122 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



Jean Audubon to Francis Dacosta 



Nantes, 22 June, 1805 

 To Mr. Dacosta: 



I have just received your letter of April 23, and hasten to 

 reply to it, in order to prove to you that not one of yours 

 has been neglected, which could be readily seen by my copy- 

 book. I am not surprised that at this time you have not re- 

 ceived your papers, because they cannot have left before the 

 10th or 15th of last March, having been held up by the em- 

 bargoes and the bad weather, as you will see by the date of 

 the letters which accompany them. 



They were entrusted to the son-in-law of Mr. Paulin, and 

 if the ship arrives safely as I trust it will, you have now re- 

 ceived them. 



What negligence on the part of Mr. Miers Fisher! In 

 truth it is unpardonable, to let the mortgages stand after 

 having paid them! 11 Will you then, I pray, clear this up for 

 the sake of our mutual peace of mind? You speak of repairs 

 to the house, 12 it needs a complete cover; would it not be better 

 for me to send some slate from here? This would perhaps be 

 less expensive, and well nigh everlasting. Should you consider 

 it advisable I will send you some at once. 



I beg you not to neglect the affair of David Ross ; if you 

 can collect this sum, you will use it for our needs. I am 

 annoyed that all these mishaps prevent you from working; 13 

 be well persuaded that it is no fault of mine, and that I am 

 guilty of no negligence. 



You speak of my going to that country ; if such had been 

 my intention I should have done it long ago. I am still 



II This was probably the mortgage which Jean Audubon gave to 

 Prevost when "Mill Grove" was purchased in 1789, for in Dacosta's final 

 account for 1806-1807 this item occurs under October 15, 1806: "To the 

 recorder in Norristown for entering satisfaction of John Audubon mortgage 

 to John Augustin Prevost . . . $2.83." 



12 The principal house at "Mill Grove," which Dacosta was preparing 

 to occupy. 



13 Owing to the delay in receiving his legal papers from France, Dacosta 

 had threatened to carry his case to the courts, and had stopped work 

 at the mine. 



