JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 39 



and for a time prospered. Some years 

 previously lie had formed a co-partner- 

 ship with his wife's brother, and a com- 

 mercial house in charge of Bakewell had 

 been opened in New Orleans. This 

 turned out disastrously and was a con- 

 stant drain upon his resources. 



This partner now appears upon the 

 scene at Hendersonville and persuades 

 Audubon to erect, at a heavy outlay, a 

 steam grist and saw mill, and to take 

 into the firm an Englishman by the name 

 of Pease. 



This enterprise brought fresh disaster. 

 "How I laboured at this infernal mill, 

 from dawn till dark, nay, at times all 

 night. 7 



They also purchased a steamboat 

 which was so much additional weight to 

 drag them down. This was about the 

 year 1817. From this date till 1819, 

 Audubon' s pecuniary difficulties in- 

 creased daily. He had no business 

 talent whatever ; he was a poet and an 



