CHRONOLOGY xxix 



1819 



After repeated change of partners, the mill enterprise fails, 

 and Audubon goes to Louisville jail for debt ; declares him- 

 self a bankrupt, and saves only his clothes, his drawings 

 and gun. Resorts to doing crayon portraits at Shipping- 

 port and Louisville, where he is immediately successful. 



1819-1820 



At Cincinnati, to fill an appointment as taxidermist in the 

 Western Museum, just founded by Dr. Daniel Drake; set- 

 tles with his family and works three or four months, at a 

 salary of $125 a month; then returns to portraits, and 

 starts a drawing school. 



1820 



Decides to publish his "Ornithology," and all his activities are 

 now directed to this end. 



October 12. Leaves his family, and with Joseph R. Mason, as 

 pupil-assistant, starts without funds on a long expedition 

 down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, to New Orleans, 

 hoping to visit Arkansas, and intending to explore the 

 country for birds, while living by his talents : from this 

 time keeps a regular journal and works systematically. 



1821 



January 7. Enters New Orleans with young Mason without 

 enough money to pay for a night's lodging. 



February 17. Sends his wife 20 drawings, including the famous 

 Turkey Hen, Great-footed Hawk, and White-headed 

 Eagle. 



Obtains a few drawing pupils ; is recommended by John Vander- 

 lyn and Governor Robertson, but lives from hand to mouth 

 until June 16, when Audubon and Mason leave for Ship- 

 pingport ; a fellow passenger, Mrs. James Pirrie, of West 

 Feliciana, offers Audubon a position as tutor to her daugh- 

 ter, and with Mason he settles on her plantation at St. 

 Francisville, Bayou Sara, where he remains nearly five 

 months ; some of his finest drawings are made at this time. 



