48 Audubon's Western Journal 



I found my uncle, W. G. Bakewell, on board 

 making the trip to New Orleans, and my journey 

 was as agreeable as it could be, where all my 

 associations were of a melancholy nature. I 

 thought of past joys and friends dead and scattered 

 since the days when I knew this country so well. 



The river was very high, and the desolation of 

 the swamps, the lonely decaying appearance of the 

 clay bluffs, picturesque as they are, added to the 

 eternal passing on of this mighty stream towards 

 its doom, to be swallowed in earth's great emblem 

 of eternity, the ocean, told only of the passing of 

 all things. 



February l8th. Four days from Cairo found 

 us at New Orleans, and a few hours enabled me to 

 find hotels for our party, and at six o'clock I was 

 able to tell Col. Webb that I had done all I could 

 that night and would be with him at nine next 

 morning, and left for the quiet of my aunt's^ home. 



February 19th was spent in running all over 

 New Orleans, ordering horse and mule shoes, 

 bacon, flour, bags, tools, ammunition, and making 

 arrangements to change our certificates of deposit 

 for such funds as would pass in Mexico. I called 

 with Col. Webb on General and Mrs. Gaines and 

 was most kindly received by both, and afterwards 

 asked to call again, but had no time, as every 

 minute was occupied with my business. 



1 Mrs. Alexander Gordon. — M. R. A. 



