FIRST VENTURES IN BUSINESS 149 
of “Mill Grove” was conveyed to Francis Dacosta, rep- 
resenting a number of capitalists whom he had man- 
aged to interest in the mine, of whom the astute 
Stephen Girard is said to have been one. The sale 
was subject to conditions,? dependent upon their suc- 
cess in mining lead, which, as will appear eventually, 
could not have been fulfilled. These various transac- 
tions are so clearly set forth by Ferdinand Rozier in 
writing to his father at Nantes that we shall reproduce 
his letter in full: ¢ 
Ferdinand Rozier to Claude Frangois Rozier 
PuiLavevPuia, 12 Sept., 1806 
Duplicate. 
My very DEAR AND VENERABLE FATHER: 
Still in hope of cherished news from you, and replies to 
my letters of 31 May, 22 June, and 4 July, I have to tell you 
that we have since succeeded in closing all our business rela- 
tions with Mr. Francis Dacosta, in the following manner: We 
are anxious that our method of procedure may be satisfactory 
to you; we have followed the advice of Mr. Miers Fisher, and 
have had his approval in all that we have done. What should 
set you at rest is that as regards your investment, you will find 
occurs: “4 July, 1806, Philadelphia; record of an agreement with Mr. 
Dacosta, proprietor of one half of the Mill Grove farm,—at least of the 
value of sale.” The first entry is dated “19 février—1806, New York,” 
which, if correct, would imply that Rozier spent two years instead of one 
in the United States when he visited this country in 1804 (or came a second 
time), and that he returned, with young Audubon, almost immediately after 
reaching France (see Vol. I, p. 245); the last record is “August, 1807, New 
York.” (MS. in possession of Dr. Louis Bureau, Nantes.) 
2 According to the records of Montgomery County, as collated for 
Mr. W. H. Wetherill, the remaining half interest in “Mill Grove” was 
sold by J. J. Audubon (and Ferdinand Rozier) to Francis Dacosta & 
Company, for a consideration of $9,640.33. The business was conducted 
mainly by Rozier, acting under the advice of their friend, Miers Fisher. 
4Translated from the French of Ferdinand’s copy, in possession of 
Mr. Welton A. Rozier, to whom I am indebted for the privilege of repro- 
ducing it. 
