INTRODUCTION TO THE ARTIST, STEIN. 77 



the conduct of Mr. Quaglass, whose kindness of heart veiy much 

 belied his coarse exterior. 



" October 27. I met a gentleman from Mexico, who proposed 

 to me to go to Mexico and establish a paper mill in that 

 country. He proposed to supply the funds if I took care of the 

 mill. At Natchez T met Mr. Murray, formerly of Charleston, 

 and Mr. Blackburn, formerly of Cincinnati. They had both 

 suifered heavy reverses of fortune, and appeared to me to be in 

 distress. Their change of fortune was sufficient to reconcile me 

 to my own vexations. 



" November 3. While engaged in sketching a view of Natchez, 

 an English gentleman named Seacock was introduced to me as 

 a naturalist. He called and spent the evening with me, and 

 examined my drawings, and advised me to visit England and 

 take them with me. But when he said I should probably have 

 to spend several years to perfect them, and to make myself 

 known, I closed my drawings and turned my mind from the 

 thought. My wife, finding it difficult to get her salary for 

 teaching, has resolved to relinquish her situation." 



In December there arrived at Natchez a portrait-painter, 

 from whom Audubon received his first lessons in the use of oil 

 colours, and who was in return instructed by the naturalist in chalk 

 drawing. Mrs. Audubon was desirous that her husband should 

 go to Europe, and obtain complete instruction in the use of 

 oil; and with this aim in view she entered into an engage- 

 ment with a Mrs. Perry to educate her children, along with her 

 own and a limited number of pupils. Mrs. Perry lived at 

 Bayou Sara, and thither Mrs. Audubon removed, while her 

 husband remained at Natchez, painting with his friend Stein, 

 the artist whose instructions in oil painting had been so valuable. 

 After enjoying all the patronage to be expected at Natchez, 

 Audubon and his friend Stein resolved to start on an ex- 

 pedition as perambulating posrtrait-painters ; and purchasing a 

 waggon, prepared for a long expedition through the Southern 

 States. 



" I had finally determined to break through all bonds, and 

 pursue my ornithological pursuits. My best friends solemnly 

 regarded me as a madman, and my wife and family alone gave 

 me encouragement. My wife alone determined that my genius 



