ERECTION OP A MILL. 43 



recovered a dollar of his money. Eeturning from Philadelpliia to 

 Hendersonville, tlie unfortunate Audubon cheerfully endeavoured 

 to provide for the future, about which he felt considerable 

 anxiety. Gathering a few hundred dollars, he purchased some 

 goods in Louisville, and returned to business in Hendersonville. 

 In his journey he met with General Toledo, who was raising 

 volunteers to go to South America, and who offered him a 

 colonel's commission in the adventure. Audubon, however, 

 preferred remaining at home The business prospered ; he pur- 

 chased land and a log cabin, with a family of negi'oes thereto, 

 and seemed to settle down comfortable. At this period, how- 

 ever, his career was nearly brought to a conclusion. A ruffian, 

 who objected to his treatment in some business transactions, 

 attacked him with a bludgeon while he was suffering from a 

 disabled hand. Drawing a dagger, Audubon stabbed his assailant, 

 whose friends immediately demanded vengeance. Finding, how- 

 ever, that a superior party rallied round the naturalist, the 

 expected fight was avoided. 



The prosperous career of Audubon was prematurely closed by 

 the arrival of a former partner, who joined him, and whose 

 presence seemed to herald disaster. This partner advised 

 him to erect a steam mill at Hendersonville, a place which 

 was totally unfitted for any such speculation. An English- 

 man, named Thomas Pease, joined in partnership, and having 

 lost his money in an absurd project, separated from Audubon on 

 no pleasant terms. In order to carry on the mill with renewed 

 vigour, other partners were added ; and in connection with it 

 Mr. A-pperson was established at Shawnee Town, Mr. Benjamin 

 Harrison at Vincennes in Indiana, and Nathaniel Pope, an old 

 clerk of Audubon's, on the Mississippi river. All of these parties 

 failed in supporting the concern at Hendersonville, which was 

 only continued through the desperate measure of taking in still 

 more partners. Finally, the mill went down, after ruining all 

 concerned. The naturalist speaks with bitterness of the " infernal 

 mill," and in an equally fierce strain of a steamer purchased by 

 the concern, and afterwards sold to a party down the Mississippi, 

 who cheated the sellers out of most of the purchase money. 

 From this date his difficulties appeared to increase daily ; bills 

 fell due, and unmeasured vexations assailed him.. He handed 



