Business Misadventure. 55 



" On the grass-plot we all met, in such condition as 

 rendered it next to impossible to discriminate any of the 

 party, all huddled together in a state of almost perfect 

 nudity. The earth waved like a field of corn before the 

 breeze ; the birds left their perches, and flew about not 

 knowing whither ; and the doctor, recollecting the dan- 

 ger of his gallipots, ran to his office, to prevent their 

 dancing off the shelves to the floor. Never for a moment 

 did he think of closing the doors, but, spreading his arms, 

 jumped about the front of the cases, pushing back here 

 and there the falling jars, but with so little success, that 

 before the shock was over he had lost nearly all he pos- 

 sessed. 



" The shock at length ceased, and the frightened 

 females, now sensible of their dishabille, fled to their 

 several apartments. The earthquakes produced more 

 serious consequences in other places. Near New Madrid, 

 and for some distance on the Mississippi, the earth was 

 rent asunder in several places, one or two islands sunk 

 forever, and the inhabitants who escaped fled in dismay 

 towards the eastern shores." 



While resident at Hendersonville, Audubon entered 

 upon a new adventure with his brother-in-law to carry on 

 business at New Orleans, under the firm of " Audubon & 

 Co." In this speculation he embarked all the fortune at 

 his disposal ; but instead of attending to his interests he 

 remained hunting in Kentucky, and soon afterwards was 

 informed that all his money had been swept away in busi- 

 ness misadventures. 



At this juncture the father of Audubon died ; but 

 from some unfortunate cause he did not receive legal 

 notice for more than a year. On becoming acquainted 

 with the fact he travelled to Philadelphia to obtain funds, 

 but was unsuccessful. His father had left him his prop- 

 erty in France of La Gibitere, and seventeen thousand 



