168 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 
Philadelphia, and then to your grandfather’s at Fatland 
Ford. He had sold my plantation of Mill Grove to 
Samuel Wetherill, of Philadelphia, for a good round 
sum, and with this I returned through Kentucky and 
at last reached Henderson once more.” 
When “Mill Grove” was conditionally sold to 
Dacosta and his mining company in September, 1806, 
he gave a mortgage and bond to Miers Fisher, who 
again became Lieutenant Audubon’s agent. Many 
months elapsed before the necessary legal papers could 
arrive from France, and meanwhile Dacosta’s year- 
ly accounts were contested, and gave no end of trou- 
bless 
After operating the lead mine for five years, Da- 
costa’s company failed, and “Mill Grove” again passed 
into other hands; it was finally sold to Samuel Wetherill 
* Especially his account current, from June 1, 1806, to July 25, 1807, 
with the “Mill Grove” farm, and “John Audubon of Nantz,” drawn up 
and signed at Philadelphia on the latter date. Dacosta then claimed a 
balance due him of $950.64 above the returns from farm and mine, of 
which he was entitled to one-half; this sum included his salary and 
numerous minor expenditures. When his account was contested and taken 
out of court for settlement, it was cut by the arbitrators to $530. See 
Appendix I, Document lla. 
The following is a “copy of the Award given by John Laval & 
Laurence Huron appointed referees by Francis Dacosta and John Audubon 
the elder by a rule of reference in the Common Pleas of this county to 
have their differences in accounts settled:” 
“We the within named referees, having heard the parties and examined 
their respective accounts & vouchers, do award that there is due by the 
defendant, John Audubon the elder, to the plaintiff, Francis Dacosta, the 
sum of five hundred and thirty dollars, which we find to be the full 
balance of all current accounts between them, and we award that the 
said ballance be paid by the said John Audubon the elder to the said 
Francis Dacosta by defalking the same from the account of the condition 
of the Bond of Eight Hundred Dollars—mentioned in the within rule 
of reference conformably to the agreement endorsed on the said Bond.” 
“Witness our hands Philadelphia 1st August, 1807.” 
“Signed—Joun Lavat.” 
“Laurence Huron.” 
(Copy of original MS., in possession of Mr. Welton H. Rozier.) 
