[70] M. L. Lavigne writes that he possesses a copy of a letter addressed by M. G. L. du Puigaudeau to a lawyer in Paris, in which it is stated that Lieutenant Audubon's losses amounted to 1,500,000 francs. After making due allowance for the psychological tendency to overestimate losses, especially when sustained in remote and romantic lands, the true amount was no doubt large. [71] Or "lieutenant of a frigate," and corresponding to "mate" in the merchant marine. [72] The certificate which Lieutenant Audubon received at the time of his discharge is preserved among the Lavigne manuscripts and documents at Couëron, and is headed: [Sidenote: PORT DE ROCHEFORT.] ETAT des Services du Citoyen _Jean Audubon_ natif des Sables d'Ollonne Département de La Vendée âgé de 58 ans. It is signed by the Chief of Administration, Daniel, the Naval Commander-in-Chief of the District, Martin, and by the naval commissioner and clerk, February 26, 1801 (_le sept Ventose, an 9 de la République_). [73] Jean Audubon was 11 years, 6 months and 25 days in the service of the merchant marine of France (_service au commerce_), in the course of which he rose to the rank of captain of the first grade in 1774. He served in the French navy (_service à l'état_) 8 years, 2 months and 17 days, ranking successively as sailor, ensign-commander, and lieutenant-commander (_lieutenant de vaisseau_); 8 months and 22 days of this period (1768-1769) were in intervals of peace, and 7 years, 5 months and 25 days (1793-1801), in times of war. Any conflict which may seem to occur in titles must be attributed to this double service. [74] This property was evidently encumbered to a considerable extent, for he repeatedly filed with the Department letters for the removal of restrictions placed upon it (_lettres pour obtenir la main levée_). I cannot give the dates of these letters, but believe that they were drawn in 1801 or shortly after. [75] This house was rented at the time to Françoise Mocquard (see Note, Vol. I, p. 57), but it is probable that Lieutenant Audubon had reserved rooms which were occupied during his visits to the city while his permanent home was at Couëron. In the power of attorney issued by Jean Audubon, his wife, and Claude François Rozier, at Nantes, April 4, 1806, the senior Audubon gave his residence as "rue Rubens, No. 39." [76] Presumably a widow of one of the Coyrons (or Coironds), merchants at Nantes, whose business interests in Santo Domingo were entrusted to Jean Audubon's hands in 1783 (see Chapter III, p. 38).