John James Audubon to Claude François Rozier
[Letter No. 4, addressed]
Mr. Fccis Rozier,
Merct, Nantes—Ocean.
New York, May 6th, 1807.
Dear Sir:
I wrote you recently by a ship going to Bordeaux; the letters were carefully intrusted, and I hope that they were received. I notified you of the arrival of the wines to the address of Mr. Huron of Philadelphia, and told you that part of the cases were sold. Your son informed me this morning that wine of so good quality ought never to be exported in cask, and that the profit would have been greater if the whole had been in case. Mr. Benjamin Bakewell has received the bill of lading of Mess Gereche brothers, and the gloves and the lace are at present on the road from Philadelphia to this place; perhaps we shall have them tomorrow; I am afraid that they may be dear. In several of your letters to Ferdinand you speak of a retail store, and my friend begs me tell you that nothing could suit us better than that you should have the kindness to send us enough [goods] to set up a shop at once on a good footing. As soon as advised, we shall order you to stock it with merchandise of your choice. You should have already received the bill of sale of a bale of linen cloth. You can judge that I have learned to shave Messrs the Americans, since I have been with Mr. B. B. In conscience, however, [the goods] have been sold at one third above their value. Should you decide upon sending another [shipment], do not count upon so good a sale. You must know, however, that I am always disposed to do everything for your interests, and that I shall always seek to merit your approbation. Should you decide to make [us] a consignment for a retail shop, have the kindness to follow, point by point, the following bill:
| 60 | doz. morocco leather powder flasks—green or gray, copper mounted, like those that you sell at the shop for 25 sols [soldos]. |
| 60 | doz. d. d. of leather, mahogany color, at the same price. |
| 100 | boxes d. |
| 100 | music boxes,[138] in prices from 10 to 18 francs, good pieces and gay music. |
| 100 | boxes of seal-wafers, containing 1 gross each, assorted in color [but] more of the red than any other. |
| 10 | gross of small boxes of seal-wafers. |
| 3 | boxes of pastels, good, well assorted, and chosen by the sons of M. Belloc; more would not return us anything. |
If you could procure us good books in English at Paris, M. Bakewell assures me [that we would realize] a great profit on them, and upon the other articles as given above, if well chosen. We hope to sell Mill Grove, and we will credit you with a great part of the profit in colonial merchandise. It is with impatience that I await some news of the indigo of Mr. B. Bakewell. Have the kindness, I pray you, to forward the enclosed letter to my father as soon as possible, and will you take from the ship Ocean, the carrier of this letter, a little box [sent] to your address for him, and will you send this to him also? Present my respects to your ladies; accept mine and those of the Bakewell family. Ferdinand is well. I salute you, and I am
your devoted friend,
Audubon.
Herewith the bill of lading of the box. The captain did not wish to make any charge, and has been perfectly polite.