76 LIFE OF AUDUBON. 



college at Washington, nine miles from Natchez, He sent for 

 his sons, and put them to school at Washington, but was depressed 

 in spirits because his work interfered with his ornithological 

 pursuits. 



" July 8. Constant exposure in the tropical climate, and the 

 fatigue of my journeys to and from Washington, brought on fever 

 and a renewal of a certain kind doctor's attendance, who not only 

 would accept of no remuneration, but actually insisted on my 

 taking his purse to pay for the expenses connected with the 

 education of my sons. Shortly afterwards I made an engagement 

 with Mr. Brevost to teach drawing in an academy just opened 

 in Natchez by that gentleman. But while work flowed upon 

 me, the hope of completing my book upon the birds of America 

 became less clear ; and fuU of despair, I feared my hopes of 

 becoming known to Europe as a naturalist were destined to be 

 blasted. I wrote to my wife to join me at Natchez, and there 

 was hopes of it being accomplished. 



"July 23. My friend, Joseph Mason, left me to-day, and 

 we experienced great pain at parting. I gave him paper and 

 chalks to work his way with, and the double-barrelled gun I 

 had killed most of my birds with, and which I had purchased at 

 Philadelphia in 1805. I also began to copy the 'Death of 

 Montgomery,' from a print. My drawing was highly praised by 

 my friends at Natchez, and Dr. Provan, like a good genius, 

 insisted it should be rafled. I valued it at three hundred dollars, 

 and Dr. Provan sold all the tickets but one, at ten dollars each. 

 He then put my name down for that, saying he hoped it would 

 be the winning one. The raffle took place in my absence, and 

 when I returned, my friend the doctor came and brought me 

 three hundred dollars and the picture, beautifully framed, saying, 

 ' Your number has drawn it, and the subscribers are all agreed 

 that no one is more deserving of it than yourself.' " 



" September 1. My wife writes to me that the child she was 

 in charge of is dead, and that consequently she had determined 

 to come on to Natchez. I received her with great pleasure at 

 the landing, and immediately got a house hired, in which we 

 might resume housekeeping. In the mean time my wife engaged 

 with a clergyman named Davis, in a situation similar to that 

 which she had held in New Orleans. I was much pleased with 



