IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 I.I 1.25 c Iti 112.0 II L8 U ill.6 m ^ /a A ^ 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 M:^ ■^ V :\ \ M ^ <^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Kistorical Microreproductions / Institut canadien de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. D D D D D D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endc:nmag6e □ Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurde et/ou pellicul^e □ Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque I I Coloured maps/ Cartes gdographiques en couleur Coloured init (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Reli6 avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ Lareliure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intdrieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes lors d'une restauiation apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas dt6 filmdes. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppl6mentaires; This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite. ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mdthode normale de filmage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. I I Coloured pages/ D Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagdes Pages restored and/oi Pages restaurdes et/ou pelliculdes Pages discoloured, stained or foxei Pages ddcolor^es, tachetdes ou piqudes I I Pages damaged/ I I Pages restored and/or laminated/ r~y| Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ I I Pages detached/ Pages d6tach6es Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of print varies/ Quality in^gale da I'impression Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 film^es i nouveau de fapon d obtenir la meilleure image possible. Ce document est film6 au taux de reduction indiqud ci-dessous 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y 12X 1(NC 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: National Library of Canada L'exemplaire filmd fut reproduit grdce k la g6n6rosit6 de: BIbliothdque nationale du Canada The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in Iceeping with the filming contract specifications. Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetd de l'exemplaire filmd, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprim6e sont film6s en commengant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmds en commenpant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol — ^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols -^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN ". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre fiim^s d des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est film6 d partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 THE HISTORY OF LOUISIANA. THE HISTORY OF LOUISIANA, FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD. BY FRANCOIS-XAVIER MARTIN H(sc isitiir formam crescendo mntdt, et ohm Immensi caput orbis erit. Sic dicere vates. Ovid. Metam. xv. 434 & 435. VOLUME I. PRINTED BY LYMAN AND BBARD8LHE. 1827. <' ^'j' 187853 V^ fuitilern P).ilnrt of Lowsinna, js. Bk ir RK,MBMnE!tEi», Tlint OD the Spventii (lay (.f June, in the year ol ijur Lord One TliKiisurnl r.i^hf Hiintl iinii Tvvpntv->rvrn. and dt'Hip Inde- pfn.l.iic.eortlio lliiUnl Stiiir" the Fiitv-fi.-t, ni \.\(()IS-XA VIKH MAR- TIN, "t tl»ft s'i*''! district, hath dp|)i)«it d in tlio Clerk'- dlficc (or t'l' [)i-tnct Court of the United Sliitrs lor the K.wtorii I), strict ol LoMi'^inii.i, the title ola boolf, thf •i;;ht wherrof he chiinis iis I'roprirtor iind Pulih'-hi'i to inl — "Tlir llistt>ry of LouisiHiui, from the oarliest period, liy Fran«juis-Xavici Martin, Hoir ti^llur formnin rrrscendn nvi.lnt. ft olim Imineiisi raput i rbis iril Sic liirerr vale , Ovid. Mel.im. xv. 431 U. 4J5." In conformity to nn act of Congrrrss of thr llnitril Slates, entitlrd " An Act ior the ciicourngetnent of learniniC, by sfciirinj^ the co|iir« of M;)]),*. Charts and Books to the Anihors and rroiii'lrtors of >iucli copies dnrini; the limes therein mentioned ;" And also, lo an Act entitleti " An Act, supplementary lo an Act, entitled, an Act for tlie encoiiras therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereol to the arts ol lesi^uiug:, engraving, and etching;, historical and other iHint"."' W. F. LEA, Di'T. Ci.EitK, U. S. Court. Kaslern District of Louisiana. nn, V exf'li Isiimi rraii(| >ol fro(| pto i\\v\ llpt null |)'' ;ii(i exliibil for tli< auglit I PUEFACE. TTIE country, cuvrrcd l>y the state of l^ouism I na, wiH within «'»<• wliort span ol'a century and a half. ex('lu'iv«'lj occupied hy savages and wiUI beasts. A ku«»>»l<'f St. Ber- Duplesne. it ordered (o be removed to New Orleans. 8urveyofthe river of the Arkansas. The Manjuis de G.-dlo. Chickasaw hostilities. Father Charlevoix. Tou- louse Island. Loubois. Latour. Price of negroes, tobacco and Uice lixed. Copper coinage. Mili- tary, civil and religious divisioris of the Province. Lurenaudiere. German Coast. Peace with Spain. Pensacola restored. Chickasaw hostilities among the Vazous. Fort on the Missouri. Capuchins. A hurricane. Hostilities committed by thc^ Natch- ez. An unexpected crop of rice. The Directors remove to New Orleans. A Swiss company de- serlsto Charleston. Large grants of land. Indigo. St. Joseph abandoned. Spanish force in the pro- vince ol Texas. The Choctaws defeat the Chick- asaws. Alterations in the value of coin. Jesuits. The Catholic, the only religion tolerated. Expul- sion of the Jews. Black Code. Edict relating to correspondence. Edict relating to horses and cat- tle. De la Chaise and Perrault. Philip V. abdi- cates the throne. Louis ascends it and dies. Philip resumes the crown. Superior Council. Treaties with the Jesuits, Capuchins and Ursuline Nuns. Perrier. George II. Girls de la Cassette. Improvement in New Orleans. Land regulations. 236 CHAPTER XL The Chickasaws meditate the overthrow of the colo- ny, they engage other nations in the plot. The Choctaws discover it. Perrier sends lor some of the chiefs. They deceive him. He represents the helpless condition of the province. His repre- sentations are disregarded. The Chickasaws a- bandon or delay their plan. Ill conduct of Che- par, at the Natchez. They determine on the r XX 'i'AFiLE or i?r ,1 ■I k i I slaughter of the French, and eiiqiJige the n^i<]^h- bouring tribes in the plot. A fein.Hc diistovt'iH md discloses it. Boats arrive from New OrKvMis. Massacre at Fort Rosahe and Fort b\. i'elor. Father Doutresleaii. P^Trier sends a v('s>-> I to France and two up the Mississippi, lie despMicli- es Courriers to the lUinois and his Indiaii .^Uu-s. He fortifies New Orleans and colh'cls a sinnH to; ^e. Apprehension from the negroes, l^oubois. Mir-pU 'X. The Natchez make propositions of peace, t 'u ir high pretentions. Lesueur arrives witli Ww t"}i(>i> taws. They cannot be restrained, and mak.- a bold cliarge with some success. The armj 'ir!i\es; the trenches are opened. Loubois is coinpejied to accept the propositions of the Natchez. i\i^ buil(fs a Fort and returns. The Chickasaws ailljrd an asylum to the Natchez and endeavour to gain the Illinois. FideHty of the latter. The Chouachas. influenced by the Chickasaws. attempt to rise against the French. The negroes are employed to destroy them.^ Succour from I^ ranee. Perriergoes to Mobile. His call on the Militia. Some of the Natchez cross the Mississippi. Symptoms of in- surrection among the negroes. Perrier goes with a small army to Black river. He reaches an In- dian fort. Opening of the trenches. A parley. The Great Sun and two other chiels come and are detained. One of them escapes. Part of the In- dians leave the Fort. The Wife of the Great Sun comes to the camp. Part of the remaining In- dians surrender; the rest leave the Fort. They are pursued and some prisoners taken. The army returns to New Orleans. Four hundred prisoners shipped to Hispaniola. Surrender of the Compa- ny's Charter. State of the province. 244 Sal 4 DVtMH Hid VCS!^. I to :losj>;tvcli- 11. .(lh«*3. ii)!l to: re. Mir-|ij( ix. "i 'K ip }' irtivos; I polled to [le builds idluid ail ) gain the louachas. t to rise employed rrier goes me of the ns of in- ^oes with es an Jn- V parley. 5 and are of the In- le Great ining In- They he army )risoners Compa- 244 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XII. XXI Salmon takes possession of the province for the king. Property of the company purchased. Re- demptioncrB and muskets. Superior council re- organized. The Natchez are repulsed at Natchi- toches. Negro plot. Exemption from duties. Military peace establishment. Georgia settled. War in Europe. Bienville re-appointed governor. Troops. Furloughs and grants of land. Scarcity of provisions. Card money. Irruption of the Natch- ez. Bienville prepares to march against them. Conspiracy among the soldiers at Tombeckbee. Bienville's unsuccessful attack on a fort of the Chickasawe. The Chevalier d'Artaguette. Span- ish hostilities against the British in the West Indies. The French cabinet approves the plan of a new ex- pedition against the Chickasaws. Peace in Eu- rope. The garrison of St. Augustine reinforced. Bienville at the head of the colonial force ascends the Mississippi. Detachments from Canada and the Illinois. Injudicious delay. Disease. Fam- ine. Celeron marches against the westernmost fort of the Chickasaws. They sue for peace. Bien- ville destroys his forts and the army returns. Death of Charles VI. Maria Theresa. War in Europe. 291 CHAPTER XIII. The Marquis de Vaudreuil. gia. Nova Scotia. War Paper securities. The taken. D'Anville's fleet, ricane. Dearth. Relief seer of the high ways. S er Duvezin. Civil Regul Superior Council. Geor- Irruption from Canada. Island of Cape Breton Ferdinand VI. Hur- from the Illinois. Over- urveyor General. Olivi- ations. Peace of Aix-la- 111: XXII TAun: or t'liiH>(;IU'. K<^(leiii|)(ioiirrs and iimskntb. Luiou- villiero. Oliio Compjiny. f 'Otnplaiiit oi iho Gover- nor (JenfMul, of Now FiMiuT. Quoin of troops in Louisiana. 'VUr culture ol' tobacco cncoura^;c(l. Hritisfi traders amonj^ the 'r\vir-^n'i'^"" XXVI jhreliminarv i !i ill:, H.. Mli i ■ H I The line begins on the point at which the western limit terminates, and runs along the northern part of the thirty-third degree, to a point in that parallel, in the middle of the Mississippi river: on the western side, it begins at a point in the middle of the river in the northern part of the thirty-first degree and runs on that parrallel to tlie eastern branch of Pearl river. The eastern separates, in its whole length, the states of Louisiana and Mississippi. It is a line drawn in the middle of the Mississippi river between the two points, already mentioned, and another drawn from the eastern termination of the north boundary on Pearl river, running along the middle of that stream to its mouth in the estuary, which connects lake Pontchar- train with the gulf. The area, within these limits, is asuperfice of about forty.eight thousand square miles : Louisiana being, in extent equal to North Carolina, and superior to every other state in the union, except Virginia, Mis- souri, Georgia and Illinois. The population to the square mile is three persons: equal to that of Alabama and Indiana, and inferior to that of every other state, except Illinois and Missouri, The aggregate population is of one hundred and forty-six thousand persons: inferior to those of every state except Alabama, Rhode Island, Delaware, Missis- sippi, Missouri andllhnois: considerably below the one halfof the averaged population of the states, which is about four hundred thousand. The free population is of eighty thousand one hun- dred and eighty three persons; of which seventy thou- sand four hundred and seventy-three are white, and nine thousand seven hundred and ten coloured. Agriculture employs fifty thousand one hundred and sixty.eight, and manufactures five thousand seven a Ti J le western ern part of parallel, in lie western the river egree and ch of Pearl u the states e drawn in Jen the two Irawn from iry on Pearl tream to its I Pontchar- ce of about iana being, superior to ginia, Mis- e persons: inferior to Missouri, ndred and se of every ire, Missis, ow the one s, which is 1 one hun- enty thou- hite, and red. hundred and seven CHAPTER. XXVH hundred and ninety-seven. The number of foreign- ers not naturalised is three thousand and sixty-two. Although Louisiana lies between the twenty-eighth and thirty-fourth degrees of north latitude, its tempe- rature widely differs from that of the countries, lying between the same parallels in the old world ; the Cape de Verd islands and the southern parts of Al- giers, Tripoli, Tunis. Morocco, Egypt, Arabia Felix, Persia, China and Japan. We must ascend the Mediterranean, to reach a country in which the degree of cold, which is felt in Louisiana, is experienced, and descend about ten degrees towards the equator to find a country in which the heat felt in Louisiana, prevails, Cold is seldom so intense in the city of Nice, or Savoy, nor heat greater in Havana, than in New Or- leans, which lies within the thirtieth degree of north- ern latitude, and is consequently never approached by the sun, in his zenith, nearer than six degrees and a hall ; for the variety of temperature, observable as the result of other circumstances than the relative pro- pinquity to the equinoctial line, is no where more obvious than in Louisiana. In New Orleans, during the months of June, July and August, the thermometer rises to the ninety .eighth andeven the hundredth de- gree of Farenheit's scale ; which is the greatest degree heat of the hciman body, when in health. In winter it sometimes fails to seventeen: and Ulloa relates that he has seen the Mississippi frozen, before New Or- leans, for several, yards from the shore. The varia- tions in the thermometer are frequent and sudden : it falls and rises within a few hours, from ten to twenty- four degress. Summer is the longest season : it continues for five months, besides many hot days in March and Aprils r ■°— I""— ■'T^i{g'jr"n"-'T li lii mil ■ i4 li ' 1 -: tiviii PRELIMINARY October .ind NovemV>cr. In June and July heat is diminislied, by eastern breezes and abundant rains; the hottest days are in August. In this month, and the first part of September, heat is less supportable than in the West Indies, i'rom the absence of the eas- tern breeze. The principal causes of heat, in New Orleans and its vicinity are, the equality of the soil, the great limber with w^hich the ueiglibouring country is covered, and the leebleness of the wind, which does not allow it to penetrate the inhabited parts of the country: add to this, the distance from the sea, which prevents the wind, that reigns there, from reaching the city, in whicli the air is commotdy still during the hot months. If the wind comes from the north, it reaches New Orleans, after passing over a vast extent of plains and woods, loading itself with their hot vapour. Heat, intense as it is, does not seem as in other countries, to concentrate itself in the earth and warm it to a certain depth ; on the contrary, the Avater of the Mississippi, taken from the surface, is warm and from below, cold. This demonstrates that the heat, which prevails in the country, does not penetrate be- low, and is accidental, generated by the absence of wind, or tlie action of the sun on woods, marshes and swamps. The elfect of great Keats is felt in a manner not common elsewhere. In walking,after thcwsettingof the sun, one passes suddenly into a much hotter atmos. pliere, than that w Inch preceded, and after twenty or thirty steps, the cooler air is felt : as if the country was diviried into b^in Is or zones of ditlerent temperatures. In the space of an hour, three or four of these sudden transitions are perceptible. This is not easily accounted for. It results proba- bly from (he burning of the woods, which takes place !ii: CHAPTER. XXIX uly heat is (lant rains; lonth, and upportable A' tlie eas- rlrans and reat limber )vered, and t allow it to ry : add to revents the he city, in liot months, iches New f plains and r. as in other \i and warm le water of warm and t the heat, netrate be- absence of arshes and lanner not Htingofthe ter atmos. twenty or Duntry was peratures. se sudden Its proba- ikes place after gathering the crop, and is one of the ordinary causes of heat in the air, in the direction of the fire. The land being equal in quality and form, it cannot be imagined that the rays of the sun are more fixed in one spot, than another. It is likely that some ol the columns ot air, considered horizontally, remain unmoved since the setting of the sun, and thus pre- serve the heat it communicated; while others, set in motion by a light or variable wind, lose theirs. These mutations are perceived when there is no wind. In the fall, which is the most pleasant season in Louisiana, and often prolongs itself during the first winter months, the sky is remarkably serene ; especi- ally, when the wind is northerly. In October, the thermometer frequently rises to the seventy-eighth degree, which is the greatest heat in Spain. In a country, in which the heat of summer is so great and so long, it might not be presumed that the cold of winter should be, at times, so severe as expe- rience shews. Sharp irosts have occurred as early as Noveniber, but their duration, at this period, is ex- tremely short. In the latter part of December, in Ja. nuary and the first part of February, the mercury has been known to fall many degrees below the freezing point. But cold days are rare in Louisiana, even in winter. In this season, heat succeeds to cold with such rapidity, that after three days of hard frost, as mtiny generally follow, in which the average heat of summer prevails. Spring is an extremely short season. A Louisiani- an is hardly sensible of its presence, when the suffo- cating air of summer is felt, for a while, and then win- ter days return. The winds are generally erratic and changeable, blowing within a short space of time, from every point m antmm 'XXX i>RELIMINART of the compass without regularity, and seldom tw successive days from any one. In July, August and September, there are frequent squalls, with much rain, thunder and lightning, and sometimes gales of wind from the south and south west. From the middle of October to April, the northern wind prevails and sometimes blows very hard : when it changes to the eastward or southward, it is common- ly attended with close hazy or foggy weather. In April, May and the first part of June, sea and land breezes prevail and refresh the air. The south and southwest winds bring rain in win. ter; when they cease, the northwest wind prevails, and cold weather begins. When it continues, and its strength increases, it infallibly freezes. When the wind passes from east to west, without stopping, cold is nei- ther great nor lasting; for the wind passes promptly to the east and from thence to south and southwest, and the rain begins. The north and northwest winds are those which bring cold and hard frost in winter, and a suffocating heat in summer. The cause of the cold they bring is the same in Lou- isiana, as in all the eastern parts of North America. The immense extent of country, covered with snow over which they pass, probably from the pole; while, on the opposite side of the Atlantic, the continents of Europe and Asia end in the seventy-fifth degree of latitude, and are separated from the pole, by a vast expanse of sea. But there cannot be any other cause of the heat they bring than the large plains, thick woods and wide pieces of water, which they cross ; the humidity of which, acted upon by the intense heat of the sun, gives rise to ardent vapours, the heat of w in se th an br GHAPTfiR*. xxjCi seldom tw« ire frequent htning, and I and south ;he northern ard : when it is common- ither. ine, sea and rain in