FIRST VENTURES IN BUSINESS 165 



the little package that you said had been prepared for us. Be 

 sure that Mr. B. B. will aid us to a sufficient degree, and al- 

 ways in a way that anything which you send us will be promptly 

 returned in merchandise assigned to you. The land, which we 

 cannot sell without a great disadvantage, keeps us very short 

 of cash, and prevents us for the moment from dealing on as 

 large a scale as we should desire ; but with your kindness in 

 sending us the materials for starting a grand retail shop with 

 different articles, it will aid us very much. As you well say, 

 it is a little unfortunate that there is no longer a boat from 

 your port here. 



I write to my father by the same opportunity. Will you, 

 I pray, get it to him as soon as possible, and I beg you to go 

 aboard for the live birds for him and for you. 



Present my respects to your good family, and believe me 

 for ever 



Your faithful friend and 

 servant 



Audubon. 



I should be very happy if you would send me a good box 

 of pastels, chosen by Mr. Belloc, the younger, at 2 c 3 Louis. 21 



John James Audubon to Claude Francois Rozier 



[Letter No. 7, addressed] 



Monsieur Fr. Rozier, 



Negociant, 



Nantes. 



Loire Inferieure. 



New York, July 19, 1807. 



Dear Sir: 



Mr. Benjamin Bakewell as well as myself have received your 

 letters by the Comet, which had a passage of 42 days. We 

 have at present in the warehouse a great part of the merchan- 

 dise of the latter [vessel], and in good condition; Mr. B. B. 



21 One Louis was equal to twenty francs, or four dollars. 



