AUDUBON 



THE 



NATURALIST 



CHAPTER XXVI 



EXPLORATIONS IN FLORIDA AND THE SOUTH 



ATLANTIC 



Obituary published in London on day of his arrival in New York — As- 

 sistance from the Government — John Bachman becomes his friend- 

 Winter in Charleston— His folios as gifts— To Florida with two as- 

 sistants — Letters to Featherstonhaugh — St. Augustine — Misadventures 

 in the mud of East Florida — Audubon on Florida's future — At the 

 sources of the St. John's— Aboard the Marion — Return from Key 

 West — A merchant of Savannah— Disbanding of party at Charleston. 



In the summer of 1831 Audubon felt that he must 

 again return to America and extend his researches to 

 the north, south and west, as well as begin a campaign 

 for subscribers in the United States. His large folio 

 was now running into its second volume, and the first 

 installment of his text had been published ; the time was 

 favorable to his plans, and he hoped to remain in the 

 country two or three years. 



For the second time the publication of his plates 

 was entrusted to friend Children, and with Mrs. Audu- 

 bon he set sail for New York on August 2, 1831. From 

 the American metropolis he wrote to Joseph B. Kidd 

 on September 7 as follows : * 



1 Quoted by Captain Thomas Brown (Bibl. No. 163) in the Edin- 

 burgh Caledonian Mercury, November 3, 1831. 



1 



