94 ^\f^ of Audubon, 



solemnly regarded me as a madman, and my wife and 

 family alone gave me encouragement. My wife deter- 

 mined that my genius should prevail, and that my final 

 success as an ornithologist should be triumphant. 



^^ March, 1823. My preparations for leaving Natchez 

 almost complete. 



^^ May I. Left Mr. Percy's on a visit to Jackson, Mis- 

 sissippi, which I found to be a mean place, a rendezvous 

 for gamblers and vagabonds. Disgusted with the place 

 and the people, I left it and returned to my wife. I 

 agreed to remain with the Percys throughout the sum- 

 mer, and teach the young ladies music and drawing. I 

 continued to exercise myself in painting with oil, and 

 greatly improved myself. I undertook to paint the por- 

 traits of my wife's pupils, but found their complexions 

 difficult to transfer to canvas. On account of some mis- 

 understanding, I left the Percy's and returned to Natch- 

 ez, but did not know what course to follow. I thought of 

 going to Philadelphia, and again thought of going to 

 Louisville and once more entering upon mercantile pur- 

 suits, but had no money to move anywhere." 



During a visit to a plantation near Natchez, both he 

 and his son Victor were attacked with fever, and Mrs. 

 Audubon hastened to nurse both of them. 



" September 8. I was asked to go and recruit my health 

 at the Percys, and I went to Bayou Sara. I sent on my 

 drawings to Philadelphia, and resolved to visit that city 

 and obtain employment as a teacher. 



" September 30. Sold a note fbr services in Natchez, 

 and with proceeds took steamer to New Orleans. 



" October 3. Left New Orleans for Kentucky, where 

 I intended to leave my son Victor with my wife's rela- 

 tions, and proceed on my travels. I left Bayou Sara with 

 my son Victor on board the steamer Magnet, bound for 

 the Ohio, and was kindly treated by Captain McKnight, 