win. prevails, and ues, and its hen the wind », cold is nei- 1 promptly to iithwest, and those which suffocating iame in Lou. rth America. with snow |pole; while, ;ontinents of degree of >, by a vast 1 other cause lains, thick ;hey cross; intense heat Ithe heat of which being communicated to the air, instead of cool- ing, renders it more suffocating than in calm weather. UUoa noticed in Louisiana a particularity, which he says is not observed elsewhere. At certain times, when rains are abundant, a yellow, thick coat, re- sembling brimstone appears floating on puddles and the big vats or butts, in which rain water is collected and preserved : it is gathered in abundance along the brims of these receptacles. The atmosphere, he ob- serves, is loaded with sulphureous particles, as is evin- ced by frequent tempests ; it being rare that rain should not be accompanied by violent thunder. This, he conludes, experience demonstrates to proceed from thick woods, filled with resinous trees, the subtle parts of which are exhaled, and mixing with the sulphure- ous parts of the atmosphere, unite with them, and are together precipitated with the clouds that bring down the tempest. This sulphureous substance is so abun- dant and ordinary, and at times so much more per- ceptible than at others, that this circumstance has given rise to the popular error that a rain of sulphur falls. Before we proceed to take a view of the face of the «ountry, the gulf on which the state is situated, and the mighty stream which traverses it, attract our at- tention. The gulf of Mexico may be considered as a great whirlpool. The general course of the waters, in the Atlantic ocean, as well as the current of the air, with- in and near the middle zone, being from east to west, the force of the sea cpmes upon the West India is- lands and their lengths are in that direction. When the waters get into the great gulf, they ar^ obstructed XXXll IMiLLIMINAKY ; i: 1 1 every where, and as it were turned round by the land. The great velocity of this body of water is to\vards the equator, and it must get out, wh^^ro it meets with tfie least resistance, that is on the side towards the pole, where it forms the strong current, or passage, called the gulf stream. The natural course of the waters therefore, on the northern part of the gulf, shotdd be from west to east: but it is partially changed, by frequent currents which are very unequal, depending certaiidy on the winds, but seldom on that which blows on the spot. By the general law of the tides, there should be flood lor six hours and ebb during the six following. But here, an ebb will contirme for eighteen or twenty hours, and a flood during six or four oidy, and vice ver- sa. A southern wind always raises and keeps the wa- ters up in the bays, and a northern almost entirely empties them. Yet, it must be allowed that these ebbs and flows are not equable in their continuance. Upon an accurate observation of them, we discover a ten- dency to two ebbs and flows in twenty-four hours, though they be overpowered by the winds and cur- rents. The entrance of the bays and rivers on the gulf is defended generally by a shallow sand bank, forming a bar farther out towards the sea than is usual else- where. The depth on the bar is not at all proportion- ed to that within. The mouths of the rivers are fre- quently divided into different channels, by swamps co- vered M'ith reeds, owing probably to the conflict be- tween the currents and the rise of the river, in certain seasons of the year. The water of the gulf is not much heavier than the common. An aerometer, immersible in common water with a weight of two ounces and twenty two grains CHAPTER. XXXlll I by the land. '1* is towards t meet.s with touiuils the , or passage, efore, on the west to oast: irrents which in the winds, ripot. re should be ■>\\ follow ing. 3en or twenty , and vice ver- teeps the wa- most entirely at these p|)bs nance. Upon ^cover a ten- y-t'our hours, lids and cur- 3n the gulf is ank, forming is usual else- I proportioja- vers are fre- y swamps co- e conflict be- er, in certain vier than the )mmon water y two grains was found so in that of the gulf, with one of two oun- ces and fifty three grains, according to an experience by Father Laval, at the distance of ninety leagues i'vom the coast. Fifty leagues inside of the mediter- ranean, on the coast of. Spain, near Almeria, the same instnnnent floated on sea water with a weight, less than two ounces and sixty six grairis. The rea- son of this of the river, nds rnurh oa nstthe tides, to resist the •m numerous ig, join each ow and mar- re the south- hat from the d sandy is- Chaadeleur r the mouth essels often iger, and of- lo reach one ould bedif- the old and jr, which are hite clayey on the sur- the mighty of a shoal are much else on the It is an observation founded on experience, tTiat when the water of the river incorporates itself with that of thi^ sea. and is apparently lost in the gulf, the current divides itself, and generally sets northeasterly and southwesterly ; but. ofTsoundings, the currents are in H great measure, governed hy the winds, and, if not attended to. will drive vessels southwestward. be- yond the Balize, into the bay of St. Bernard, which is full of shoals, and consequently of a diliicult, nay dan- gerous navigation. The old Balize, a post erected by the French tow- ards the year 1724, at the mouth of the river, is now two miles above it. There was not then the smallest appearance of the island, on which, forty-two years after Don Antonio de Ulloa caused barracks to be erected for the accommodation of the pilots, which is now known as the new Balize. The French had a considerable fort and garrison at the old Balize : but the magazine and several other buildings, and a part of the fortifications, gradually sunk into the soft ground. The Spaniards had a bat- tery with three or four guns, and a subaltern's com- mand on each island. Such is the situation of these islands, that they neither defend the entrance of the Mississippi, nor the deepest channels. The small es- tablishments on them appear to have been made for the purpose of affording assistance to vessels coming into the river, and forwarding intelligence and des- patched to New Orleans. In ascending the stream, there are natural prairies and a prospect of the sea on both sides, for most of the distance to the bend of Plaquemines, where a fort on each bank defends the passage, and is suffici- ent to stop the progress of any vessel. The British in 1815 warmly bombarded, during several days, the fort on the eastern bank, jljie distance from the Ba- .1.'., ■1!^. ^f I ,1,; i xl PRELIMINARY lize to it is thirty two miles. From thence to the be- ginning of" the settlements there are about twent)' miles. The intermediate space is a continued tract oflow and marshy ground, generally overflowed. It is covered with thick wood and palmetto bushes, which seem to render it impervious to man or beast. The banks of the river above this are thickly settled on each side for the space of thirty-five miles to the English tvirn, where the circular direction ot the river is so considerable, that vessels cannot proceed with the wind that brought them up, and must either wait for a more favourable one, or make fast to the bank and haul close, there being a sufficient depth of water for any vessel entering the river. At the bottom of the bend of the English turn, on the east side is a creek running in that direction into Lake Borgne, on the elevated banks of which, a rmm- ber of Spanish families, brought by government from the Canary islands in 1783, found an asylum. They were aided by the public treasury, and procured a scanty subsistence in raising vegetables tor the mar- ket of New Orleans. They were in time joined by several Acadian families. A church was built for them at the king's expense: it was dedicated to St. Bernard, in compliment to Don Bernardo de Galvez, the governor of the province, under whom the migra- tion was made. In course of time, several colonists re- moved thither, and it was then that the sugar cane began to be cultivated, after the abortive efTorts to naturalize it to the climate of Louisiana, under the French government. This part of the country was called Terre aux Boeufs, from its having been the last refuge of the buffaloes or wild oxen. By a singularity, of w hich Louisinana offers per- haps the only instance, flie more elevated ground in it is found on the banks of its rivers, bayous and lakes. fr CHAPTER. xli :e to the be- bout (went}' tiiiued tract ■rtlowed. It etto bushes, lau or beast, ickly set I led miles to the I ot the river Toceed with L either wait to the bank pill of water hsh turn, on irection into hich. a num- 'niinent from ?yhim. They procured a tor the mar- ie joined by as built ibr Rated to St. de Galvez, n the migra- colonists re- sugar cane e efforts to , under the country was »een the last offers per- d ground in IS and lakes. This elevation of a soil generally good, rarely too strong, often too weak, owing to a mixture of sand, varies considerably in its dcpih. and reaches, in very iew places ind(;ed, the elevatt^d land of another stream or lake. Hence, the origiiial grants of land were niaile of a certain number of arpens (French acres) fronting the i^ivenm, face au fleurc^ with the eventual depth, which was afterwards fixed at forty arpens, and ordinarily carries the grant to a considerable distance into the cypress swamp. These back swamps draining the aralde ground, receive, during the high water, that which comes from the clou;ls. and that which filters through, oi overHows the le\ ee — that which finds its way through the breaches of these levees or crevasses, occasi oned at times by the negligence of some planter, and that which others draw from the river to irrigate their fields or turn their mills. It may therefore be correctly said, in Louisiana, that water does not run to the river. But, unfortunately the mass of stagnant water, during several months of the year, to the north of the Mississippi, between its left bank and the right of the Iberville, the lakes Maurepas, Pontchartrain and Borgne and those of Round bay, and to the south from the Atchatalaya, between its left barik and the right our of the bayous and lakes, which discharge themselves in the wide estuary near the sea, finds but a partial and insuthcient issue at high water, and produces, especially in uncovered spots, the deadly evaporation of the fietid miasmata of the marshes and swamps it covers. Fortunately, on either side of the Mississippi, is found the greatest depth of arable and open ground, varying from the fraction of an ar pent to thirty generally, rarely to sixty, and in very few places indeed to one hundred. The banks of 1 he lakes, generally narrower, are much nearer to the ■f'i ■BKmhBMEH V. i &^ I xlii I'RELIMINAKV^ m swamps, whicfi empty their contents through a ntiiw- ber of bayous; they are interspersed with prairies ami spots olhigh land, covered with oak and cypress. This gives to this part of the state a disagreeable aspect, obstructs communications and insulates plant- ers It gives it a dismal and dangerous appearance, which must be well known before it may be trodden, witli sj^fety. Nature seems not to have intended it for the licibitation of man; but rather to have pre- pared it for the retreat ofaligators, snakes, toads and frogs, who at dusk, by their united, though discordant vocilerations. upbraid man as an intruder, assert their exclusive right, and lay their continual claim to the domain they inhabit. It might be concluded from this picture, that Lou- isiana is an unhealthy country ; but this would be to judge of the whole by the part. The city of New Orleans has been visited (principally since the begin- ning of the current century) with disastrous and a]i)!f)si aiiMual epidemics, which, at a first view, justify tlic 4'onclusion if they are not the effect of local cir- cumstances. Bui. it is universally admitted, thatplan- teis on the Mississippi, whom an imperious necessity compels to range themsehes on the banks of the stream, especially aho\e the city, suffer nothing from the inlluenc? of the climate or their position. Agriculture, on ho(h sides of the river, from the sea to the vicinity oi' Bato!) IJouge, demands the protec- t on aguinst its inundations, of artificial banks or levees. Public and private interest have made them the ohject of the solici'ude and attention of the legis- lature. Vet. as interest excites not the vigilance of those to whom the execution of the laws, in this respect, is committed, the negligence of a plan- ter occasions, at times, a breach or crevasse on ki? levee, in some part of the river. If it benot imme IS 'Hiti m (JHAPTfiR xliii ugli a ntiiii- 'ith prairieB ind cypress, isagreeable ilates plant- ippearance, be trodden, e intended have pre- s, toads and 1 discordant assert their ;laim to the , that Lou- would be to city of New e tFie begin- tistrous and k'iew, justify ol" local cii'- J, that plan- is necessity inks of" the othing from n. i'ora the sea the protec- 1 bankf^ or made them yf the legis- e vigilance ws, in this of a plan- isse on ki? .' not immr diately discovered or prompt attention given, the im- petuous waves ibrce their passage and widen I he breach — the crop of the heedless planter is soon destroyed; the rails of his fences lloat and his house is borne away. But the alarming Hood encreases in extent,strength and rapidity; the angry stream seems to have found a new channel ; the back swamps are filled to a considerable extent: the water rises in them and overflowingfor numbersof miles,above and below the breach, inundates the cultivated fields, reaches the levee and despoils a whole neighf)ourhood of tiie fruit of the sweat and labour of its inhabitants. The mischief does not end here. The Mississippi dof's not, like the Nile, deposit a fattening slime, on t!ie land it overflows. On the contrary, it leaves on it a large quantity of sand, destructive of its fertility, or scatters the seeds of noxious weeds. Immediately around New Orleans, the culture of sugar and even gardens hath been abandoned, on account of the pro- digious growth of nut grass, the seeds of whicli have been spread by the water of the Mississippi. From the English turn to the city, the Mississippi is bordered on each side by plantations, and the houses are as close to each other, as in many parts of the United States that are dignified by the appella- tion of town. The planters are all wealthy, and almost exclusively engaged in the culture of the cane. There are a few who cultivate cotton. The distance is eighteen miles. The city of New Orleans rises on the bank of the Mississippi, in the middle of a large bend. The circular direction of the stream here is so great, that although the city stands on the eastern side, the sun rises on the opposite bank. The city proper is an oblong square of about twenty -eight arpents in front. f xivv rRLLIMlNARi 'II ^ / ^ river, n lirgje square, or /?///f/? f/V/ryns.y. surrouiuh'd \>y an iron pallis- sado, and is adorned by three elesj.uit pubhc edifices, the cathedral, city hall, and n building in which the courts of the state are accommodated wiih halls and oifices. Those occupy one side of the s(juare : that towards the river is open : eachoft!»e two otliers is covered by a block of unifoim h.ousr's. with tipper- galleries. The city is intersectetl by seven streets parallel, and twelve perpendicular, to the ri\er "^i he direction of the latter is north west and south east. With its suburbs. New Orleans extends along the river about three miles, and in its utmost depth on tiie outer line of the uppermost suburb, about one. We speak of the parts covered by contiguous buildings: that within the chartered limits, is much greater. The middle steeple of the cathedral is in 29. 51. north latitude and 92. 29. of west longitude irom Greenwich. The three first streets parallel to the river and most of the perpendicular ones, as far as they are i itersected by the ibrmer, have a considerable num- ber of'elegaut brick buildings. three stories high ; but t!ic rest of the city has notliing but small wooden houses, one story high; some very mean. The pro- portion of the latter is much greatei', tiian in any other city of the United Slates. Besides the public buildings on the square, there are the old and new nunneries, a presbyterian and an episcopal church, the jail, custom house, court house of the United States, three theatres, an university, hospital and market house. Tiie city has three l)anks, besides the oOlcc of dis- .•ount and deposit of that of the United States. M -^M I ';:!;! CHAPTER. xIt wlucii uii its was sur- r.atioM^ aiul ver, n l\\%e \ iron jKillis- iliceMilicos, I) which tlio ih halls aiul (jinirf: that ^o ()tl»cr.-i is with uppcr- •^t'von St roots !» ri\or 1 he 1 south east. ong the rivcT pp'ih on the it one. Wo IS buildings: greater, is in 29. 