or why Chenou chose to stay on the Brandywine. The result was 

 that "A. Cardon & A. Bidermann being entirely unacquainted 

 with the business made an arrangement with a Mr. L. F. Chenou 

 . . . who engaged to remain with them one year and teach them 

 his process of leather and morocco manufacturing."^'**' 



Du Font's sense of responsibility for Cardon was somewhat re- 

 lieved. He confided to his wife: "I am certainly happy that 

 coming over with me has not brought him ill luck." It seemed to 

 du Pont pere that Cardon had "formed here a very worthwhile 

 and lucrative business" which "in America ... is the only way 

 to gain respect." It was fortunate that both Cardon and Bider- 

 mann had learned a trade from Chenou because, according to du 

 Pont de Nemours, "in this country the profession of a man who 

 knows only how to write is less than nothing. That of wood- 

 cutter or barrowman is much better." ^'^^ 



In February 1816, a tannery was in operation and those in- 

 volved had "high hopes for it." ^^^ What had begun as a project 

 to employ Victor du Pont resulted in a new industry on the lower 

 Brandywine. A young nobleman, a banker's son, and a tanner 

 (all recently arrived in America) joined the Brandywine's industrial 

 family, pursuing a business which could not fail. After all, what 

 could be better than a tannery in a country where "nobody goes 

 bare-foot and nobody wears wooden shoes. There are throngs of 

 consumers." ^"^^ Du Pont de Nemours' responsibility for A. Cardon 

 was discharged: "He will be a satisfactory tanner and in twenty 

 years from now very wealthy; the only way to be respected in this 

 English country." ^'°^ 



By December 1815, Alexandre Cardon, Charles Dalmas, and 

 J. A. Bidermann had "subscribed ... as follows to furnish a 

 capital stock of $6000 — for settlement of a Tan Yard and Morocco 

 manufactory [see fig. 21] under the name of A. Cardon & Co.":^°^ 



^*^ "Statement written by Bidermann with additions by E. I. du Pont," in B. G. du Pont, vol. 11, 

 p. 251. In addition see Agreement between Alexandre Cardon de Sandrans, Jacques Antoine 

 Bidermann, and Louis Francois Chenou, December 29, 1815, Eleutherian Mills Historical Library. 

 Chenou agreed to teach Cardon and Bidermann a method of tanning which would produce finished 

 leather in three months. 



'^'' du Pont de Nemours to wife, letter no. 65, October 9, 1816, Longwood MSS, access. 47. 



1*8 du Pont de Nemours to wife, letter no. 32, February 22, 1816. 



'^^ du Pont de Nemours to wife, letter no. 46, June 12, 1816. 



150 (jy Pont de Nemours to wife, letter no. 70, November 26, 1816. 



15' Day book, 1815-1822, A. Cardon and Company, Old Stone Office Records, Eleutherian Mills 

 Historical Library, Greenville, Delaware, December 29, 1815. These records will hereafter be cited 

 as OSOR. 



57 



