_March._—Audubon leaves Natchez with John Stein and Victor on a painting tour of the South, but meeting with little success, they disband at New Orleans; visits his wife, and spends part of summer in teaching her pupils music and drawing. Adrift again; both he and Victor are taken ill with fever at Natchez, but when nursed back to health by Mrs. Audubon, they return with her to "Beechwoods." _September 30._—Determined to visit Philadelphia in the interests of his "Ornithology," he sends on his drawings and goes to New Orleans for references. _October 3._—Starts with Victor for Louisville, walking part of the way. _1823-1824_ Winter spent at Shippingport, where Victor becomes a clerk to his uncle, Nicholas A. Berthoud. Paints portraits, panels on river boats, and even street signs, to earn a living. _1824_ To Philadelphia, to find patrons or a publisher; thwarted; is advised to take his drawings to Europe, where the engraving could be done in superior style; befriended by Charles L. Bonaparte, Edward Harris, Richard Harlan, Mr. Fairman, and Thomas Sully, who gives him free tuition in oils. _August 1._—Starts for New York, with letters to Gilbert Stuart, Washington Allston, and Samuel L. Mitchell; is kindly received and made a member of the Lyceum of Natural History. _August 15._—To Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Meadville, and Pittsburgh, taking deck passage on boats, tramping, and paying his way by crayon portraits. _September._—Leaves Pittsburgh on exploring tour of Lakes Ontario and Champlain for birds; decides on his future course. _October 24._—Returns to Pittsburgh, and descends the Ohio in a skiff; is stranded without a cent at Cincinnati; visits Victor at Shippingport, and reaches his wife in St. Francisville, Bayou Sara, November 24. _1825-1826_ Teaches at St. Francisville, and gives dancing lessons at Woodville, Mississippi, to raise funds to go to Europe. _1826_ _May 17._—Sails with his drawings on the cotton schooner _Delos_, bound for Liverpool, where he lands, a total stranger, on July 21. In less than a week is invited to exhibit his drawings at the Royal Institution, and is at once proclaimed as a great American genius. Exhibits at Manchester, but with less success.