51. ngiludc from e river and ir as they are erable nuni- es liia;h : but mall wooden 1 tie pro- K n\ any other iquare, there erian and an court house 1 university. ofiico of dis' states. Two public institutions offer an asylum to the orphan youth ol'hoth sexes. In the roar, towards the middle of the city, is a basin for small vessels, which approach New Orleans tlnough lake Borgne : a canal about two miles in length, loads from it to b lyou St. John, a small stream, whicii empties in lake Pontchartrain : another canal, in suburb Marigny, affords also a communication with the; lakes ; it begins within a few yards of the Missis- sippi a'ld falls into bayou St. John, at a short distance from the place, where it receives the waters of the other canal. In population, New Orleans is superior to every city in the union, except New York, Philadelphia. Balli nore aiid Boston. It appears from official docu- nioiits. that it contained in 1709 three thousand one hundred and ni.ioly persons of all colours, sexes and ag :s : in \7 iH. five thousand three hundred and thirty one: in 1797 eight thousand and fifty-six: in 1810. seventeen tliousand. two hundred and forty-two, and according to the last census, in 1820, twenty-seven tho!)s i;i(l. one hundred and fifty six. The city is protected from the inundation of the river, by a levee or bank, twenty feet in width, which affords a convenient walk. Both sides of the Mississippi, from the city of New Orleans to the town of Donaldsonville, a space of se- venty-five miles, are occupied by the wealthiest plan- ters in the state, principally engaged in the culture of the sugar cane. This part of the country has been denominated the German and Acadian coasts, from its original settlers ; and the wealth of the present has procured to it the appellation of the golden coast. There are five parochial churches and a convent of 1| h hi i.l i ^.v § M Xlv PRELIMINAKY nuns, between Nrw Orleans and nonaldsonvillc. N« ■water course runs iuto, or llovvs from, the Mississippi in tliis distance, if we except a small canal, on the western side, near the city, which alTords a commu- nication with lake Baratariaand others. Donaldsonville stands on the western side of the river, at the angle it forms with bayou l^nfourche, or the fork of the Chetimachas. This town, though destined to be the seat of go- vernment, by ail act of the legislature, is but a small place, ft has an elegant brick church, and contains the court house and jail of the parish. The bank of" Louisiana has here an olHce of discount and deposit, and there is a printing oifice, from which an liebdo- madary sheet is issued. A large edifice is now rear- ing for the accommodation of the legislature. The bayou Lafourche is an outletof the Mississippi river, which has probably, been the first channel through which it discharged its water into the gulf of Mexico, y y the way of Big and Little caillou, the Terre bonne, Bayou du large. Bayou du cadre and Bayou black, besides several others. For the soil, on the banks ol all those streams, al- though of alluvial origin, like the Mississippi bottoms, which they resemble in every respect, appear of older formation ; at least it is more impregnated with oxid of iron, its vegetable fossils more decayed, and the canes and timber, which it produces, are generally larger than those on the banks of the Mis- sissippi. Every one of these water courses is trom one tofour hundred feet in w idth,and has an extensive body ofsugar land, capable of making fine settlements and producing the best sugar, as well as the olive tree, like in Berwick's bay to the N. W. of this. The land would produce from two to two thousand five hundred pounds ofsugar. to the acre. f of t'ii I ' CHAPiKK. xlvii )nvilie. N« Mississippi nal, on the ; ii commu- side ol' the fourche, or seat of go- hut a small nd contains 'he hank ot' ud deposit, 1 an hehdo- is now rear- ne. ; Mississippi irst channel iito the gulf caillou, the cadre and streams, al- pi bottoms, appear of [rnated with cayed, and duces, are of the Mis- rses is ^rom n extensive settlements as the olive this. The ousand five The climate is mild and frost is s^'ldom seen in ihis reji;ioii, before the lust of Decembrr: the land is easily cleared tor cultivation, which consists aimply in cultiiio; the sticks, cai-es, and a few large magnolia, or sweet gmn, perhaps three or four per acre, to let th*' c.nies dry -and set them on tire. Noth- ing then reinains except the bodies of the trees and stnmfvs: tfie fertility of the soil is inferior t© none ; it produces every thing susceptible of growing in the climate. The hanks of most of these rivers, several feet abovethe high water mark,require no levee,like those of the Mississippi : the land wants little or no ditch- ing, as it drains naturally : the water has traced with the hand of time its own gullies. The w hole country affords great facility to new settlers, for providing fish, oysters, and game, all at hand ; even large droves ot huffiiloes are often met with in the great cane brakes of that fine country, which has remained 80 long unsettled, only on account of the difficulty of penetrating through tSiem. However, it is probable a communication will soon be established : a great portion of that country has been viewed within the last five years, by the board of internal improvements; roads have been laid out, and a canal route traced all the way to New Orleans, fit for steam boat navigation, and having not more than ten miles to cut; six miles of which pass through firm and lloati ng prairies. The fact is that thirty-seven arpents of canal in the firm prairie would join the waters of the Mississippi with those of the La- fourche, which already communicates to bayon Terre- bonne by fields, lake and a canal of twelve feet in width, cut with saws through about two miles offioat- ing prairies, by a few inhabitants of that bayou; but dm passage is only fit fgr$iaiall paddling boats, as. f i 4 i n ' ii '0 iLlviii VKfcLlMlX\K\ there are twelve arpeiits of cypress swamp joining the Terrebonne, where the hoats have to paddle througli the cypress kncje.s, higs and l)ruhli. The water of the hikes, which are very nnmerous between tlie Lafourche and llic; Terrebonne, are fiv(; feet and a half above iJie Unci of thewaters of Ter- rebonne, which aheady communicates with Black river, on bayou Cleannoir by the way of bayou Cane : but a canal oi'tvventy arpents would join those two bayous six njiles above that, and at the same time join the Grand caillou by means of live locks: the level of Black river is six teet below the latter water, and Grand caillon six teet and a half, so that thi>« canal can be dug at little expense, above the actual level of the water, before letting in that of the lakes. The benefits resulting from these improvements are incalculable: the immense forests of oak wood on the bayou Lafourche could be brought to New Orleans in a very few hours. The (juanti- iy of clam shells on the big Catafioula and neigh- bourhood, might be transported to jNew ()rleai»s. at a moderate expense and make a fine pavement lor the streets of that city. At no great cost, the fish market would offer a new branch of trade. Oysters could be brought to market for half the actual price. The magnificent live oak of Grande isle and Chen- iereCaminada, would not only afford fine timber for building durable ships and steam boats, but yet ofTei an hospitable shade, under their ever green foliage to the inhabitants of New Orleans, who would resort to those places, in preference to any other, if they could get to them w ith out difiiculty. Yet, those are comparatively matters of little con- sideration, when we refiect that this canal passes through the greatest body of land, fit for the culturf CHAPTER. xlix |) joining the idle llnougli ry numerous nne, Jire live crs of Ter- with Black bayou Cane : II those two B same time e locks : the latter water. so that thi^ the actual of the lakes. nprovements ests of oak be brought The cjuanti- a and neij^h- )rleans. at a rnent lor the e tish market for half the le and Chen- [te timber for but yet otfei en foliage to uld resort to if they could of little con- canal passes • the culture ofthcsugfir cane, and in fact tlie ordy one in the U. S. fully adapted to that culture, which affords the pros- perous staple of this state; and that this canal will cause the whole of that country to settle, which, in a few years will double the, quantity of sugar now made in the whole state, notw ilhstanditig the increase of trade, which must naturally take place by the facili- ty afforded by such canal, for the intercourse beiween New Orleans and the western coast of the gulf of Mexico. About thirty miles higher up, the Mississippi has another outlet, through bayou Plaquemines, the wa- ters of which, united to those of Grand river, How into several lakes and lagoor»s on the sea coast. Bay- ou Plaquemines is a rapid stream ; but is dry at the upper end, during winter. Its northern bank is not inhabited, being a great part of the year under water ; and the agricultural establishments, on the southern bank, protected by a small levee, are scarce and insignificant. Between these two outlets, the banks of the Missis- sippi are thickly settled ; but the sugar plantations are few^ and the planters not so wealthy, as below Do- naldsonville. Under the Spanish government, it was believed the sugar cane could not well succeed so high up, and there were but two plantations, on which it was cultivated; they were close to Donaldsonville. But, since the cession, the industry of the purchasers of Louisiana has proved that the cane succeeds well as high up as Pointe Coupee. The orange tree does not thrive well above bayoti Plaquemines : the sweet is no longer seen, though the sour is found as far as the northern limit of the state, on the west of the Mississippi. The only outlet, which the Mississippi has through its eastern bank, is a few miles above bayou Plaque- I 'I I ".i ll '■'^ .11 1 I S; 3 ' lih ' f™ pi I hKkliminar^ ininrs — it is called bayou Maiisliao. At about ten inilrs I'roiii the Mississippi, it rocoivos ttic; rivrrAtnilc from its ri<;lit side, ami takes tlio name ot IberviUe river. From t!ie Missi'^slp|)i to tlie mouth nl'the Iberville CM I \ke Maurepas, tlie distance alori^ the stream is sixty miles: the first ten of which do not admit of na- vi;;ation, during n>ore than four months of the year. There are. at alltime«, Irom two to six feet of water for three miles farther, and the depth, in the remain- ina; part of the way to the lake, is from two to four fa- thoms. The river Amite falls into bayou Manshac on the north side, twenty mii«'S Irom the Mississippi : the wa- ter of the Amite is clear, running on a gravelly bot- tom. It may be ascended by vessels, drawing from five to six leet of water, about twelve, and with bat- teaux one hundred, miles fartiier. It forks about se- venteen miles above its mouth : the eastern Ibrk is the Comile; the western, which preserves its name, is the most considerable and rises near Pearl river. Both run through a fertile, rolling country, which as well as the low land, is covered with canOv oak, ash. muleerry, hickory, poplar, cedar and cypress. The united waters of bayou Manshac and the Amite form the Iberville, the length of which is thir- ty-nine miles. The land and timber on its banks are similar to those on the Amite, with the ditFerence thu the banks of the Iberville are in general lower, and the country less hilly, with a greater proportion of rice land, and cypress and live oak of an excellent quality tor ship building. Lake Maurepas iy about ten miles long and seven wide, and tiom ten to twelve ieet deep. The coun- try around it is low and covered with cypress, live oak and myrtle. « I M rur it to ab( isli MIAPTER. t aUout ten I'ivcM' Amitt• ot Iberville he Iberville lie stream is admit otria- of the year, eet of water the remain- vo to ibur f'a- ishac on the ppi : the wa- [ravelly bot- rawirig I'rom lul with bal- ks about se- Btern ibrk is its name, is ^earl river. •y, which a&s K). oak, ash. rcss. ic and the ich is thir- s banks are ditFerence leral lower, proportion n excellent. and seven The coun- l' press, live The Tickfoa is the oidy river that tails into lake M uirepas. It rises in the statt* of Mis.-.issippi and runs a middle course between Amite and i earl livers, it hiis a suflieient depth lor steam boat navigation to the mouth of bayou Chapeaupilier, a distanoc ol about filty miles. The pass of Manshac connects lake Maurepas and lake l*ontchartrain. It is seven miles in length, and about thrcje hundred yards wide; divide^l by an island, which runs from the former to within a mile from the latter; the south channel is the deepest and shortest. The greatest length of lake Pontclmrtrain is about forty miles, and its width about twenty-four, and the averajEje depth ten fathoms. It receives on the north side the rivers Tangipao, Tchefuncta and Bonfouca, with the bayous Castin and Lacemel, and on the side of the city, bayou St. John, and higher up bayou Tigouyou. Tarigipao has at its mouth a depth of water of four , feet, Tchefuncta seven, and Borifoucasix. Two passes connect lake Pontchartrain witli an estuary called lake Borgne, the Higolets and the pass of Chef Menteur, both of which are defended by a fort, surrounded by deep morasses. The passes are about ten miles long, and from three to four hundred yards wide. By bayous that fall into lake Borgne. a number of iishermen, who dwell on its banks, find their way to the market of New Orleans, which they supply. Through one of these, bayou Bienverm, the British ar- my under general Packenham, proceeded, with all its artillery to within a very few miles of the city. There are from sixteen to eighteen feet of water on the sides of lake Borgne; in the middle from ten to n i' r Hi PRELIMINAKV ' ■■i ■r» \l I ,1; : -i twelve fathoms ; but in its upper part, tVoni eleven to twelve feet. Opposite to the entrance into lake Dorgne, anti at the end of the Rigolets, on the north side near the gulf, is the mouth of Pearl river. This stream rises in the northern part of the state of Mississippi, and after traversing it centrally, sendj? its waters into the gulf by two main branches. The eastern which, we have seen, divides the slates of Louisiana and Mississippi, falls into lake Borgne. The western, which leaves the main branch in the la- titude of thirty degrees, runs entirely through the former state and falh into the Rigolets. Above the fork, the navigation is good for steam boats, during six months of the year; some have alrea- dy ascended to Monticello. It is evident from an inspection of this river, that at no very distant period, its eastern branch was its only channel, meandering through an extent of above one hundred miles to lake Borgne. During some in- undation, the western branch broke from the main channel, through the swamps, and found a nearer course, of sixty miles only, to the Rigolets. Above Manshac, the land gradually rises on the eastern side of tlic river, to Baton Rouge, a small town distant about one hundred and twenty miles from New Orleans. The plantations are not all, as be- low, ranged side by side on the immediate banks of the river; but, mrny are scattered in the intermedi- ate space, between the Mississippi, the rivers Amite, Comite and others llowing into the lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain. On one of these the Spaniards made an abortive effort to establish a town, called Galveztown. Sugar plantations are now much fewer; but those on which cotton is cultivated are more numerous an(' e ^ ti o o vi g' p:i CHAl'TER. liii om eleven to )rgne, and at ide near the •t of the state nlrally, sendij inches. The the states of lake Borgne. inch in the la- through the »oJ tor steam le have alrea- ns river, that •anch was its :tent of" above I ring some in- om the main md a nearer ets. rises on the a small town miles from t all, as be- iate banks of le intermedi- rivers Amite, es Maurepas le Spaniards town, called jr; but those mierous and extensive. Tlie part of the state to the east of the Missisj^ippi and the lakes, having been occupied b} the British tor nearly twenty years, the descendants of its oricjinal FreFich inhabitants are in very small nuiubor, indeed; and a great many of the people who have come to Louisiana from other states, since the cession, have settled there: during the possession of l[j€ r^"i»ish. several colonists from the Atlantic pro- vi;;ce>5. principally V^irginia, the Carolinasand Geor- gia, llottked thither. There was a considerable mi- gration in I7(5tand 171)/) from the banks of the Roa- noke, in iNorth Carolina ; so that the population dif- fe.s very little from that t)f the Atlantic states. The mixture of French and Spaniards being small indeed, except in the town of Baton Rouge. This town is built on a high bluff, on the eastern side of the river. The United States have exten- sive barracks near it. It contains the public build- ings of the parish, and has two weekly gazettes and a branch of the bank of Louisiana. On the opposite side of the river from bayou Pla- vquemincs, the arable land is only a narrow slip between the bank and the cypress swamps, that emp- Hy RELIIV1INARY a straight line. The general course is nearly east to west ; the land for upwards of thirty miles from its mouth is overflowed at high water, from ten to filteeii feet. Below Black river, the northern bank is the highest. The growth in the lower or southern part is willow and cotton wood ; in the higher, oak,hicko ry and ash. Six miles from the mouth of the river, on the south side, is bayou Natchitoches, which communicates with lake Long, from whence another bayou aflbrds a pas- sage to the river. At high water, boats pnss through these bayous and lake, and go to the river after a route of fifteen miles, while the distance Irom one bayou to the other is forty-five. Black river comes up from the north, about twenty- four miles from bayou Natchitoches ; its water is clear and limpid, when contrasted with that of Red river, and appears black. Above the junction, Red river makes a regular turn to the south, for about eighteen miles, forming a segment of about three fourths of a circle. Twenty miles above, the bayou from lake Long comes in, and thirty-three miles still farther is the first landing of the Avoyelles : the river all the while being so crooked that, at this place, the guns of Fort Adams are distinctly heard ; although the distance by the river is upwards of one hundred and fifty miles. The sound appears a little south from east. At this landing is the first arable soil immediate- ly on the banks of the river, which, in the whole space, are higher than the land behind. At a short distance from this landii^, to the south is the prairie des Avoy. elles, of an oval form and about forty miles in circum- ference. It is very level, covered with high grass and has but very few clumps of trees: its soil is not ■ij-: «'ifi I 4 OHAPTKR. Ivii arly east to ilcs from its en to filteen bank is the lUllicrri part r, oak,hicko in the south nicates with ftbrds a pas- )nss through iver after a :e troin one lOut twenty- rater is clear )fRed river, s a regular 's, forming a R. Twenty omes in, and mdingof the so crooked Adams are >y the river niles. The mmediate- vhole space, ort distance e des Avoy. s in circum- 1 high grass s soil is not very frrlilo ; that ofllie limber land around it. wheii clcjircd. is i'nr preferable. The lower end of the prairio has \\\v richest land. The limber arouiul it is cliiedy oak, which produces good mast. The in- liihitanls raise cotton : hut the settlement is better for caale a'ld ho^s : in hi^li water it is insul ited, and at others coniiiiunicates with those of R^piiles, Ope- loii-as and I'oiiite Coupee. '1 he upper landing is lillteen mileshigher,and sixteen mihs a »ov(;, a lew years .ago, was laid the loin.da- tionof ih'^ town of Cassandra, on the north side, op- posite to h:»you L'amourenx, which connects Red river and bayou Bceuf The intermediate land on the Jiorllieri hank is tolerably <]jood, moderately hil- ly 'RELIMIi\AKY ri i \ w oftho river. On the second street, is a hill the area of w'Tu'h covers about two luiii ireJ .vei- 's ol^rro.ind ; on it a fort and barracks \\\\r. bpen bail' . ilic site of whieli is thirty feet al)ove the b.uik otlii'^ ri\(M-. T\n) ol i town is an extensive com noa ofscv-'r d hini(h('d acres entirely tufted with clover and covered with sheep and cattle. Notliinj; of it is di^covj'r tblf. Vi- cep! the 1 orins o f thp irardeiis and some oJ:.j\ineii tal trees. It bej^ an to be abandoned sooi alter the ces- sion of the province to Spain. liclore. jnosl of i!ic settlers dwelt in town : the hill is nt stilVih.y and the streets were miry: the people lou.id th'' place in- coMvenient. on account ol their stock and tarnis. and filtvl otV. one after the other, and settlee river, during the rest of the year. The quantity oltish and fowls which are obtained on these lakes appears incredible. It is not uricommon,in win- ter, (or a man to kill from two to four hundred Ibwls I!) a!J evening. They tly between sun down a»id dusk: tlHl as tin! Ci (I kill w'll carl iUU\ aili)! thai th< S bou • s il mm. t llAi'lER. kf tlio area of ' . llic ssitc* ol" ivcr. '1'iio •al limidri'd >\ crcd w illi (>J:.aino!i!al '|ayou of which comes into the Rigolet du bon Dieu, op[)osite to the town; near it arc salt works, from which die town is supplied. Three miles up the stream, is the upper mouth of the Rigolet du hon Dieu. where the settlement of the grand ecor, or great bluflT begins. This eminence stands on the south side, and is about one hundred feet high. Towards the river, it is almost perpendicu- lar, and of a soft white rock: the top is a gravel loam of considerable extent, 0!i which grow large oaks, , hickory, black cherry and grape vines. There is a I small blulfnear, at the foot of which is a large quan- 1 tity of stone coal, and several springs of the best wa- ter in this part of the country. Near them, is a lake of clear water, with a gravelly margin. 1^1 ■'. W J ■^m k Ixii ••RELIMINARV Tho rivor makes a Iarp;o bnid above the bluflTH, to the north, and a loiij; rcjach, iicfuly due east by it. About a mile above, Irom the south shore, a larp;e bay- ou eomes iit Iroiii the Spanish hike, whieh is about (ifty miles in eireumference, and rises and falls with the river, from whieh the largest bofds may aseend to the lake, and throurth by tliig (MTo settle- ol the hmd The inha- nade some with prair- r bottoms, k, called veral good od kind of ly rolling, o. A few lorth east is here y streams ettlement, ailed Al- ;e upland, stock. ending to )n of even !»4icond rate larul. It is generally covered with oak and pi.ie. 