JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 39 
and for a time prospered. Some years 
previously he had formed a co-partner- 
ship with his wife’$ brother, and a com- 
mercial house in charge of Bakewell had 
been opened in New Orleans. This 
turned out disastrously and was a con- 
stant drain upon his resources. 
This partner now appears upon the 
scene at Hendersonville and persuades 
Audubon to erect, at a heavy outlay, a 
steam grist and saw mill, and to take 
into the firm an Englishman by the name 
of Pease. 
This enterprise brought fresh disaster. 
**How I laboured at this infernal mill, 
from dawn till dark, nay, at times all 
night.” 
They also purchased a steamboat 
which was so much additional weight to 
drag them down. This was about the 
year 1817. From this date till 1819, 
Audubon’s pecuniary difficulties in- 
ereased daily. He had no_ business 
talent whatever ; he was a poet and an 
