This voyage, like every other which the naturalist ever made, was turned to good account; the log book or journal kept on this occasion abounds in interesting observations upon the life of the sea, particularly on the fishes and birds which were encountered in the Gulf. The first page of this journal,[320] reproduced with orthographic exactness, reads as follows: 26 April 1826— I Left My Beloved Wife Lucy Audubon and My Son John Woodhouse on Tuesday afternoon the 26th April, bound to England, remained at Doctr Pope at St Francisville untill Wednesday 4 o'clock P. M.: in the Steam Boat Red River Cape Kimble—having for Compagnons Messrs D. Hall & John Haliday—reached New Orleans Thursday 27th at 12—Visited Many Vessels for My Passage and concluded to go in the Ship Delos of Kennebunk Cape Joseph Hatch bound to Liverpool, Loaded with Cotton entirely— The Red River Steam Boat left on her return on Sunday and I Wrote by her to Thee My Dearest Friend and forwardd Thee 2 Small Boxes of Flowering Plants— 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."