AFTER A PORTRAIT IN OILS, HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED, PAINTED ABOUT 1826 W. H. HOLMES FOR WALTER HORTON BENTLEY, OF MANCHESTER, AND IN 1913 IN POSSESSION OF HIS GRANDSON, JOHN CONWAY BENTLEY, FORMERLY OF GLASGOW. IN THE ORIGINAL AUDUBON IS REPRESENTED IN A GREEN COAT, A CRIMSON CLOAK WITH DEEP FUR EDGING THROWN OVER ONE SHOULDER, AND WITH PORTFOLIO IN HAND. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH IN POSSESSION OF MR. RUTHVEN DEANE.
By November Audubon was once more in London, busy at painting to fill his orders and his purse. On the 11th of the month, we find Swainson, whose own exchequer was empty, writing to Audubon for a loan; this letter, and one soon to follow, illustrate some of the characteristics to which we have referred:
William Swainson to Audubon
Tuesday 11 Nov. 1828.
I had written the enclosed, my dear Mr. Audubon, before your letter of Monday reached me. It has come this instant, Dreams, you know, must always be interpreted contrawise, we might have lifted up our arms, as you saw in your dream but, if you had not awoke, it was no doubt to have shaken hands! But that my regard for you may be evinced, I will bring myself to lay under an obligation, which I would only ask for one of my own family. I was that moment thinking to which I should write, to ask the loan of 80 £ for a few months, and now I will ask it of you. If you was aware of the peculiar feelings which we Englishmen have on such occasions, perhaps you would smile, but so it is that we never ask any one, from whom we have the least idea of a refusal. Now, did I not believe you to be a sincere friend, do you imagine I should have told you I was in want of Money much less have asked you to lend me some. The fact is, I have suffered a severe loss during my being in Paris, what little I had on hand has been spent there and in making preparations for the publication of my Zool. Illustrations. Two or three months however, hard work will bring me round again & repay you.
Let me see your letter to the President of the Zool. Soc. before it goes, and you shall see mine.
I shall be most thankful for the Grouse. I send 2 drawings to Havell to be engraved spur him on for I want to have every thing ready before the new year.
Yours most sincerely,
W. Swainson.
John J. Audubon, Esq.
79 Newman St.
In December the Swainsons invited Audubon to dine with them at Christmas; in his letter Swainson said: