378 Life of Audubon, 



of the feathery tribes of our country. Yet as it is the lot 

 of every man like me to know something of both, to keep 

 up the clue of my life, I must say something of the cities 

 through which I pass, and of the events which transpire 

 as I go along. 



" At Philadelphia I of course received no subscrip- 

 tions ; nay, I was arrested there for debt,* and was on 

 the point of being taken to prison, had I not met with 

 William Norris, Esq., who kindly offered to be my bail. 

 This event brings to my mind so many disagreeable 

 thoughts connected with my former business transactions, 

 in which I was always the single loser, that I will only add 

 I made all necessary arrangements to have it paid. 



" We left Philadelphia for Baltimore, where I obtained 

 four new subscribers, and received many civilities, and 

 especially from Mr. Theodore Anderson, the collector of 

 the customs. He is fond of birds, and that made me 

 fond of him. 



" From Baltimore we went to Washington, for the pur- 

 pose of obtaining permission for myself to accompany an 

 expedition to the Rocky Mountains under the patronage 

 of the Government. Generals McComb, Jesup, Colonel 

 Abert, and other influential persons received me as usual 

 with marked kindness. I called on Governor Cass, Sec- 

 retary of War, and met with a reception that nearly dis- 

 heartened me. He said in an indifferent and cold 

 manner that any request of that sort must be made in 

 writing to the Department ; and it recalled to my mind 

 how poor Wilson was treated by the famous Jefferson 

 when he made a similar application to that great diplo- 

 matist. I had forgotten to take with me the flattering 

 letter of introduction I had received from Dr. McKen- 

 ney, and I inquired if he would allow me to send the let- 



* One of his old partnership debts. 