'inhere are some choice spots of land j but of small extent. Cantonement Jessup is situated halfway between Rod riv(M" and tlie Suhine and on the highest ridge, which separates the streams tlowing intothese rivers. TliL' land on the Sabine is unfit for cultivation to any extent. The part of it, wliich is not subject to sudden overllow, is liigh land of no value but for raising stock. Above is the obstruction, commordy called the great raft, choking up the channel for upwards of one hundred miles, hy the course of the river. It was exa- mined, during the winter of 1826, by capt. Birch and lieutenant Lee, with a detachment from cantonment Jessup, by order of the secretary of war of the Uni- ted States, with the view of ascertaining the practica- bility of opening a passage for steam boats. They foutid, within one hundred'miles of the bed of the liver, above one hundred and eighty rafts or jams of timber, from a few to four hundred yards in length. They thought that to break through, or remove them, so as to admit the passage of a steam boat, would be a work of immense labour and expense, and that, if done, the loose timber would probably ibrm other rafts below. The bank of the river appeared to them very rich j but so covered with canes, briars and vines, as to ren- der it impossible to advance, without cutting a pas- sage all the way, and they judged a man could cut but a few yards in a day. They crossed over an island hauling a light skill to bayou Pierre, from'which a canal ot less than halt a mile, through an alluvial soil, would open a com- munication with lake Scioto. This lake is about one hundred miles long and five or six wide : a channel fW % •f I . ;i :■ 1 1 M m i^»h Ixiv rUKLIMIiNAUY fen ibet drop rims tliron^rli it. The fiii!;li \vnlor mnrk is at least (iKcrn i'vvt above the surl.irc of the lakr in winter. Tlie lake lias an indented shore, pandlel to the river, and a eoniinunicatioii with it ahotit twenty- five miles above the rait, and another mij^ht be easily 0|)eiu;d many miles liii;hern|). In aseendinjj; bayou IMerre, which lalls into the river six miles iibove the tpwri of Nntehitoehes, the principal obstrnclion consists ot a number ol cypress stumps, that mi«;ht !>e easily removed at low w:«ter. This once elUcted ;nid a caiKil cut into lake Scioto, ther*' woidd be nothiti£>;, at hif^h water, to pr<'vent steam bo.Us ascendiner becomes large, rising in some places to the heJLjht ol forty leel. The land is at times inundated, not by the waters ol" the river, but I'rom the intrusio i ol" its pow^ert'ul neighbour, the Mississippi. The land declines rapidly froui the banks, as in all alluvial countries, to the cypress swamps, where more or less water stagnates, during the whole year. Tow ards the upper end ot'HIack river, theshore abounds with mus- cles and perrywincles, the first of the kind called pearl muscles. The land, at the mouth of the Catahoula is evi- dently alluvial. In process of time, the river, shutting up its ancient passage, and elevating the banks over which its waters pass no longer, communicates with the same lacility as formerly. The consequence is, that many iarge tracts, before subject to inundation, are now exempt from that inconvenience. There is ati embankment running from the Cata- houla to Black river (enclosing about two hundred acres of rich land) at present about ten feet high, and ten feet broad. This surrounds four large mounds of earth at the distance of a bow-shot from each other: each of which may be twenty feet high, one hundred feet broad, and three hundred feet long at the top, besides a stupendous turret, situated on the back part of the whole, or farthest from the water; the base covers about an acre of ground, rising by two steps or stories, tapering in the ascent ; the whole surmounted by a great cone with its top cut off. This tower of earth, on admeasurement, was found to be eighty feet perpendicular. The Tcnsa is a creek thirty six miles long, the is- Hue of a lake of the same name, twenty-four miles in i 1 ^:i' f'jii ' 'I MM^ Ixvi I'RELlMINAItY lerisjth and six in breadth, which lies west from the mouth of the Catahoula, and communicalrs with Red river, during the great annual inundations. To the west and iiorthwebt angle of this lake, a stre im called Little river enters, and preserves its ch.'nnel of running water during all the year: mean- dering along the bod of the lake, the superfices of wiiich, in all other parts, during the dry season from July to November, aisd frequently later, is complete- ly drained, covered with the most luxuriant herbage, and becomes the retreat of immense herds of deer, of turkeys, geese and crane. The Tensa serves only to dr.iin off a part of the Waters of the inundation from the low land of the Mississippi, which communicates with Black river du- ring the season of high water. Three miles up the Washita and on the right side, comes a stream called the Haha, one of the many pas*> sages through which the waters of the great inunda- tion penetrate and pervade all the low land ; annibi- latij)g, tor a time, the current of lesser streams in the neighbourhood of the Mississippi. Five miles above is the prairie Villeniont^ thus na- med from its having been included in a grant from the Frf-nch government to an officer of that name. In the beginning of the last century, the French projected, and began here extensive settlements, but the massacro in 1730, and the subsequent destruc- tion of the Na'chez Indians, broke up all their un- dertakings, and they were not renewed by the French. The timber, on both sides of the Washita to this prairie, is thiefly the red, while and black oak, inter- spersed with a variety of other trees. The plains of the Washita lie on its east side, and sloping from the bank, are inundated in the rear bf % CHAPTER. Ixvii est from the licalrs with atioDS. this lake, a ^reserves its year: mean- iuperfices of season from is complete- »nt herbage, ?rds of deer, part of the land of the ick river du- e right side, le many pas* eat inunda- md ; annihi- earns in the ont^ thus na- grant from at name, tlie French ements, but nt destruc- 11 their un- ed by the hita to this i. oak, inter- st side, and the rear b| the Mississippi. In certain great floods,''the water has advanced so far, as to be ready to pour into the Washita over its margin. On approaching towards bayou Lowes, which the Washita receives from the right, a little below its first rapid there is a great deal of high land on both sides of the river, producuig the long leaved pine. At the foot of the rapids, the navigation is obstruct- ed, by beds of gravelly sknd ; above the first rapid is a high ridge of primitive earth, studded with abun- dance of fragments of rocks or stone, which appear to have been thrown up to the surface in a very irregu- lar manner. The stone is of a very friable nature, some of it having the appearance of indurajted clay; the rest is blackish, from exposure to the air; within, it is of a greyish white. It is said that the strata in the hill are regular and might afford good grind- stones. The other rapid is formed by a ledge of rocks cros- sing the entire bed of the river : above it, the water appears as in a mill pond and is about one hundred yards wide. Twelve miles higher, a little above a rocky hill, comes in the bayou Aux Boeufs. The river is here, at low water, about two fathoms and a half deep, on a bottom of mud and sand. The banks of the river ap- pear to retain very little alluvial soil ; the high land earth which is a sandy loam of a grey colour, hag streaks of red sand and clay. The soil is not rich ; it bears pines, interspersed with red oak, hickory and dogwood. A third rapid created by a transverse ledge of rock, narrows the river to about thirty yards. Similar rapids occur as far as the settlement. It is a plain or prairie, which appears alluvial from the regular slope of the laud from the bank of the river, f 'I % A?1 i;/- ■! ! I! ■■ . ' I 'hi M^^ IxTiii PRELIMINARY the bed of" which is now sufficiently deep to preserve it from inundation. Yet, in the rear, the waters of the Mississippi approach, and sometimes leave dry but a narrow strip of land aloiig tlie bank of the Washita. The soil is here very f^ood, hut not equal to the Mississippi bottoms ; it may be estimated se- cond rate. At a small distance to the east, are ex- tensive cypress swamps, over which the waters t)f the hiundation always stand, to the depth ot from fifteen to twenty-five feet. On the west, after passing onrc the valley of the river, the breadth of v\hich is from one quarter to two miles, the land assumrs an eleva- tion from one hundred to three hundred feet, and ex- tends to the settlements of Red river. It is there poor and what is called pine barrens. On this part of the river, lies a cofisiderable tract of land, grantc^d in 1795 by the Baron de Ca- rondelet to the Marquis of Maison Rouge, a French emigrant, who proposed to bring into Louisiana, thir- ty families from his country, who were to descend the Ohio tor the purpose of forming an establishment, on the banks of the Washita, designed principally for the culture of wheat, and the maimfacture of flour. This tra» t was two leagues in width, and twelve in length, traversed by the river. The town of Monroe stands on the side of the Washita, and at high water is approached by large steam boats ; but the navigation is interrupted du- ring a great part of the year by miny shoals and ra- pids. The general width of the river to the town is from eighty to one hundred yards. Its banks present very little appearance of alluvial soil, but furnish an infinite number of beautiful landscapes. A substan( e is found ahng the river side, nearly resembling mineral coal; its appearance is that of the carbonated wood, described by Kirwan. It does not ol P" ol P mil. % .•^^ UHAFTEH. txix p to preserve [he waters of les leave dry bank ot" tlie hut iiot etjual estimated se- east, are ex- waters »)f the )t from tifteen passing oni c which is trom inr-s an elcva- l ieet, and ex- It is there considerable 3aron de Ca- gf^^ a French ouisiana, thir- o descend the blishment, on rincipally for tiire of Hour, nd twelve in side of the Ihed by large rrupted du- loals and ra- the town is |anks present it furnish an side, nearly [s that of the It does not easily burn, but being appUcHl to the flame of a can- dle, it sensibly increases it, and yields a faint smell, resembling that of gum lac, or common seahng wax. ', .Soil triable stone is common, and great quantities lof gravel and sand are upon the beach; on several I parts of the shore a redish clay appears in the strata of the banks, much indurated and blackened by ex- posure to light and air. The land above the town is not very inviting, the soil being poor and covered with pine wood. About thirty-six miles higher up is bayou Barthe- lemy. on the right. Here begins Baron de Bafitrop''e grant of land, by the Baron de Carondelet in 1795, obtained nearly on the same terms as that of the Marquis de Maison Rouge. It is a square of four leagues on each side, containing about one million ol acres. , The bank of the river continues about thirty feet in height, of which eighteen from the water are a clayey loam of a pale colour, on which the water has depos- ited twelve feet of light sandy soil, apparently fertile, and of a dark brown colour. This description of land is of a small breadth, not exceeding one half of a mile on each side of the river; and may be called , the valley of the Washita, between which there is high land covered with pine. The soil continues with a growth of small timber to the bayou des butes, which has it sname from a num- ber of Indian mountds along its course. The margin of the river begins now to be covered with such timber as grows on inundated land, particii- ; larly a species of white oak, vulgarly called the over- i cup oak, the wood of which is remarkably hard, solid, ponderous and durable. It produces a large acorn, in great abundance, on which bears feed, and which is very fattening for hogs. m ■I « ' 'I 1 ■'■ (,' J*SH ■1\^'' '< Si ' fxx JPRELIMINARY A few miles higher up is a long and narrow island. Here the face of the country begins to change. The banks of the river are low and steep, its bed deeper and more contracted, being from twenty-five to thirty feet in depth. The soil, near the water, is h verj sandy loam, covered with such vegetation, ay is found on the inundated land of the Mississi[)pi. The tract presents the appearance of a new soil, very diflerent from what is below. This alluvial spo! may be sup- posed the old site of a great lake, drained by a na rural channel, by the abrasion of the water — since which period, the annual inundations have deposited the superior soil. Eighteen or twenty feet are wanting to render it habitable for man. It appears now well stocked with the beasts of the forest. Mallet's island is above. Its upper point has been ascertained to be within 32 1-2 seconds to the northern line of the state. The bed of the river along this al- luvial soil is generally covered with water, and its navigation, uninterrupted. Near it is marais des Sa- bines^ on the right. A stratum of dirty white clay, un- der the alluvial tract, shows the end of the sunken and the approach of the high land. The salt lake marsh does not derive its name from any brackish- nessin its water; but from its contiguity to some of the lakes, generally found, on a clayey soil, compact enough for potters ware. Opposite to this place is a point of land, forming a promontory, advancing within a mile of the river, and to which the boats resort, when the low lands are covered with water. Great salt lick creek, a stream of considerable length, and navigable lor small boats, comes in above. The hunters ascend it three hundred miles and affirm that none of the springs that feed it are salt. It has obtained its name from the many buffalo salt licks discovered in its vicinity. ^ are 4. CHAPTER, Ixxi rrow island. Jinge. The brd deeper five to thirty er. is ii verj I, as is found The tract Biy diflerent may be sup- by a iia rural since which eposited the are wanting irs now well int has been the northern ilong this al- [ater, and its arais des Sa- ute clay, un- the sunken le salt lake V brackish- to some of 3il, compact '^ forming a le river, and V lands are Dnsiderable es in above, and affirm It. It has o salt licks Although many of these licks, by digging, furnish .water, holding marine salt in solution, there»exists no reason for believing that any of them would produce nitre. Notwithstanding this low, alluvial tract appears in i all respects well adapted to the growth of the long r moss, or Spa»iish beard (tilansia) none is obtained in the thirty-third degree of latitude. The long leaf pine, frequently the growth of rich and even inundated land, is here in great abundance. The short leaf pitch pine, on the contrary, is general- ly found upon arid land and frequently in sandy and lofty situations. Some sand beaches and rapids are higher up; there ^ are cane brakes on both sides of the river. The ranes are small, but demonstrate that the water does not surmount the bank more than a few feet. The river here begins to widen. Its banks show the high land soil, with a stratum of three or four feet of alluvion deposited by the river upon it. Their superstratum is greyish and very sandy, with a small admixture of loam, indicative of the poverty of the up- land and mountains in which the river rises. At the distance of a few miles is the confluence of the little Atipouse, on the left hand. The navigation of the Washita is much impeded by numerous rapids and shoals. Coal mines are to be found on the north west side ©fthe river, at the distance of one mile and a half from its banks, and a saline was discovered by Dr. Hunter, in 1804. It is situated at the bottom of the bed of a deep gully. The surrounding land is rich and well timber- ed, but subject to inundation; except an Indian mound, having a base of eighteen or one hundred fleet in diameter and twenty feet high. After diggings i'll '^m I 1: '' " ! ^m. ixxii FRKLIMINARY about three feet, through the clay, he came to quick sand from which the water Howeil in abundance. Its taste was saU and bitter, resembling that of" sea water. In a second hole, it required him to dig six feet before he reached the quick sand : in doing which, he struck several pieces of Indian pottery. The brine yielded a solid mass, by evaporation, of ten quarts or hall a pound in weight, when dry. It is, therefore, of the !5ame strength, as the "ater of the ocean on our coast, and twice that of the famous lick in Kentucky, called Bullet's lick, and Mank's lick, from which so much salt is made. The part of the state lying north of Red river is interspersed with numerous lakes and water courses, and presents every variety of soil, from the low inun- dated land, to the highest hills in Loiiisiana. As in the lower region of the Mississippi, the margin of the rivers if. (with the exception of a few tracts of high cane brake land) higher than that in the rear, taking a soutlierndirection with that noble stream. The shores ■oi lake Providence, the first high land that presents itself, are about three miles west frona the river. That lake is evidently an ancient bed of the Missis- sippi; about thirty six miles due south, lake St. Jo- seph presents the same appearance. On Bruine's bay- ou, twelve miles south, part of the banks are sufficient- ly high for cultivation. Lake St. John is not far from Concordia. The shores of both these lakes are part- ly cultivated ; their features indicate also that they formerly were beds of the Mississippi. From Con- cordia to the mouth of Red river, the land descends suddenly from the banks into what makes a part of the Mississippi swamp. The first water course oi any importance running west of and ui a nearly par- allel course with the Mississippi is the river Tensa CHAPTER. Ixxiii me to quick idance. lis of sea watpr. ( feet before ;h, he struck riiie yielded irts or hall efore, of the on our coast, ucky, called ich so much Red river is iter courses, the low iiiun- iana. As in Qargin of the racts ofhigh ear, taking a The shores hat presents river. That he Missis- lake St. Jo- kuine's bay- e suificient- not far from es are part- :;o that they From Con- iid descend* es a part ol course of nearly par- river Tensa which uniting with the bayou Mason runs into the Wa- ahita. The Tensa and Mason might easily be made navigable for steam boats, which have already ascen- ded ihe Tensa upwards of thirty miles. In the upper part of those rivers, the land is high in many places, chieHy on the Mason ; the land is rolling, far above high water mark, but not sufficiently elevated to merit the appellation of hills. Beautiful specimens of cal- careous spath have been brought from that part of the country, found in ploughing. In the lower part of those streams the land is low and unfit lor cul- tivation. Between the Mississippi and the Tensa, bayous intersect the swamp, always running west or aouthwestwardly; lakes, joined the one to the other by those bayous, are scattered over it. The great est part of those lakes becomes dry at low water, and in a dry autumn, except those which were formerly beds of the Mississippi. These retain invariably a considerable quantity of water. The same observa- tion applies to the country between the Mississippi and Black river, which empties into Red river thirty miles above its mouth. When the Mississippi rolls on its full tide, those bayous, receiving an immense addi- tion from its waters, run with the rapidity of torrents; chiefly at their issue from the Mississippi into the Tensa and river Aux Boeufs, mixing their waters with the VVashita and Black river, and carrying back in- to its bosom by Red river, what it had yielded to them above. The head waters of the Tensa are at or near lake Providence ; the Mason heads higher up and wester- The next river west of these is the Aux Boeufs, thus called by the first hunters (French) on account of the innumerable herds of buffaloes which then roamed in th« large prairies bordering its banks. That river M I •.'