saw, spoke to & walked with Charles Briggs, much altered young man—
Lived at New Orleans at G. L. Sapinot in Company with Costé—
During My Stay at New Orleans, I saw my old and friendly acquaintances the familly Pamar; but the whole time spent in that City was heavy & dull—a few Gentlemen Calld to see My Drawings—I Generally Walked from Morning untill Dusk My hands behind me, paying but very partial attention, to all I saw—New Orleans to a Man who does not trade in Dollars or any other Such Stuffs is a miserable Spot ==
fatigued and discovering that the Ship could not be ready for Sea for several days, I ascended the Mississipy again in the Red River and once more found Myself with my Wife and Child. I arrived at Mrs Percy at 3 o'clock in the morning, having had a Dark ride through the Magnolia Woods but the Moments spent afterwards full repaid me—I remained 2 days and 3 Nights, was a Wedding—of Miss Virginia Chisholm with Mr. D. Hall &c. I Left in Company With Lucy Mrs Percy house at Sun rise and went to Breakfast at My good [friend's, Augustin Bourgeat].
The captain and mates of the Delos were friendly, and whenever their vessel was becalmed, they would let down a boat so that Audubon could procure the stormy Petrel and numerous other birds which he was anxious to examine in the flesh or depict for his "Ornithology."
During his long voyage of sixty-five days our adventurous traveler was alternately elated or depressed by hopes or fears for the future, until land was at last reached on Friday, July 21, 1826. The appearance of Liverpool, said Audubon, "was agreeable, but no sooner had I entered it than the smoke became so oppressive to my lungs that I could hardly breathe." At the customs he was charged two pence on each of his drawings, "as they were water-colored," but on his American books he had to pay "four pence per pound," a circumstance in which he was possibly favored by the following letter which he had brought with him from a friend in New Orleans:
Edward Holden to George Ramsden
New Orleans, May 26th., 1826.
George Ramsden, Esq.
Dear Sir.
The present will be handed to you by Mr. J. J. Audubon of this city, whom most respectfully I beg to introduce to you.