THE ENIGMA OF AUDUBON'S LIFE 267 



During his Henderson period Audubon was in 

 communication with his brother-in-law, Gabriel Loyen 

 du Puigaudeau, who kept him informed in regard to 

 all that transpired in their French home; on July 26, 

 1817, the naturalist had given him a power of attorney, 

 the curious wording of which has already been noticed. 9 

 Whether deterred by the legal complications which soon 

 followed, displeased by the mode of settlement, or for 

 what other cause now unknown to us, Audubon seems 

 to have severed all relations with his family at Coueron, 

 or to have written to them only after long lapses of 

 silence. On New Year's Day, 1820, Gabriel du Puigau- 

 deau dispatched to him a friendly letter 10 of greeting : 



I take the opportunity at the renewal of the year, to offer 

 you the good wishes of the entire family. Our every desire is 

 that you, your beloved wife, and dear children may be happy, 

 that you may prosper, that you may enjoy good health, and 

 this is the wish of your nieces also. But, awaiting the pleasure 

 of seeing you all, by what fatality during the past eighteen 

 months have I not had any news of you, why no reply to at 

 least twenty letters that I have written to you? Can I have 

 been so unfortunate that some one has given you any report 

 that would prejudice you against me? I do not believe that 

 there could exist any one who would be able to do this, at least 

 with truth ; if some one has really sought to estrange your 

 friendship for me, act with frankness, and tell me your sus- 

 picions. I do not believe it would be difficult to destroy them, 

 and I even promise that I would offer you no reproach for 

 having momentarily believed it, should this after all have oc- 

 curred. For what concerns our business affairs, I refer you to 

 my letters which have preceded this. 



9 See Vol. I, p. 64. 



10 This, and the letter to follow, translated from Gabriel du Puigau- 

 deau's copies. (Lavigne MSS.) 