^1 h \ :':|i' '<# ,1 'I', .^li*. \l%'iv I'KELIIVlIirAKY has its rise not far north of the thirty-third degree of latitude, in the territory of Arkansas. The middle part of its course presents high rich land ; it gets low- er towards its mouth, near which it is overflowed to the Washita river. Between river Aux Boeufs and the Mason the land is low, with here and there a tract of high rich soil. West of river Aux Boeufs, Barthelemy river, (often called bayou) is a considerable stream ; it heads in the territory of Arkansas, and empties into the Wa- shita, thirty miles by water above the town of Mon- roe, the only re-union ot houses or hamlets in the par- ish of Washita. The land on that bayou is high on both sides; its water pure, and its current brisk, even at the lowest stage of water. It is navigable f©r barges or batteaux, and could be rendered fit for steam boat navigation at a small expense. Among the numerous water courses, which either are or could easily be made a medium of water communication, from the Mississippi to the northwestern part of the state, it will ultimately be this river, which will be Ibund to afford the best, the easiest and the most important. Among the numerous creeks and bayous which car- ry their tribute to the Washita river, bayou Louie ought not to be forgotten ; it is not on account of the extent of its course, but on account of the land on its borders or adjacent thereto. It comes out of a lake of the same name, the western and northwestern banks of which are inhabited, being high and fertile. That lake and bayou, the Washita, river Aux Boeufs and Turkey creek surround the high land, called Si- oily Island. In it are found high hills, generally much broken, containing sand stones and some silex in peb- bles; that spot is the most remarkable for being the only one covered with slight hills between the Missis- sippi and Washita, and also, because it appears to ^:i:.:;: OHAPTER. Ixxy bird degree The middle ; it gets low- verllowed to L Boeuts and and there a river, (often ; it headB in iito the Wa- own olMon- s in the par- )U is high on Trent brisk, is navigable idered fit for ae. Among are or could ication, from of the state, be Ibund to mportant. s which car- )ayou Louis ount of the he land on es out of a jrthwestern and fertile. Aux Boeufs I, called Si- orally much ilex in peb- r being the the Missis- appears to have been among the first inhabited by the French, who settled in Louisiana, who probably abandoned it at the epoch of the massacre by the Natchez Indians. It is about thirty miles from Concordia, in a west by north direction. French axes have been found there, canon balls, even mill stones and iron tools much dis- figured by liist, but evidently of French manufacture. The next stream, to which all those mentioned above, are tributary is the Washita ; that river has its source in the territory of Arkansas, in the rocky Mountains. In the vicinity of its head waters are found the celebrated warm springs. It runs almost parallel with the Mississippi. At the mouth of the Tensa, Little riverorCatahoula river, arrives from ihe west. The Washita, running between the two, takes their additional supply at the same place,in its course, but there loses its name : from this place to its junc- tion with Red river, during a meandering course of about iVixty miles, it assumes the name of Black river, an appellation probably derived from the colour of the soil through which it runs; the fertility of which often induced emigrants to settle on its banks : but they are too low; very few years elapse without leeing them inundated; they are now deserted. Many bayous emp y their waters into Black river, all rising in the Mississippi swamp, and at high water communicating with that noble stream. The largest is bayou Crocodile, which comes out of lake Concor- dia : when its current is considerable, the largest kind of canoes, have navigated it to Black river. The Washita is navigable for steam boats of any burthen during six or eight months in the year, as tar as the town ofMonroe, a distance of about two hun- dred and forty miles from its mouth, or as it is there called the mouth of Black river. Steam boats of up- wards of one hundred and fifty tons have ascended it A '!:\ •(. : r i; 1 iirl .1 1 I'U w \xxvi FRELIMINARY more than two hundred miles above Monroe. Fro» its mouth to the Mississippi, the hanks of Red river are low, and during high water oflTer nothing to the eye but an immense sea covered with forests. The features of the country, west of Washita river, are very different from those of the eastern side : be- tween Washita and Red river, extensive pine hills, some of which are several hundred feet high, cover the surface of the earth, nearly as far south as the mouth of Little river, with the exception of the bot- totns of creeks; some of which are fertile and above inundation — others, chiefly near their mouth, covered with water at every great swelling of the stream. On that side, the Mississippi has no effect; no power, there ceases itsdominion, except occasionally when at the highest stage, it recedes on Red river, and Black river, and consequently such of their tributary streams, the entrance of which are situated low enough to be affected by this retrograde motion. Such is Little river, which runs through a lake called Catahou- la, almost dry at low water, and which could be naviga- ted by crafts of heavy burthen, when the adjacent low land is inundated. That river has its head waters about thirty mile south of the 33d degree of N. latitude ; its northernmost branch originates at 32 degrees and 35 seconds; it then takes the name of Pogdemene and forms the boundary between Washi- ta and Natchitoches parishes. It retains that name to its junction with the bayou or rather creek Castor, thence it is called Little river, in the same manner as the Tensa, Washita and Little river, uniting at one poijit, form Black river. The country, through which Little river (some times called Catahoula river) runs, wears not a uniform as- pect, sometimes reaching between hills bluffs and banks, then strongly dragging its waters through .1 t ■• c;ha»'TER. hxvii )e. Frowa Red river ng to the ts. jhita rivert side : be- pine hills, igh, cover ith as the [)f the bot- and above 1, covered earn. On no power, \y when at and Black tributary ow enough Such is ICatahou- be naviga- adjacent its head 3 degree gi nates at le name of n Washi- it name to k Castor, e manner ng at one s lands inundated from one and a half to three miles on O'H'h side; in some instances, it llows through rich bolfoms, not subject to inundation. Its navigation could be easily improved, and no doubt will be so. when its banks are more thickly settled. .Several largo creeks flow between Washita and Little river, formed by innumerable branches, a great proportion of which are never failing springs; they only swell by rains: the water ruruiing with rapidity from the hills, subsides a few hours after the rain ceases. But tew countries can boast of being better •upplif>d with good water than the tract bounded north by the 3.3d degree of latitude west, by the Dog- demene. south by Catahoula lake and Little river, and east by the Washita river. That country is covered with hills, some of which are very good land, especial- ly about the head waters of baj'ouD'Arbonne a large creek, which empties into the Washita about seven miles above iMorn'oe. Between its mouth and that place, the bayou Siard. has its entrance i*ito the river. It may not be amiss to observe here in order to find the true meaning of the words bayoue and creeks, in the state of Louisiana; the early French settlers in Louisianacalled bayous, small bays; any waier course, which at its mouth and even higher up did appear like stagnating water, was called, bay- ou, a dimiimtive of bay. The appellation would becorrectly given to all water courses, having hardly any current, or the current of which would run some times to, and some times from, the river; as it is the case with a great many in this section of the state. When the river is lower than the low lands, those bayous run into the river: when those lands are dry and the river rising, they run from it with equal veloci- ty. Those low lands arelikr reservoirs; did they not exist, lower Louisiana could not be inhabited ; itr I'i h n; 1-Ji I Uxviii PRELIMINARY would yet be part of the dominion of the sea; they retain an immense quantity of water, which could be calculated, had we an accurate map ol the 8tate,8how- ing miiiutely ail the land overflowed and to what depth. The name of creek could be given (although its true signification is nearly the same as the one ex- pressed by bayou before) to all water courses run- ning with some velocity and always in the same direc- tion. Thus without any further explanation and by the bare inspection of a map, it would be under- stood, what sort of stream is delineated and even the elevation of the land it runs through. Thus we would say bayou Siard, Barthelemy creek or river, creek D'Arboime until it meets the overflow, thence bayou D'Arbonne, kc. kc. The bayou Siard has two entrances, one into Bart- helemy, about six miles east from its mouth, the other into Washita river, mentioned before. It runs to and from that river, according to the stage of waters in either stream; it is navigable for barges some dis- tance from the river and could be easily made so for steam boats ; on the hills between Washita and Dogdemene, are occasionally very sandy stones, strongly impregnated with oxid of iron, siliceous pro- bably. Plaster of Paris is found at a distance of about ninety miles below Monroe, and near the Washita, a few lime stones are scattered on the hills adjacent to those containing plaster of Paris. In the same vicinity and in the deep curbs formed by the swifl run- ning branches, have been found petrified shells of several kinds of bivalves, also of belemitaand cornua mmmonis. The land between Catahoula lake. Little river. Black river and the lower part of Red river is almost ao uninterupted overflow, not quite as low as the Mis- sissippi swamp, which is in many instances more than CHAPTKK. Ixxtx. be uiider- J evei) the we would ver, creek [ice bayou into Bart- . the other uns to and waters in some dis- ade so for shita and \y stones, :eou8 pro- e of a bout Washita, adjacent the same swift run- shells of id cornua ver, Black almost ao the Mis- nore than twenty feet below high water mark ; some lakes or poiHJs are scattered over that country. Those ponds are nothing more than overflowed land, without any timber. Several inundated (ai high water) prairit^s more elevated than these ponus, arc met with in this section of the state, always near the rivers, and often on their banks, particularly in the lower parts of Wnshita and Bceuf rivers. Prairies never covered with water and bordering the banks of Washita higher up, existed formerly, such as prairie de Lait, (yet considerable) prairie du Manoir, de Brin d'a- mour,de3 Chiccts,desCanots, (where Monroe is built) (names all nearly forgotten) prairie Chatellerault, prairie Bonde, on Barthelemy river. These are now cultivated, or covered with timber; a circumstance which never fails taking place as soon as the borders of the prairies are settled. Those named Merrouge, Galleer, Jefferson, alias 4th Prairie, are situated far from the river, about east north east, thirty miles from Monroe. Higher up, on the bayou Barthelemy, are several prairies of high but not first rate land ; they are not yet inhabited. In the parish of Catahoula, ihe prairie of that name about fifteen miles south west from Catahoula courthouse, called also Harrisonburg, is some time inundated. It seems to have been former- ly part of the lake of the same name. Prairie des Bois, south south east from Monroe, nine miles distant, is also subject to inundation. Another kind of prairie not so necessary, are those found on the summit of the hills — prairie des Cotes is one of that description. It lies almost due south, rather westerly, from Monroe, distant thirty-six miles in a straight course ; the land there is poor, but, like those mentioned above afford very good pasturage for cattle. The direction of the hills between Washita and Dogdemene is rather from north to south, as far as bavoii Castor; thev after- ..t; n .f ;ii! 11 -^ ' } .HI* m ? :l!i ixxx PRELIMINARY wards generally run from rast to west. The valleys, which separate them, are evidently Ihe work of the watercourses, thedireciions of which are alwaysfrom about north to south, the hills appearing to Ibliow that cour8e,areatthe lowest end but very short, and at a bird's eye view, have the appearance of having been thrown together in that manner by the waves of the sea, which probably, at some remote period, roiled over this wliole tract of country. The settlements of Opelousas are separated from those of Red river, by a ridge of piny and sterile hills. These are succeeded by extensive prairies, which continue, without any important interruption, as tiaras the sea. They are almost entirely destitute of trees, except along the water courses : so much so, that when a cluster of trees is accidentally met with, it is called an island. The facility these prairies offer in raisii'g cattle, had induced the original settlers of Opelousas and Attakapas to prefer the pastoral to the agricultural life. Those who followed them, were invited by rich spots of land on the water courses, to the cultivation of indigo and afterwards cotton, bC' sides corn, rice and other provisions The town, near the parochial church of Opelousas, dedicated to St. Landry, has not the advantage of standing upon navigable water; and this circum- stance has contributed to check its growth. It has a branch of the Louisiana bank. At a few miles below it, is a convent of nuns, the inmates of which devote themselves to the education of young persons of their sex. This establishment is a new one, and entirely due to the piety of a lady of the neighbourhood. The upper part of the settlements of Attakapas, which he between Opelousas and the sea. difler very little from the former. Emigrants from the other t CHAPTER. Ixxxi states, having settled on the land near the sea, have giveji themselves to the culture of the sugar cane, and meet with jjreat success. There fire ivvo towns in the Attakapas — St. Martins, ville and FVaiiklin. on the river Teche, which rises in the Opelousas. The first, though not con- siderahlf. fias a weekly gazette, and a hranch ot'llie state bank, a church and the other public build- ings of the pariish. The other is as yet an embryo. The Spaniards made an abortive attempt to estab- lish a town, called New Iberia, about sixteen miles below St. Martinsville. The prairies in this part of the state are not natural ones : they owe their oi igin to the Indian practice of Betting tire to dry grass during the fall and winter, in order that the tender herbage, in the spring, may attract game ; this destroys young trees and the prai- rie annually gains on the woodland, as long as the practice prevails. When it ceases, the woodland gains on the p'rairie. To the west is a collection of houses on Vermilion river, near the public buildings of the parish of La- fayette. Towards the sea, near the base of the delta formed by bayou Latburche and the Mississippi, are a num- ber of lakes, the principal of which are Barat^ria and Salvador. Of the streams that fall into the gulf, west of the mouth of the Mississippi, the most important are Latourche, Achafalaya, Teche, Mentao, Calcasu and Sabine. All the space between these streams, near the gulf, is , interspersed with trembling prairies, lagoons and numerous bayous. Them are, however, many spots ot high ground; but the difficulty of access and distance from inhabited tracts have prevented migra- tionto them. l ^1 '. . u 'yv V'. m 4' !-l 'O.: 1^ 1,1 ; N ■■ ■■ . ■<'i V *• -t-IH Ixxxii PRELIMINARY The Teche has its source in the prairies, in the tipper part of the settlements ot Opelousas and, dur- ing the season of hiiifh water, flows partially into the Courtableau. As it enters the settlements of Atla- kapas, it receives from the i ighl side bayou Fusili«T, which bayou Bourbeux connects with Vermilion river. A little more than twenty miles fan her, it passes before thetown of St. Martinsville and reac;hes, fifteen miles after, the spot on which tho Spaniards, soon after the cession, made a vain altornpt to estab- lish a city to which the name of ^pw Iberi:! uas des- tined ; twenty miles, from the moutli olthe Teche, is the town of Franklin. Above St. Martinsville, cotton is universally culti- vated on the banks of the Tec'lie: belou it. aro a number of sugar plantations, wljich succeed remarka- bly well. The low price of cotton has of late inv'ith four luiiidred foot and eighty horse, lie landed near the bay del Spiritr Santo, called, in modern times, the bay ot Tampa, llif Indians cheerfully supplied him with corn and other provisions. He landed a part of his forc^ and took solemn possession of the country, in the name of his imperial master. Noticing, at this ceremony, a cymbal of ^old, in the hands of an Indian, his hope of securing a large quantity of this metal was greatly excited. He was told that the Apalachians, a nation not far distant, had much ol it. Under the iniluence of the excitement which the information created, he putthe shipping under the orders of Cabecade Vacca, with directions to sail along the coast ; he landed the rest of his force, and marched up the country the last day of May. On the next, he crossed a river, on the banks of which was a town, where the In- dians supplied him with provisions. He ranged the country for several days, without meeting a human being; at last he overtook a chief preceded hymen blowing flutes, and followed by a large party. He gave them to understand, he was going towards the Apalachians ; the chief told him these Indians were at war with his nation : Narvaez travelled with him to his village, in which he was hospitably enter- tained. Proceeding, he reached on the 25th the first village of the Apalachians, which consisted of about forty cabins. He took possession of it with- out opposition, and found corn, venison and skins ; but no metal. He sojourned near tliis village for several days, making occasional excursions into the country; during which, he had frequent skirmishes with the natives, who darted their arrows at his people and hid themselves in the swamps. At last destitute of provisions, seeing nothing but a sterile country and unpassable roads, he determined on 1634] rilK FIRST. marching towards the soa, ami loaclu'd Aulc, an Indian town, not tar distant from the spot on wliich thr Spaniards afterwards erected the fort of St. Mark of the Apalaehes. The Indians followed on the flanks of their invatlers, harrassiiig tiiem at times by clouds of arrows. Their countrymen at Aute, strongly dclended themselves and killed a number of Spaniards. Cabeca de Vacea approached the coast, and Narvnez and his men took hipping; but the greatest part perished through fatigue, hunger, disease and shipwreck. Those who escaped these complicated disasters, reached Kio dc; Falma. Nar- vaez was not among them ; his vessel foundered in a storm and he never was heard of. Francis, having married his rival's sister, and reteas- ed his sofis, detained as hostages in Spain, availed himself of the tranquillity that follow ed the peace of Cambray, to resume his plan of adding a part of America to -his dominions. For this purpose, he directed two barques of sixty tons, with one hundred and fifty men, to be fitted out at St. Maloes, and gave the command of them to Cartier, who sailed on the 30th of April 1534. He reached Bonavista in the island of Newfound- land in twenty days, crossed the gulf and entered a bay, which from the extreme heat at the time, he called Chaleur bay ; it is a little to the south of the mouth of the river St. i.awrence. Two sailors (the wretched remnant of the crew of a Spanish ship, which had been wrecked there) were wandering on the beach, when Cartier's boat approached. The French inquired what country they were in ; one ot the Spaniards, who, being pressed by hunger, ima- gined he was asked whether there was any thing to eat, replied, Aca nada; " there is nothing here." The French in the boat, on retinninir to Cartier. \1: H I: r ! .%. Mr ,1^, *■''' IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I I.I 11.25 l^|2.8 ■so *^" if 1^ 12.0 2.5 iiiii U ill 1.6

