FIRST VENTURES IN BUSINESS 161 



I will send him a letter by this opportunity — Good by farwell 

 good father believe me for life thy most sincere friend be 

 well be happy 



thy son 

 J. . J. . Audubon 

 J'espere que tu poura lire — adieu — adieu. 



John James Audubon to Claude Francois Rozier 



[Letter No. 4, addressed] 

 Mr. Fccis Rozier, 



Merct, Nantes — Ocean. 



New York, May 6th, 1807. 

 Dear Sir: 



I wrote you recently by a ship going to Bordeaux ; the let- 

 ters were carefully intrusted, and I hope that they were re- 

 ceived. I notified you of the arrival of the wines to the ad- 

 dress of Mr. Huron of Philadelphia, and told you that part 

 of the cases were sold. Your son informed me this morning 

 that wine of so good quality ought never to be exported in 

 cask, and that the profit would have been greater if the whole 

 had been in case. Mr. Benjamin Bakewell has received the bill 

 of lading of Mess Gereche brothers, and the gloves and the 

 lace are at present on the road from Philadelphia to this place ; 

 perhaps we shall have them tomorrow ; I am afraid that they 

 may be dear. In several of your letters to Ferdinand you 

 speak of a retail store, and my friend begs me tell you that 

 nothing could suit us better than that you should have the 

 kindness to send us enough [goods] to set up a shop at once 

 on a good footing. As soon as advised, we shall order you 

 to stock it with merchandise of your choice. You should have 

 already received the bill of sale of a bale of linen cloth. You 

 can judge that I have learned to shave Messrs the Americans, 

 since I have been with Mr. B. B. In conscience, however, [the 

 goods] have been sold at one third above their value. Should 

 you decide upon sending another [shipment], do not count upon 

 so good a sale. You must know, however, that I am always 



