168 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



Philadelphia, and then to your grandfather's at Fatland 

 Ford. He had sold my plantation of Mill Grove to 

 Samuel Wetherill, of Philadelphia, for a good round 

 sum, and with this I returned through Kentucky and 

 at last reached Henderson once more." 



When "Mill Grove" was conditionally sold to 

 Dacosta and his mining company in September, 1806, 

 he gave a mortgage and bond to Miers Fisher, who 

 again became Lieutenant Audubon's agent. Many 

 months elapsed before the necessary legal papers could 

 arrive from France, and meanwhile Dacosta's year- 

 ly accounts were contested, and gave no end of trou- 

 ble. 23 



After operating the lead mine for five years, Da- 

 costa's company failed, and "Mill Grove" again passed 

 into other hands; it was finally sold to Samuel Wetherill 



23 Especially his account current, from June 1, 1806, to July 25, 1807, 

 with the "Mill Grove" farm, and "John Audubon of Nantz," drawn up 

 and signed at Philadelphia on the latter date. Dacosta then claimed a 

 balance due him of $950.64 above the returns from farm and mine, of 

 which he was entitled to one-half; this sum included his salary and 

 numerous minor expenditures. When his account was contested and taken 

 out of court for settlement, it was cut by the arbitrators to $530. See 

 Appendix I, Document lla. 



The following is a "copy of the Award given by John Laval & 

 Laurence Huron appointed referees by Francis Dacosta and John Audubon 

 the elder by a rule of reference in the Common Pleas of this county to 

 have their differences in accounts settled:" 



"We the within named referees, having heard the parties and examined 

 their respective accounts & vouchers, do award that there is due by the 

 defendant, John Audubon the elder, to the plaintiff, Francis Dacosta, the 

 sum of five hundred and thirty dollars, which we find to be the full 

 balance of all current accounts between them, and we award that the 

 said ballance be paid by the said John Audubon the elder to the said 

 Francis Dacosta by defalking the same from the account of the condition 

 of the Bond of Eight Hundred Dollars mentioned in the within rule 

 of reference conformably to the agreement endorsed on the said Bond." 



"Witness our hands Philadelphia 1st August, 1807." 



"Signed JOHN LAVAL." 



"LAURENCE HURON." 



(Copy of original MS., in possession of Mr. Welton H. Rozier.) 