r)ti ij.j m «"■ V..- ;« J* V Edwanl 1 160'.'1 THE 11 RSI »i' iipb at whom and a eighed and rn lati- tude?, near a vi\\H\ to wliii'h lir gave the narn«* oi' Cap Frmu^uds: \\ is one ol (ho promontories ol ihr estuar) on which the (own of St. Aii^usliiu' now stands. He luiuh'd on the hanks ol' tlie rivtM* St. iVhiry, which now s(»|);iriilrs Georgia from I'Morichi. He caUed it the river of iVhiy, troni the eircumstance of his enter- ing on the lirsl d.iy of lliat month. Tlie hidiann recM'ived him with much hospitality, fie erected a coluimi on the hinks of the stream, and affixed to it an escutcheon of the armorial of France, in token of his having taken solemn possession of the country. After a short Ht,iy, he proceeded northerly to an island, at the mouth of Edisto river, in the priesent state of South Carolina. He called this stream the great river, a fort which he erected on the island Charles's Fort, or Arx Carolina^ and the place, before which he anchored, Port Royal ; an appellation, which it retains at this day. Having settled his colony around it, he placed Albert at the head of the colonists, and returned to France. Although he had been very friendly received by the natives, he in vain endeavoured to prevail on some of them to accompany him. Albert visited the Indian tribes near the fort, and found them all disposed to live on the most friendly terms with the whites. These were more anxious to ramble over the country, in search of mines of the precious metals, than to till the earth; and the stock of provisions left by Ribaud, although conside- rable, was at last exhausted. This chief, on his arrival in France, had found his countrymen dis- tracted by a civil war, and his patron out of favour at court, so that he was unable to procure for the colony the needed supplies he had come after. For awhile, Albert procured relief from the natives; corn and peas Avere obtained in tolerable abun- I ^iil 20 tHAPTEU [1564 tlance; but fire consumed the building in which \he succour had born stored. The Indians became unable or uiiwiUing to minister to the encreasing wants of the colonists. The distress, attending the penury that followed, heightened the discontents which the ill conduct or misguided severity of Al- bert had excited, and the colonists rose against and slew their chief Nicholas Barre was called by the insurgents to the supreme command. They had ascertained that there was no gold mine near them, and thought it preferable to return to the old world, than to seek a scanty and precarious subsistance by labour, in the new. Unanimity strengthened their efforts ; a ves- sel was built and corked with Spanish beard ; ropes were made of grass, and sails, with the tents, bags and linen cloth that remained ; but as famine drove them from the land, the stock of provisions they carried to sea, was not abundant; calms retarded their progress; they were reduced to a scanty ration of eighteen grains of corn a day to each man ; and the moment came when there was not a single grain to deal out. Lots were cast, and the wretch point- ed out by chance, tamely submitted his neck to the butcher's knife, to appease the hunger of hie companions. Soon after this, they were met by an English ship, which enabled them to reacli France. Coligriy had been restored to favour, and he did not solicit in vain his sovereign's aid, for the prose- cution of his plan to settle a colony in Florida. TInee ships were fitted out at Havre de Grace ; and L udonriiere to whom the command of them was given, sailed on the twenty second of April, 1564, and landed on the shores of the river St. Mary, near the monument, erected two years before by Ribaud, ,irr * » 1665] THE FIRST. SI as an evidence of his having taken possession of the country around it, in the name of Charles the nintTi. The Indians manifested great joy, at the arrival of the French, and led Laudonniere to the column. He directed a fort to be built, on the southern bank of the stream, and called the country Caroline, in honor of his king. Parties of his men went in dif- ferent directions, to explore the country. The In- dians, discovering that the precious metals were the main object of the pursuit of the whites, played on their credulity, amused them with fanciful stories and pointed to the wes^ard, as the part of their country, in which mines of gold could be found. No success attended a search for metals ; but a ship arrived from France, laden with provisions. Laudonniere's administration did not please the colonists. A mutiny er)sued, but its consequences were not so fatal to the chief, as the former- had been to his predecessor. Some of the mutineers possess- ed themselves of two barques, which Laudonniere had caused to be constructed, and sailed on a pi- ratical cruize down the canal of Bahama, towards the Havana. On the third of August, in the following year, Sir John Hawkins, a renowned English navigator, visit- ed Caroline, with four vessels. Laudonniere ob-. tained one of them, and made preparations to sail in her for France. He was near his departure, when, on the twenty -fifth a small fleet, was descried approaching the coast. It consisted of seven sail, and was commanded by Riband. Complaints against Laudonniere had been made to the King; he was represented as oppressing the men under him, and it had been strenuously urged, that, unless he was recalled, there was much ground to apprehend that the garrison would redress their own wrongs, in the i^^l : •. ; M - ., m _ ■\''t^ 1* : t vX 11 ' '*^ f ,, " ',>^ \' ' , ■ ■'' ' > .t, 'ii .*■',■: >'i , ' i *.y' :l! ' : ' »i :}• m- "if \ 1 i ■ illi s^ CHAPTER [1665 same manner as the former colonists had redress- ed theirs. Ribaud was accordirjgly appointed governor oi" Caroline, and instructed to send his predecessor home. Contrary winds compelled the fleet to seek shelter successively in the ports of Havre de Grace and Portsmouth; it had sailed from the latter towards the middle of June, and the pas- sage had been tedious. Ribaud had hardly deliver- ed the minister's despatches to Laudonniere, when a Spanish fleet hove in sight. Philip the second, apprised of the progress of the French in Caroline, had oiidered a fleet to be equip- ped at Cadiz, under the orders of Don Pedro Menen- dez^ for the purpose of destroying their colony. Don Pedro had sailed on the twenty-ninth of June. At the departure of Ribaud from France, notice of the preparations making at Cadiz had reached Pa- ris, and although the object of them was not known, an attack on Caroline was suspected. He was, therefore, instructed, whilst he was charged, to at- tempt nothing against the rights of the Spanish King, to resist any encroachment, on those of his own sove- reign. Don Pedro landed near the mouth of a stream, which the French had called the river of the dol- phins, to which he gave the name of St. Augustine, who, on the day of his arrival was honored in the Romish Church ; it is now known by that of St. John. He took formal possession of the country in Philip's name, and gave orders for the immediate erection of a fort. Ribaud thought it best to set sail, and attack the Spanish fleet, before the land forces could be put a shore, and invest the French fort. Leaving therefore a few men with Laudonniere, he took in all the rest, and hoisted sail. A violent storm overtook and dispersed his vessels, and drove t\ ' -■1 :^.'. 1 ■ ■>-■'■ I' [1566 dress- ointed id his jd the rts of 3 from le pas- eliver- vhen a of the equip- denen- Don le. At tice of ed Pa- known, [e was, ^ to at- King, n sove- itream, 16 dol- ustine, in the of St. ntry in lediate et sail, forces h fort, ere, he violent drove 1565] THE FIRST. 25 several of them on shore. In the meanwhile, the Spanish chief had landed his troops and marched to- wards the fort. He reached it, on the nineteenth of September, before sun rise. The weather was foggy, and the Spaniards were in the fort, while several of the French were still in bed. An immediate slaugh- ter began. But Laudonniere, with a few of his men, eflfected his escape, on board of a vessel, in which they sailed for France. Don Pedro now went in quest of Ribaud; he found him at anchor; after a parley of twenty-four hours, the French chief surrendered his vessels and the men under his orders. Two hundred soldier* or sailors, having refused to yield themselves priso- ners, escaped during the night, and marched through the woods southerly. Notwithstanding his pledged faith, Don Pedro caused all such of his prisoners as were protestants to be hung or slaughtered. The Catholics, who were in a small number indeed, were spared. The bodies of those who were hung were left on the trees along the shore; and an inscription was set up announcing they were hung " not as French, but as heretics." Laudonniere's fort was repaired and garrisoned, and it, as well as the river on which it stood, was called San Matheo, after the saint, the festival of which was celebrated in Spain, on the day on which Don Pedro entered the stream. A strong party was sent after the men, who part- ed from Ribaud, the night preceding his surrender ; they were overtaken at a place, afterwards called by the Spaniards, Punta de Canaveral, in the 28th degree of latitude, and made prisoners. Six hundred French are reckoned to have fallen victims to the cruelty of the Spaniards, whose force, at the end of this tragedy, is said to have been re- t m rim 1 'M u CHAPTER [1567 duced to four hundred, who were divided between the forts of San Matheo and St. Augustine. This is the first act of hostihty, between European nations in the new worhh Charles the ninth, took no measure to avenge tlie murder of his proteslant subjects. The apathy of the monarch, of the court and the nation, excited the valiant spirit of Dominique de Gourgues, of Pont Marsan, in the province of Gascony. Having sold his patrimony, aided by two of his friends, he equip- ped three vessels in the port of Bordeaux, engaged two hundred men to accompany him, and left the Garronne on the second of August 1567. Ars he approached the river of San Matheo, the Spaniards mistaking his vessels, for some of their nation, fired a salute. De Gourgues, unwilling to undeceive them, returned the compliment, and passed on. He landed at the mouth of the river then called the Seine, now Alatamaha. With the neighbouring In- dians, who ran to the shore on the approach of the vessels, came some of Laudonniere's men, who had found a refuge in their towns. By their assistance, De Gourgues was enabled to converse with the na- tives, who greatly dissatisfied with their new neigh- bours, offered to join him, if he would dislodge the Spaniards. De Gourgues told them his voyage had not been undertaken with any hostile intention; but, if the Indians desired it, he was ready to assist them in getting rid of their unwelcome neighbours. He was informed that besides the fort at San Matheo and St. Augustin, the Spaniards had a third, which they called St. Helen, at a small distance to tlie south of the second; and their effective force, in the three, was about four hundred men. A number of warriors, from the more distant tribes. .. . • I5«7] THE FIRST. tii came and joined those from the sea shore, who had put themselves under De Gourgues. The combined army was soon in the neighbour- hood of the northernmost fort. De Gourgues sent some of his allies to form a cordon around it, into the woods ; he went after them, accompanied by a considerable part of his men, whom he placed as near the edge of the woods as could be, without be- ing seen by the enemy ; while the rest of his force, in a small body, approached slowly in front, and halted out of the reach of the artillery of the fort. On their being perceived by the Spaniards, a strong detach- ment sallied out to attack them. De Gourgues then came forth, placing the detachment between him and the party they expected to attack. They were completely routed. He now turned against the fort, and the Indians contracting the circle, they had form- ed round it, rushed forward, giving the war whoop. The garrison, intimidated by ihis unexpected ma- noeuvre, became an easy prey. A great carnage ensued. A few Spaniards new to the woods, where they were pursued and despatched by the Indians. De Gourgues had the survivors hung on trees along the shore, with an inscription announcing they were thus treated " not as Spaniards, but as murderers." De Gourgues next marched against St. Augustine, and the other fort ; there were but fifty men in each ; they surrendered, and were not ill treated. The buildings were burnt and the forts dismantled. The French being too few in number to hold pos- session of the country, De Gourgues brought them back to France. He was obliged to conceal himself to avoid falling a victim to the resentment of Philip 11., who offered a large price for his head, and whose Ambassador, at Paris, demanded that he should be punished, for having waged war against a .1 1 ■■•■>, .» ' , V.' ft •,t,T 16. i ■■■ ■».!■' P- : vfll f '-3 hOV. 1. 2U CHAPTER [1574 loll prince in amity with his own sovereign. Thus are often the most heroic, useful and disinterested ser- vices, that an individual renders to his country, not only unrewarded, but the source of chagrin, distress and misery. Sic vos^ non vobis. During the remainder of the reign of Charles the ninth, the kingdom was distracted by the struggles of the Condes, the Guises and the Colignys ; so that the re-establishment of the French colony in Florida, was not attempted. Charles died on the thirtieth of May 1.574, at the age ot twenty-four, and was suc- ceeded by his brother, Heiiry the third. Elizabeth of England, who during her long reign, saw the crown of France on the heads of five kings, does not appear to have thought of the new world, till 1 .578. On the eleventh of June of that year, she authorised Sir Humphry Gilbert, by letters patent, to discover and take possession of such remote, hea- then and barbarous countries, as were not possessed by any christian prince or people. Sir Humphry was not successful in his attempt. He made no settlement, and his country gained no advantage, but the formal possession which he took of the island of Newfoundland. In his pursuit of farther advantages, he lost his fortune and his life. Henry the third does not appear to have turned his attention towards the western hemisphere, till the ninth year of his reign ; when he granted to the Marquis de la Roche, the powers which the Mar- quis de Robertval had enjoyed under Francis the first, and which Henry the second had granted to the former, w ho had been prevented by the distress- es of the times to avail himself of them. The grant is of the twelfth of January 1583. It states that the king, in compliance with the wishes of his predeces- sor, appoints the Marquis, his Lieutenant-General 1576] THE FIRST S7 in Canada, Hochelaga, Newfoundland, Labrador, the river of the great bay, (St. Lawrence) Norem- begue and the adjacent country. The condition of the grant is, that the grantee shall have in particular view, the extension of the catholic faith. His authority is declared to extend over persons in the land and sea service. He is to appoint the captains and officers of the ships, and they are to obey him ; he is authorised to press ships and to raise troops, declare war, erect fortifi- cations and towns, baronies, earldoms and fiefs of less dignity, to enact laws and punish those who break them. The exclusive commerce of the coun- try is granted him, and he is empowered, in case of death, or sickness, to appoint, by will or otherwise, one or more lieutenants, in his stead. The success of the grantee did not correspond to the extent of his powers. Desirous of visiting th& country, over which they were to be exercised, he fitted out a ship. The island of Sable, on which the Baron de Levy had stopped in 1508, was the first land he saw. He left on it forty wretches, whom he had taken out of the prisons of Paris. A Spanish ship had lately been cast on it; the timber, these men took from the wreck, enabled them to build huts. The cattle and sheep left by the baron had greatly multiplied, and afforded them meat. The Marquis from thence proceeded to the conti- nent, and explored the shores of the country, which was after called Acadie, and now Nova Scotia. He returned to France and died, without having been able to advance his interest or that of his country, by his grants. Sir Humphry Gilbert had a half brother, who makes a most conspicuous figure, in the history of the new world, and of England — Sir Walter Raleigh, who had taken an interest in the expedition tha< '■• T:-r ■ \-'^ v,l V ■ n ',ti ili|l ;1 ♦r 8» CIIAl'TEK (158^ followed the grant. To him, the Queen granted a new one, on the twenty-sixth of March, 1584. With- in a month from that day, the grantee equipped two vessels, which reached the northern continent of America, on the coast of the present state of North Carolina. They entered Pamplico sound, by Occa- cock inlet, and proceeded to Roanoke island. A short time was spent in exploring the country, and trafficking with the natives. On the return of the adventurers, their report greatly excited the hopes of their patron. The new discovered country was called Virginia, in honor of the maiden queen, and Sir Richard Grenville was despatched, to convey thither a small colony, which Sir Walter abundantly supplied with provisions, arm» and ammunition. Sir Richard landed one hundred and eight colo- nists, whom he left under the orders of Ralph. Lane^ after having visited the barren snores of Albemarle and Pamplico sounds. The English, like the French in Caroline, instead of employing their time in the tillage of the soil, wast- ed it in the search after ores. The stock of provisions brought over, not being renewed by agriculture, was exhausted ; and the colonists scattered themselves along the shore, in small parties, with the hope of finding a precarious subsistence in fishing and hunt- ing. Sir Francis Drake, returning in the following year from a successful expedition against the Spa- niards, (the first act of hostility of England against Spain, in the new world) visited Virginia; and at first determined on adding one hundred men to those under Ralph Lane, and leaving one of his vessels with them ; but, at last, at their request, he took him and his men on board of his fleet and carried them bad to England. Sir Richard arrived some time after, with three (689] THE FIRST. ti* vessels. Finding the country deserted, and desirous of keeping possession of it, he left as many of his men as he could spare, fifty in number, on Roanoke Island. Some time after his departure, these men ivere massacred by the natives. The ill success of Sir Walter Raleigh's attempt, did not discourage him. He fitted out three ships, in which a number of colonists embarked ; some women accompanied them; an ample supply of pro- visions was provided, and John White was placed at the head of the colony, with twelve assistants, who were to act as his council. On reaching the island of Roanoke, in the latter part of July 1587, they erected cabins for their accommodation during the winter, and made preparations for a crop in the spring, and in the following year, their chief crossed the Atlantic to solicit further aid from the knight. On his reaching England, he found the nation in great alarm, at the formidable preparations of the King of Spain for the invasion of the country, and. Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Richard Grenville, too much engaged, in providing the means of defending their country, to attend to the affairs of Virginia. Sir Walter, at last, assigned his patent to a company of merchants, at the head of whom was John Smith. On the first of August 1589, Henry the third of France fell, in his thirty-ninth year, under the knife of Jacques Clement, a fanatic priest. Ninety-six years had rolled away since the dis- covery of America, at the death of Henry, the last Monarch of the house of Valois. The French, the Spaniards and the English had made a number of attempts at colonization, on the northern continent; yet, besides a few soldiers, whom the Spaniards had sent to garrison fort St. Augustine, the few colo- nists left bv John White on Roanoke island, and the I ■ ^1 ^ if- .m ^'^■4 -;.y 'i Nil 30 CHAPTER [1589 forty, by the Marquis de la Roche, on Sable island, there was not an European, living under his national flag in North America, the northern part of which was now known to Europe under the appellation of Canada, the middle by that of Virginia, and the southern by that of Florida. Garcilasso de la Fega. — Laet. — Purchas, — Charlevoix, -r^Marshalt. 1.1801 THE SECONI) Si CHAPTER 11. .f The Bourbons. — Henry IV. — Philip III. — Pontgravf and Chauvin. — Trois rivieres. — Gosnuld. — Cape Cod. James I. — Commandciir de la Chatte. — Chnmplain. — Hochelaga. — Dumontz. — Jlcadie. — Port Rossignol — Port Mouton. — Penobscot. — Pentagoct. — Port Royal. Poutrincourt. — Earls of Southampton and Jlrnndel. — Captain Weymouth. — /// success of n colony sent to Acadie.—^Pontgravc sails with the colonists J or France ; he is met by Pontgrave and returns. — The Marchioness of Guercheville. — James'' patents to the northern and southern companies. — Jibortivc effort of the northern. — First attempt of the southern. — James Town. — Quebec. Expedition against the Iroquois Henry Hudson. — Chauvin. — JVew France. — Prosperous state of the co- lony. — Second expedition against the Iroquois. — Louis XIII. — Jesuits sent to Acadie. — Lake Champlain. — JVova Belgica. — JVew Amsterdam. — Lasausuie. — Aca- die. — La Heve. — Port Roval. — Becancourt. — St. Sau- veur. — Jlrgal drives the French from Jlcadie. — l^he Earl of Soissons. — Prince of Conde. — Montreal. — Company of St. Muloes. — JVew England. — Third ex- pedition against the Iroquois.-— They murder three Frenchmen, and plot the destruction of the colony. — Brother Pacific. — Marslial of Montmorency. — JVew Plymouth. — Philip IV. — Sir William Alexander. — First irruption of the Iroquois. — William and Edward de Caen. — Fort of Quebec Jesuits sent to Canada. — Charles I. — Swedish Colony. — Company of JVew France. — Kerlz. — Capture of a French fleet. — Fa- mine and dissmtions. — The capture of Quebec. — Sir Robert Heath. — Carolana. — A'ew Hampshire. — Peace of St, Germain. — Canada and Acadie restored ^ \1 '■■,' A 1 „ fex 'if i ■ vm ■'V m ' ■ ill vn 32 CHAPTER 1,1694 ^.: AT the (leuth of Henry the third, the house of ValoiH became extifiet. Its princes had occupied the French throne, for two hundred and sixty-one years ; the first king of that branch, having been Philip VI., who succeeded to Charles V. Henry of Bourbon, was the nearest, tho' a very distant, kins- man of the deceased monarch; their common ancestor being Louis IX., more commonly called St. Louis, who died in 1226. The assignees of Sir Walter Raleigh's patent, in March 1590, fitted out three ships, in which White embarked for Virginia. So mucn time was lost in a fruitless cruize against the Spaniards, that these vessels did not reach their destmation till the month of August. The colonists, whom White had left on Roanoke island, three years before, were no longer there, and every effort to discover them was fruit- less. No other attempt was made to find them, and the period and manner of their perishing was never known. A French vessel came to Sable Island, for the forty wretches, whom de la Roche had left there. Twenty-eight had perished; the survivors were taken back to France. Henry the fourth, the first king of France of the house of Bourbon, did not obtain at once the peace- able possession of the throne. He had been bred a protestant, and the catholics suspected the sin- cerity of his attachment to their faith, which he had embraced. He confirmed his power by the victories of Arque and Ivry, and to silence all opposition, pro- nounced his abjuration, and his adherence to the catholic faith, in St. Denys, before his coronation, and in the following year, the fifth since his prede- cessor's demise, the city of Paris opened its gates to him. 1602] TlIK HKCOND 8» Oil tlie thirfoontlj of SrplciiilMT l-OOH, the crown of Spniii, hy the dcjitli of Philip the second, in the seveiit)'-H('« '>'.() yvav of his a^e, panscd to U'ih son, liiihp the third. The revolution, which severed the Spiuiinh provinees in ♦In* low countries, from tlie dominions ot Spain, hevran m the latter part of the rei^dofthe dtt/'ased iiionarch ; and the war, which ended in tfie l)ej;ininnfj of tfie next, left the house of Nassau, in possession ./I these provinC'S. The loss of territory, thus sustained, was followed in the latter part of the life of Philip HI., by a considerable dimi- nution of population, through the ill advised expul- sion of the Moors. The attention of Henry the fourth, nor that of his subjects, does not appear to have been drawn to Ame- rica, till many years after his accession. Pontgrave, an experienced navigator of St. Maloes, who had for several years traded to Tadoussac, on the nor- thern shore of the river St. Lawrence, at a short distance below the spot on which the city of Que- bec has since been built, and Chauvin, a captain of the king's ships, who had obtained a patent, nearly eimilar to that of the Marquis do la Roche, made a voyage to Canada, in 1602. They proceeded up the river St. Lawrence, as far as the place, on which the city of Trois Rivieres now stands, where Pontgrave, wished to begin a settlement; but Chauvin, more anxious of promoting his interest, hy traffic with the Indians, than that of his country, by planting a co- lony, refused his consent. A few men, however, were left at Tadoussac, who would have perished, if the Indians had not relieved them. The English now kept pace with the French, in their endeavours to make a settlement in the new world. Bartholomew Gosnold, a bold navigator, departed from Falmouth, with thirty two men in a LOU. !, 5 :,;:; 34 CHAPTER [1602 barque, and sailing as nearly west as possible, made the continent on the eleventh of May of the same year, towards the forty-third degree of northern lati- tude. He gave the names, which they still bear, to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Elizabeth Islands, in the present state of Massachusetts; but no ac- count has reached us of his leaving arjy person be- hind. Indeed, the small number of men he took out, precludes any idea of it. On the third of May 1603, Queen Ehzabeth died in the seventieth year of her age, without issue, and was succeeded by James VI. of Scotland, the son of the unfortunate Mary Stuart. At the accession of the House of Stuart to the throne of England, there was not a single individual of the English or French nation in North America, living under the protection of his national flag. The Commander de la Chatte, who had acquired the rights of Chauvin, formed a company, chiefly composed of merchants of Rouen, to whom were joined several persons of distinction. It prepared an expedition, the command of which was given to Pontgrave, to whom Henry the fourth had granted letters patent, autliorising him to make discoveries and settlements, on the shores of the river St. Law- rence. Samuel de Champlain, an experienced sea- man, who makes a conspicuous figure in the history of the new world, accompanied him. They sailed in 1603. After a short stay at Tadoussac, they left the shipping there ; and proceeded, in a light boat, with five sailors to the rapids of St. Louis, or the Indian town of Hochelaga, which Cartier had visited sixty- eight yeai's before. They carried on some traffic with the natives, and joining the shipping, returned to France. w [1G02 made same •n lati- ear, to inlands, no ac- ion be- ok out, th died le, and son of to the ividual merica, quired chiefly n were 'epare'd ;iven to granted loveries )t. Law- ed sea- history y sailed left the at, with 3 Indian d sixty- 2 traffic eturned 004J THE SECOND. 96 Their patron, the Commandier de la Chatte, had died during their absence, and his powers had been vested by the king, in Pierre de Guard, Sieur du Monts, to whom had also been granted the exclusive trade, in furs and peltries from the 40th to the 50th degree of north latitude, with the authority of grant- ing land, as far as the 46th. He was also created Vice Admiral, and Lieutenant-General over that extent of country. He was allowed the free exer- cise of his religion (the Calvinist) in America, for himself and his people. He covenanted to settle the country, and establish the Roman Catholic reli- gion among the Indians. The grantee fitted out four vessels, one of which was intended for the fur trade, at Tadoussac. Pont- grave was directed to proceed with another to Can- ceaux, to sail through the canal between Royal Island and that of St. John, and to drive interlopers away. Dumontz intended to go to Acadie, with the other two. The expedition left Havre de Grace, the seventh of May 1604. In the following month, Dumontz entered a port of Acadie, in which he found a ves- sel trading, in violation of his exclusive privilege; he confiscated it, and gave the name of Rossignol (that of his master) to the port. He proceeded to ano- ther place, to which he gave the name of Port Mou- ton, from the circumstance of a sheep being drowned there. He landed his men here, and staid one month, while Champlain was exploring the coast. They afterwards proceeded to an island, to which the name of St. Croix was given. They there com- mitted some wheat to the ground, which succeeded amazingly. During the winter, the French suffered much for want of water. The difficulty they found in procur- ■; 1 m i.i ♦ «||U 1 1 ^ 1 ■••f' iW " ) ■' v.*'' ■ :Mn 36 CHAPTER [1604 ing a supply from the continent, induced them to use melted snow. This brought on tl^e scurvy, which made great havock among them. As soon as ihe weather grew moderate, Dumontz vent in search ot" a more favourable spot. He sailed along the coast, and up the rivers Penobscot and Pentagoct. Un- able to find a suitable place, he returned to the island, where he was soon met by Pontgrave. Des- pairing of success there, he moved his men to Port Royal. Pontgrave w.as so delighted with the place, that he solicited and obtained from Dumontz a grant of it, which was afterwards confirmed by the king. More attentive to acquire wealth by a trade in furs and peltries, than a subsistence by the culture of the soil, Pontgrave derived but little advantage irom his grant. In the autumn, Dumontz rphirnpd to France. The complaints of the merchants of Dieppe and St.. Ma- loes, who represented his privilege as destructive of the fisheries, from which these cities derived great advantages, induced the kinsr to revoke it. Undis- mayed by this untoward event, he prevailed on Pou- trincourt to fit out a ship for the relief of the colo- nists, at Port Royal. Acadie, had in the meanwhile, attracted the at- tention of the English. The earls of Southampton and Arundel fitted out a ship, the command of which they gave to Weymouth. He sailed from the Downs on the thirtieth of March 1605, and after a passage ot forty-four days , reached the continent between the forty-first and forty-second degrees of north lati- tude; coasting it northerly, he entered the river Penobscot, and ascended it upwards of sixty miles. The plans of his employers, were not agricultural ; the discovery of mines of the precious metals, and the purchase of furs and peltries, were the objects they had in view. After trafficking for awhile with ^■mp 1606] THE SECOND. tr- 3r m t the Indians, and setting up crosses (in token of hi$ having taken possession of the country) in different parts of Ihe banks of the river, he returned to Eng- land, carrying thither a Sagamore and five other chiefs. The ship, which Dumontz had induced Poutrin- court to fit out for Acadie, left La Rochelle, on the twelfth of May 1606; her passage was tedious. Left so long without assistance, the colonists began to despair. Pontgrave had used in vain his best ef- forts, to inspire them with confidence and patience. At last, unable to withstand their clamours any longer, he embarked with them for France ; leaving behind two men only, who willingly remained in the fort, to preserve the property, which the smallness of the only vessel he could procure prevented him from carrying away. He had not left sight of French bay, when he met a barque, by which he was informed of the arrival of Poutrincourt, at Canceaux. This induced him to retrograde, and on re-entering Port Royal, he found there Poutrincourt, who had passed between the continent and the island of Cape Breton. Abundance being thus restored to the colony, the chiefs gave their undivided attention to its security. Fortifications were erected, and land inclosed and cultivated. Employment checked idleness and its consequence, disease ; the friendship of the natives was secured, and the colony began to thrive. Du- montz' affairs in France, had not been equally pros- perous. He was unable to recover his privilege, and received a very trifling indemnification. He was at last permitted to exercise it, during one year ; at the expiration of which, it was to be enjoyed by the Marchioness of Guercheville, a lady of great distinc- tion, at the court of France; but, this favour was ^' 'f' ■■ uilUH ' ■' f 1*. * ' f; ^ '/m .;■* •'.: ' iTV ■■< . ' . ■ :.-^.t: 'i, v:v,'i! #.;■•■■;!' ■■, I: , f #■ • , ''1 111 m nil 38 CHAPTER [iGOt; y f burdened with the obligation of making a settlement on the banks of the St. Lawrence. His former friends had not abandoned him; but their object was not colonization, but traffic with the Indians. They fitted out two ships, which they placed under the orders of Champlain and Pontgrave, who were sent to trade at Tadoussac. In the meanwhile, a plan had been adopted in England, under the auspices of James the first, which was the origin of the extension of his domin- ions to the western hemisphere. Letters patent had been issued on the tenth of May 1606, granting to Sir Thomas Gates and his associates, the territo- ries in America, lying on the coast, between the thirty- fourth and forty-fifth degrees, either belonging to the king, or not possessed by any christian prince or people. The grantees were divided into two com- panies; The southern was required to settle between the 34th and 41st, and the northern between the 38th and 45th. But neither was to settle within one hun- dred miles from any establishment made by the other. The northern company fitted out a vessel the same year ; but she was taken by the Spaniards, who claimed the exclusive righ< of navigating the Ameri- can seas. During the next, they sent two vessels, in which were embarked about two hundred colo- nists, who were landed near Sagadehoc, in the fall. They erected a small fortification, to which they gave the name of Fort George. The winter was extremely severe. The leader, and some of the principal colonists, fell victims to the diseases, which the great cold produced. The rest, hearing of the death of their most infiuencial patron, by the vessel that brought them provisions in the spring, returned to England quite dispirited. 1 608 J THE SECOND. in The southern company was more fortunate. Its first expedition consisted of a vessel of one hundred and twenty tons, and two barques, which besides their crews, carried one hundred and fifty colonists. The command of it was given to Newport. It sailed from the Thames, on the nineteenth of December 1606, and did not enter the bay of Chesapeake, till the seventeenth of April following. It proceeded up the river, then called Powhatan, but to which New- port gave the name of James river, on the shores of which, was laid the foundation of the oldest town of English origin, now existing in the new world ; it was called James Town. St. Augustine in Florida, and Port Royal in Acadie, now Annapolis of Nova Sco- tia, are the only towns on the northern continent, which, in point of antiquity, rightly claim the prece- dence of it. About fifteen months after, on the third of July 1608, Champlain laid, on the northern -shore of the St. Lawrence, the foundation of the city of Quebec, at the distance of three hundred and sixty miles from the sea. The place was called by the Indians Que- becio, a word indicating a narrowed place; the width of the stream there diminishing from three to one mile, while about thirty miles below, it expands to twelve and fifteen. Champlain was joined here, in the spring, by Pont- grave. Parties of the Hurons, Algonquins and Mon- tagnez, were preparing for an expedition against the Iroquois, and he was induced to accompany them. He imagined, that aided by these three nations, who were numerous, and had a strong in- terest to unite with him, he would be able succes- sively to subdue all others ; but he was ignorant that the Iroquois, who kept in awe every Indian, within a circle of three hundred miles, were about to be sup- %"•>. * , , '#■ '•;y m M A +1 ■ .( : '. "i'l ■l'|.>1 1 '■■•m f; % tt) CHAPTER [1608 ported by an European nation, jealous of the pro- gress of his own in Canada. This year Henry Hudson, an English seaman, in the service of the Dutch East India Company, sent to seek a northwest passage to China, discovered the river which still bears his name, tho' sometimes called the North river, and now separates the states of New York and New Jersey. Champlain, ascending the St. Lawience, entered the river, to which the name of Sorel was afterwardg ^iven, in the company of his red allies. They went up this stream, as far as its rapids, near the place now called Chambly. Here, finding it impossible to proceed farther in their boats, they marched along the shore ; the Indians bearing on their shoulder^ their bark canoes, which alone could now be of any use. A few days after, towards sun set, they perceived the camp of the Iroquois. The allied army, having taken some slight precaution, went to rest. Before dawn, Champlain placed two Frenchmen in the woods, that they might, as soon as light beamed, fall on the flank of the enemy. The Algonquins and Hurons were divided into two bands. AH were armed as the foe, with bows and arrows ; but great reliance was placed in the fire-arms of the French, to whom it was recommended to take good aim at three Iroquois chi<*is, whom high leathers, decora- ting their heads, rendered conspicuous. The Algonquins and Hurons advanced side byside^ till within one hundred and fifty yards from the Iro- quois ; they then opened, and the French, rushing between, poured in their fire. Two of the obnoxious leaders of the enemy, who had been designated to the French, fell ; the third was wounded. The Al- gonquins and Hurons yelled and discharged volhes of ^. i**" 1610] THE SECONB. 