266 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



different amounts, which probably did not much exceed 

 $2,000, but an echo of one of these transactions ap- 

 peared as late as 1819, when Audubon's brother-in-law 

 sent him a document referring to the claim on the Ross 

 estate, in the hope that some money might still be forth- 

 coming, writing as follows : 8 



In turning over some letters I have found a letter of Mr. 

 David Rost [Ross], and a memorandum that I thought pointed 

 to what was referred to in it. As I have sometimes heard it 

 said that this Mr. David Rost owed a considerable sum, it 

 should be possible that this letter, which is in English, might 

 be of use to you. I cannot say anything about it, not knowing 

 your language, and not having ventured to get it translated, 

 from fear of compromising us, I am sending it to you, [and] 

 you will judge of its importance. Should chance will that it 

 bring you money, send me some of it, I beg you, for I am in 

 great need of it. 



The same biographer whom we have just quoted 

 said in reference to "La Gerbetiere" : "This estate was 

 left by Commodore Audubon to his son John James, 

 who conveyed it to his sister without even visiting the 

 domain he so generously willed away." We have now 

 seen what provisions were actually made for the dis- 

 position of this property under the terms of the various 

 wills of Lieutenant Audubon and his wife. We need 

 only add that not long after his father's death, the nat- 

 uralist lost touch with his family in France; his one- 

 half interest in his stepmother's estate, which was heav- 

 ily encumbered, was never claimed, and at a much later 

 day was informally relinquished in favor of his sister 

 and her family. 



8 From G. L. du Puigaudeau's copy of his letter to John James Audu- 

 bon (at Henderson), dated "Coueron, August 15, 1819," translated from 

 the French. (Lavigne MSS.) 



