254 AUDUBON 



a hundred miles to the north of the St. John's River in 

 New Brunswick. 



Early on the 7th, thousands of tall spars, called masts 

 by the mariners, came in sight ; and as we drew nearer, 

 we saw the port filled with ships of many nations, each 

 bearing the ilag of its country. At length we reached 

 the levee, and found ourselves once more at New 

 Orleans. In a short time my companions dispersed, and 

 I commenced a search for something that might tend to 

 compensate me for the loss of my drawings. 



On the i6th of March following, I had the gratification 

 of receiving a letter from Mr. A. P. Bodley, of Natchez, 

 informing me that my portfolio had been found and de- 

 posited at the office of the "Mississippi Republican," 

 whence an order from me would liberate it. Through 

 the kindness of Mr. Garnier, I received it on the sth of 

 April. So very generous had been the finder of it, that 

 when I carefully examined the drawings in succession, I 

 found them all present and uninjured, save one, which 

 had probably been kept by way of commission. 



THE ORIGINAL PAINTER 



As I was lounging one fair and very warm morning on 

 the levee at New Orleans, I chanced to observe a gen- 

 tleman whose dress and other accompaniments greatly 

 attracted my attention. I wheeled about, and followed 

 him for a short space, when, judging by everything about 

 him that he was a true original, I accosted him. 



But here, kind reader, let me give you some idea of his 

 exterior. His head was covered by a straw hat, the brim 

 of which might cope with those worn by the fair sex in 

 1830; his neck was exposed to the weather; the broad 

 frill of a shirt, then fashionable, flapped about his breast, 



