The shock of such a calamity was too much even for the fortitude of Audubon. Like an electric stroke it thrilled his whole nervous system, and for some time caused the entire prostration of his physical powers. A burning heat rushed through his brain on the discovery-the discovery of the entire wreck of the result of all his efforts and his patience! For nights he could not sleep, and days were passed in listless apathy, till at length invigoration of mind and frame gradually, under kindly influences, returned. He once again took up his pencils, his note-book and his gun, and went forth to the woods. Then consoling himself with the reflection that he could make much better

drawings than before, he persevered untiringly for three whole years, until his portfolio was replenished! In 1830, Audubon, accompanied by his wife, visited New Orleans. Sauntering there one morning, he observed a gentleman, whose singular appearance attracted his attention. Assuming him to be another "odd fish" he determined to make his acquaintance. The exterior of this original might reasonably account for the conclusion.

A huge straw-hat covered his head. The unusually broad frill of a shirt fluttered about his breast, and a very remarkable collar, which left his neck exposed negligently to the weather, fell over the top of his light green coat. The delicate hue of this garment harmonized well with the yellow of his glowing nankeens, and was brightened by a pink waistcoat, from the bosom of which, lurking amidst a bunch of the splendid magnolia flower, part of an alligator protruded, which seemed anxious to escape its gentle imprisonment in folds of the finest cambric.

In one of his hands the gentleman held a cage, plentifully furnished with nonpareils as richly plumed as himself-in the other sportively handled a silk umbrella, on which could be plainly read the words, "stolen from I," painted in large white characters.

With a conscious air, he strutted along, humming "My love is but a lassie yet," in such purely native fashion, that Audubon would gladly have pronounced him a true Scot, but for his unmistakeably American tournure. This conviction excited his curiosity still more, till at length he was compelled to gratify it, by

accosting the stranger with, "Pray Sir, will you allow me to examine the birds you have in that cage?" At this request the owner of them stopped, straightened his body, almost closed his left eye, spread his legs apart, and with an irresistibly comic look, answered, "Birds, Sir, did you say birds ?" On the question being repeated, he continued, "What do you know about birds, Sir?" "Sir," replied Audubon, I am a student of nature, and admire her works, from the crawling reptile you have in your bosom to the "human form divine." "Ah!" replied he, "a-a-a naturalist, I suppose." He then handed the cage, which Audubon inspected, and was about to take his departure, when the stranger requested that he would accompany him to his lodgings.

On arriving there, they entered a long room, where the most prominent objects were a number of pictures along the walls, a table covered with painting apparatus, and a large easel with a full length portrait yet unfinished upon it. Each of the drawings told the touch of a superior artist. Audubon felt convinced it could be no other than his new companion, and complimented him accordingly. "Ay," said he, the world is pleased with my work, I wish I were so too;" but time and industry are necessary, as well as talents to make a good painter. If you have leisure and will stay awhile, I will show you how I paint, and will relate to you an incident of my life, which will prove to you how sadly situated an artist is sometimes." On receiving an assent, he continued, "Sir, if you should ever paint, and paint portraits, you will often meet

with difficulties. For instance, the brave commodore of whom this is the portrait, pointing to the picture occupying the easel before him, "the brave commodore, though an excellent man at everything else, is the worst sitter I ever saw. The first morning that he came to me, he was in full uniform, and with a sword at his side. After a few minutes conversation, and when all was ready on my part, I bade him ascend this throne, place himself in an attitude which I contemplated, and assume an air becoming an officer of the navy.

"Well, he mounted, placed himself as I had desired, but merely looked at me as if I had been a block of stone. I waited a few minutes, when, observing no change in his countenance, I ran the chalk over the canvass to form a rough outline. This done, I looked up to his face again, and opened a conversation which I thought would warm his warlike nature, but in vain. I waited and talked, waited and talked, until my patience, Sir, you must know I am I am not overburthened with it-my patience being exhausted, I rose, threw my pallet and brush on the floor, stamped, walked to and fro about the room, and vociferated such fearful calumnies against our navy, that I startled the good commodore. Yet he still looked at me with a plain countenance, and, as he told me since, thought I had lost my senses. But I observed him all the while, and fully as determined to carry my point as he would be to carry off an enemy's ship, I gave my oaths additional emphasis, addressed him as a representative of the navy, and, steering somewhat clear of