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32 



AUDUBON 



and the shores of the Mississippi suffered severely by earthquakes. 

 I felt their effects between Louisville and Henderson, and also at 

 Dr. Rankin's. I have omitted to say that my second son, John 

 Woodhouse, was born under Dr. Rankin's roof on November 30, 

 181 2 ; he was an extremely delicate boy till about a twelvemonth 

 old, when he suddenly acquired strength and grew to be a lusty 

 child. 



Your uncle, Thomas W. Bakewell, had been all this time in New 

 Orleans, and thither I had sent him almost all the money I could 

 raise ; but notwithstanding this, the firm could not stand, and one 

 day, while I was making a drawing of an otter, he suddenly ap- 

 peared. He remained at Dr. Rankin's a few days, talked much 

 to me about our misfortunes in trade, and left us for Fatland 

 Ford. 



My pecuniary means were now much reduced. I continued 

 to draw birds and quadrupeds, it is true, but only now and then 

 thought of making any money. I bought a wild horse, and on 

 its back travelled over Tennessee and a portion of Georgia, and 

 so round till I finally reached Philadelphia, and then to your 

 grandfather's at Fatland Ford. He had sold my plantation of 

 Mill Grove to Samuel Wetherell, of Philadelphia, for a good 

 round sum, and with this I returned through Kentucky and at 

 last reached Henderson once more. Your mother was well, both 

 of you were lovely darlings of our hearts, and the effects of pov- 

 erty troubled us not. Your uncle T. W. Bakewell was again in 

 New Orleans and doing rather better, but this was a mere tran- 

 sient clearing of that sky which had been obscured for many a 

 long day. 



Determined to do something for myself, I took to horse, rode 

 to Louisville with a few hundred dollars in my pockets, and there 

 purchased, half cash, half credit, a small stock, which I brought 

 to Henderson. Chemin faisant, I came in contact with, and 

 was accompanied by. General Toledo, then on his way as a re- 

 volutionist to South America. As our flatboats were floating one 

 clear moonshiny night lashed together, this individual opened 

 his views to me, promising me wonders of wealth should I decide 

 to accompany him, and he went so far as to offer me a colonelcy 



