Have the kindness to deliver the enclosed to my good father.
The following quaint and charming letter, which young Audubon enclosed with the preceding and under separate seal, but which his "good father" may not have received, will be transcribed in full, without the change of a letter or mark. Lieutenant Audubon, who was then in his sixty-third year, was living, as we have seen, at Couëron, the small river town nine miles west of Nantes, the center of the mails for the Loire Inférieure, and came frequently to that city to conduct his business correspondence.
John James Audubon to Jean Audubon
[Letter No. 3, enclosed with No. 2, addressed]
John Audubon, Esq.,
Nantes.
pr Bourdeaux
New York April 24th 1807
My dear Father
I send thee by a good opportunity, but going to Bordeaux I deed send about a month ago a small Box containing some very curious seeds & some useful ones the whole was directed to Mr. Fleury Emery it was given here to the Care of Capt.. Roberts of the Virginia I do hope they are now in thy possession thou have been so often disappointed that it always pains me to think that they have been Miscarried: thou shalt found some of the Best Whatter Missions and Girmonds Called here St. Domingo Schachet[132] as in a few days I shall have again a good opportunity for Nantz I will send thee a Duplicate of the same Seeds, I have seen in the News Paper that a ship called the Betzey had been in Nantz do make some Enquiries for it there are on board of her Many Birds and a collection of seeds from America for thee The Caps.. McDougal; pray when thou answer to this be kind enough to mantion these little things. I hope that the Jane Cap.. Sammis as reached your Port and given thee some Turtle fit to be eaten in soupe. Mr. L. Huron deed few days ago. Received some Wines on a/c of M. Rozier and hits they prove goods[133] and will bring a good profit. Mr. F. Rozier the son speaks of going to France some time this summer he is now near Mr. Huron at Philadelphia and will try while he is there to settle the Business between M.. Dacotta and thee M.. Rozier had shosen M.. Huron for arbitrator but I would not agree to it until M.. Miers fither[134] was to have part in it. I am now waiting for an answer. I am allways in Mr. Benjamin Bakewell's store where I work as much as I can and passes my days happy; about thee weeks ago I went to Mill Grove for a/c of the latter and had the pleasure of seeing there my Biloved Lucy who constantly loves me and makes me perfectly happy. I shall wait for thy Consent and the one of my good Mamma to Marry her. could thou but see her and thou wouldst I am sure be pleased of the prudency of my choice; M..B. Bakewell is allways willing to oblige me and will do many things for me: do not participate the Ideas of M. Rozier Going to France to his father it would perhaps Injure us for a while. I wish thou would wrights to me ofnor and longuely think by thy self how pleasing it is to read a friend's letter. Give my love to all my friends and thine and kiss mamma, Rosa and Brother Pigaudeau[135] for me I hope they continue to be all happy, do remember to send me thy portrait in miniature dressed as an officer[136] it will cost thee little and will please me much. Some of thy hair and ask my sister for the Music she does not want. I wish to receive some letter from M.. Dorbigny[137] whom I have often wrighten and send some curiosities. he is yet to answer to my first.
When thou seeist Mr Rozier pray him and try to engage him to send us some-goods then we feel very inclined to set up in a retail store which would do, us a great deal of good. I will send him a letter by this opportunity—Good by farwell good father believe me for life thy most sincere friend be well be happy
thy son
J.. J.. Audubon
J'espere que tu poura lire—adieu—adieu.