4J arrows, while the French gave a second fire. This put the enemy to Hight ; he was pursued : several of his men were killed, and a greater number made prisoners. The victors lost none of their men; about fifteen were wounded, but not one dangerous- ly. A large supply of provisions was found in the enemy's camp, of which ihe pursuers were in much need. Champlain returned, with his allies, to Quebec, where Pontgrave soon after arrived. They sailed together for France, leaving the command of the colony to Pierre Chauvin. Henry the fourth was much pleased with the ac- count Champlain gave him of the settlement on the St. Lawrence, and gave to his American dominions the name of New France.^ Dumontz was then at court, using his best efforts, especially with the Marchioness of Guercheville, to recover his privilege; but without success. His associates, the principal of whom were le Gendre and Collier, did not for- sake him. They fitted out two ships, the command of which they gave to Champlain and Pontgrave. The views of these men were quit- different. Champlain had most at heart the success of the col- ony; Pontgrave thought of nothingvbut the acquisi- tion of wealth, by traffic with the Indiaiis. The first reached Tadoussac on the twenty-sixth of April 1610, and proceeded to Quebec without delay. He found the colony in a prosperous con- dition. Wheat and rye had been sown the preced- ing year, and succeeded well ; vines had been plant- ed, but the event had disappointed the hope of the farmer. The people were healthy, and the Indians much pleased with their new neighbours, among whom they found a supply of provisions, when the precarious resource of the chase rendered it necee** fcOU. h 6 'I' i ■i'if. N't ny n ''H'i ■1 ■'V-t?! i ■ 42 CHAPTKH [IGIO m sary; but they valued the whites most, on account of the protection they afforded against the irruptions of the Iroquois. The Hurons, the Algonquins and the Montagnes, were the most imme liate neighhours of the French. The first dwelt above Quebec, and the two other below, towards Tadoussac. These Indians pressed Champlain to accompany thorn, on a second expf.lition against the Iroquois; th<'ir warriors bring already assembled at the mouth of the river Sorel. On liis arrivnl there, he found the nund)er of thes*' inucli smaller than it had been rrepresenled. A party, of about one hundred of the enemy, was hovering in the neighbourhood ; he was told he might surprise them, if leaving his boat, he went up in a light canoe of the Indians. He did so, with four of his countrymen, who had accompanied him, and he had hardly proceeded three miles up, when his Indians, without saying one word, jumped out of the canoe, and without leaving a guide with the whites, ran along the siiore as fast as they could. The country was swampy, and the musquitces and other insects, extremely troublesome. Champlain was advancing slowly, in uncertainty and doubt, when an Algonquin chief came to hurry him, saying the battle was begun. He hastened, and soon heard the yells of the combatants. The Iroquois had been found, and attacked in a small entrenchment, and had repelled the assailants. These taking courage, on the approach of their white allies, returned to the charge. The conflict was obstinate; Champlain was wounded in the neck, and one of his men in the arm. This did not prevent a galling fire from being at first poured in ; but at last, the ammunition was exhausted; the enemy, greatly distressed by the musketry, was elated on its silence. The French, placing themselves at the head of their allies, march- fiuio ? n 10 13] THK HKCONU. 43 0(1 to the attack nucl wciv n'pelled ; Imt otiiors, wfioin Chiinpl.nii \{.n\ left lu'liiatl, comiiio up, tho cli iri»e was roncwed, and iIk- Inxpiois were moslly killed or woiKid*' I, and lljo^»' who atleinpled to es- cape were diownod in Hie slre.un. Oil tlie lourle13, and cast anchor in the port de la Haive, on the sixth of May. He erected there a pillar, with the armorial escutcheon of the Marchioness. From tlience he went to Port Royal, where he found only an apothecary, who commanded, two Jesuiti and three oth'^r persons — Becancourt, whom she had entrusted with her atlaire there, being fM( ^ij- ;'i i .' 44 CHAPTER [1615 M' gone with the rest of the colonists, into the country iti (jiu'st o( provisiotiy. Having taken the Jesuits on board, l)e la Saussaie pro 'ceded to tlie river Penob- sioi. oi. ilu' northern shore of which, he erected a small ibrt with the nid of his crew, and of twenty-tive colonists, whom he had brought from France, and a few cahins tor their accommodation. He called the place St. Sauveur. He was hardly settled there, when Samuel Argal, an Englishman from Virginia, with eleven men of his nation, came into the neighbourhood, and hearing of the French settlement, determined on destroying it; viewing it as an encroachment on the rights of the northern company, within whose grant he conceived it to be. The French, being unprovi* ded with artillery (and the English having tour pieces of cannon) made but a leeLv'e resistance. They had several men killed. After iheir surren- der, the settlement was abandoned to piljage and destruction ; the vanquished were permitted to re- turn to France; some of them, however, voluntarily Ibllowed Argal to Virginia. The escutcheon of the King of England was substituted for that of the Mar- chioness. Argal, belbre he sailed, sent some of his men to St. Croix and Port koyal, where, as at St. Snnveur, the houses of the French were consumed by fire. The death of Henry the fourth had left Dumontz without support ; Champlain had found a patron in the Earl of Soissons, whom the queen regent had placed at the head of the affairs of New France; but this nobleman died soon after, and was succeed- ed by the Prince of Conde. Under the auspices of the latter, Champlain sailed with Pontgrave, who liod lately returned from Acadie. Landing at Quebec, on the seventh of May 1613, and finding flGlS l(i]6j THE SECOND. 4^ I »untry lits on enob- ted a ly-tive c, and called Argal, \ men 1, and ed on on tlie I grant iprovi- jr lour stance, Burren- ^e and [ to re- ntarilj of the e Mar- ot' his at St. sumed every thing in good order, he proceeded up the river, and laid the foundation of the city of Montreal. He visited the Ouatatnais. and joining Foritgrave, whom he had left trading below, returned with him to St. Maloes. He formed there an association with mer- chants of that city, of.Rouen and of La Rochelle, and by the aid of the Pnnce of Conde, obtained a charter for it. The English northern company, deterred by the ill success of the colony they had sent to Sagadehoc five years before, had in the meanwhile limited their enterprise to a iew voyages, undertaken for the sole purposes of fishing and trading for furs and peltries with the natives. In one of these, John Smith made in 1614, an accurate map from Cape Cod to Penob- scot river. He laid it before the Prince of Wales, who gave the country the appellation of New Eng- land, under which the territory between the Dutch colony of Nova Belgica, and the French of Canada became known to Europe. The company, lately formed by Champlain, at St. Maloes, fitted out their first expedition for New France, in the Ibllowing year. He carried thither four recollet friars, whom he landed at Quebec, on the twenty-fitth of March 1615. He next proceeded to Montreal, where he found a large par^y of the Hurons, who proposed a third expedition against the Iroquois. He assented to it, provided they would wait till his return from Quebec, where hirs presence was absolutely necessary ; this was agreed to, and he sat off*. The Indians, however, grew soon tired of waiting^ for him, and proceeded with a tew Frenchmen he had left in Montreal and father Joseph le Caron, one of the recollet friars lately arrived. Champlain reached Montreal, a few days after their departure^ \' ''■■A : 'i1 ;!i ^t ■^;'/^''l)vi EJ.-* ' 'lb h 4 *( ^6 ("IIAPTKU [10 It: and was much vrxe Huiotis in their villa^rp. Platting hinistdf al their head, he led them t()\var them noin it, hoidin*; onl the hope that, ir they ahaii(h)iied il,aii England. — Indians. — Missionaries among them. — Godefroy and DreuiUettss sent to Boston. De Lauson.-'— Irruption of the Iroquois. — Swedish colo- ny abandoned. — V^Argenson. — Bishop of Petrea. — Vicar General. — Seminary of Montreal' — The EnS' lish from Virginia., discover the Ohio. — Charles 11. proclaimed in Virginia.— Irruptions of the Iroquois near Quebec. — Epidemic. — Meteors. — D'^Avaugour. — ■ Dissentions among the chiefs. — Sale of ardent spirits to the Indians. — Earthquake. — Vision of a JYitn. — The Charter of the Company ofJVew France surrendered. — De Gaudais. — Superior and inferior courts of Justice. Grant to the Duke of York. — The Dutch driven from. JYew Belgica. — JS'ew York. — Albany. -^JVew Jersey. — Fresh dissentions among the chiefs. — De Courcelles. — De Tracy. — Viceroy of JVew France. — Regiment of Carignan Salieres. —- JVew colonists. — Horses, oxen and sheep brought from France to Canada. — Fort Sorel. Fort St. Theresa. — Expedition against the Iroquois.-^ Another earthquake. — Carolina. — Charles II. of Spain. West India Company. — Quebec erected into a Bishop's See. — French and EngUsh Plenipotentiaries in Boston. Frontenac. — Fort at Catarocoui. — Salem. — Father Marq uette. — Joliet. — Lake Michigan. — Outaganais •S'\ 'Sfr 1)0 CHAPTER [163i i river. — Oui»consing. — Mississippi. — Illinois. — Mis- souri. — Jjrkansas. — Great rejoicings in Quebec on the discovery of the Mississippi. a EMERY DE CAEN was despatched, with copy of the treaty, to Quebec. His principal ob- ject ill bringing it, was the recovery ol' the property lie had left in Canada, for the restoration of which, provision l)ad been made by an article of the treaty. With the view of yielding to him some indemnifica- tion for the loss of his privilege, Louis the thirteenth had granted him the exclusive commerce of New France, in furs and peltries, for one year. Kertz surrendered the country to de Caen. Charles the first, on the twenty-eighth of June, granted to Cecilius, Lord Baltimore, a large tract of country, between the settlements of Virginia and the river and bay of Delaware. It was called Mary- land, in honor of Henrietta Maria, sister to Louis the thirteenth of France. Lord Baltimore, soon after sent thither two hundred colonists. They were all Roman catholics, and chiefly from Ireland. The company of New France resumed its rights in 1633, and Champlain, who on its nomination, had been appointed governor of Canada, returned to Quebec, bringing with him a few Jesuits. Acadie was granted to the commander of Razilly, one of the principal members of the company. He bound himself to settle it, and began a small estab- lishment at la^ Haive. A party of his people, at- tacked a trading house of the colony of New England on Penobscot river. In the following year, he erect- ed a small military post there. It was attacked by an English ship and barque, under Captain Girling; but it successfully defended itself. The Plymouth compa^iy, dividing its territory 1 Id;i8i THE THIRD •1 among its members, the land between Merrimack and Piscataqua rivers, was granted to Mason. It now constitutes the state of New Hampshire. That . to the nortli east, as lar as Kennebeck river, was al- lotted to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, another member. It is now the state of Maine. Roger Williams, a popular preacher, and a Mrs. Hutchinson, being banished from Massachusetts, purchased each a tract of land from the Naragan- set Indians, on which they settled, with a few of their adherents, and laid the foundations of Providence and Rhode Island. Nearly about the same time. Hooker, a favourite minister in Boston, with leave oi the government, led a small colony farther souther- ly, and laid in the towns of Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield, the foundation of the present state of Connecticut. In December \ij3.% a college was established by royal authority at Quebec, and i n dt h e rf i l i Um i Hgj y iW i '. Champlain died, and was succeeded by the Cheva- lier de Montmaguy. The piety of the Dutchess d'Aiguillon procured to the colony two useful establishments — that of the Sisters of the Congregation, who came from Dieppe in 1637; and that of the Ursuline Nuns from Tours, in 1638, to devote themselves to the relief of suffer- ing humanity in the hospital, and the education of young persons of their sex. With the view of checking the irruptions of the Iroquois, who greatly distressed the upper settlers, and came down the river, that falls into the St. Law- rence on its right side, at a small distance from the town of Montreal, Montmagny had a Ibrt erected on its banks ; it was called Fort Richelieu, in honor of the Cardinal, then prime minister, and afterwards communicated its name to the stream. 62 CHAPTER [1640 Justice had hitherto been rendered to the colo- nists, by the governor and commandants ; in 1640, provision was made for its more regular administra- tion, by the appointment of judges at Quebec, Mon- treal and Trois Rivieres, and a grand seheschal of New France. The former had original, and the latter appellate jurisdiction. Louis the thirteenth, on the fourteenth of May 1643, the forty-second year of his age, transmitted his sceptre to his son, Louis the fourteenth. The English settlements, near the French, suffer- ing as much from the Indians as Canada, the colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, sought protection in the union of their eff^orts. They entered into a league of alliance, offensive and defensive, and gave to five commission- ers, chosen by each colony, the power of regulating the affairs of the confSederacy. Accordingly the go- v«i»)or«.«f.«Mas«»a«h«setts, in behalf of the united colonies, in the following year, concluded a treaty of peace and commerce, with Monsieur d'Antouy, go- vernor of Acadie ; it was laid before, and ratified by, the commissioners. In 1646, d'Aillebout succeetled Montmagny, in the government of New France. The Indians continuing to distress the back set- tlers of New England, the commissioners of the united colonies sent a deputy to Quebec ; who, in their be- half, proposed , to d'Aillebout, that the French and New England colonies should enter into a perpetual alliance, independent from any rupture between the parent countries. D'Aillebout, approving the mea- sure, sent father Deuilletes, a Jesuit, to meet the commissioners in Boston. The envoy, it appears, was instructed not to agree to any treaty, unless the aid of New England was afforded to New France, ''(} :f 1646] THE THIRD 60 rauce, against the Iroquois. Time has destroyed every trace of the final result of this mission. Democracy now prevailed in England, over the monarch and its nobles. The House of Lords was abolished, and Charles the first lost his head on the scaffold, on the 30th of January 1648, in the forty- eighth yc^r of his age. Olivier Cromwell, under the title of p^O'jtor, assumed the reins of government. During the struggle, that preceded the king's fall, the northern colonies spiritedly adhered to the po- pular party ; Virginia remained attached to the royal cause, which did not cease to prevail there, till the arrival of a fleet, with the protector's governor. Some resistance was even made to his landing. The commissioners of New England resumed their negbciations to induce the governor of New France, to enter into an alliance with them. The English and French colonies were now much dis- tressed by irruptions of the Indians. The French had sent among the latter, a considerable number of missionaries, who proceeded, in their efforts to pro- pagate the gospel^ much in the same manner as methodists now do, in new and thinly, inhabited countries. Besides travelling missionaries, who per- « formed regular tours of duty, among the more dis- tant tribes, they had stationed ones in the nearer. The stationed missionary was generally attended by a lay brother, who instructed young Indians in their Catechism. The father had often around him a number of his countrymen, who came to sell goods and collect peltries. His dwelling was the ordinary resort of the white men, whom necessity, cupidity or any other cause, led into the forests. A number of Indians gathered near the mission, to minister to the wants of the holy man, and his inmates or visitors. His functions gave him a great ascendency over his :'? .^ • ■4 64 CHAPTER {1646 .'Mi 4 flock, amused and increased by the pageantry of the rites of his religion. His authority often extended aver the whole tribe, and he commanded, and direct- ed the use of its forces. As he was supported by, and did support, the government of the colony, he soon became a powerful auxiliary, in the hands of ils mili- tary chief. The union, which existed among tho travelling and stationed missionaries, all appointed and sent or stationed, and directed by their superior in the convent of Quebec, had connected the tribes who had received a missionary, into a kind of al- liance and confederacy, the forces of which govern- ment commanded, and at times exerted against the more distant tribes. In return, it afforded the con- federates protection against their enemies. The Iroquois, Eries ond other nations, not in this atliance, considered the members of it as their foes, made frequent irruptions in their viltiages, and at times captured or killed the missionary and the white men around him. The parties, engaged in these expedi- tions, did not always confine the violence they thus exercised to Indian villages; they often attacked the frontier settlements of the whites, and at times approached their towns. These circumstances ren- dered it desirable to New France, to secure the aid of New England against the Indians. Accordingly, in June 1651, d'Aillebout, calling to his council the head of the clergy and some of the most notable planters, who recommended thatGodefroy, one of the latter, and father Dreuillettes, should proceed to Bos- ton, and conclude the alliance, which the commis- sioners of the New England colonies had proposed. Charlevoix has preserved the resolutions of the no- tables, the letter they wrote to the commissioners, and the passport or letter of credence, which the governor gave to the envoys; but be was not able to transmit us the result of the mission. IG59] THE THIRD. G5 New France received a new governor, in the per- son of Lauson, in 16.52. A large party of the Iroquois, advancing towards Montreal, Duplessis Brocard, who commanded there, putting himself at the head of the inhabitants, marched out. He lost his life in an encounter, and his followers were routed. This accident, although it inspired the Iridians with much confidence, did not embolden them to attack the town. ' On the failure of an expedition, which Cromwell had directed to be prepared in Boston, under the command of Sedgwick, for the attack of the Dutch in Nova Belgica, this officer took upon himself to dis- lodge the French from Acadie. The French and English were not the only Euro- pean nations annoyed by the Indians. The Swedes, who, at this time, had several settlements over the territory, which is now covered by the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, finding them- selves in too small a number to stand their ground with the natives, abandoned New Sweden ; and John Rising, their governor, in 1655 by order of his sove- reign, transferred to Peter Stuyvesant, governor of Nova Belgica, all the rights of the Swedish crown in this quarter, for the use of the states-general. In ] 659, New France received new civil and ec- clesiastical chiefs. The Viscount of Argenson suc- ceeded Lauson, and Francis de Laval, Bishop of Petrea, appointed by the holy see, its apostolic vicar, arrived with a number of ecclesiastics. The island of Montreal was erected into a seignory, and the priests of St. Sulpice in Paris, were made lords of it. A seminary was established in the city of Montreal; it being the intention of government, to substitute a secular clergy to the Jesuits and recollets, who till now had ministered to the spiritual wants of the LOU. I. 9 "J. . 1 '• 'ifi dd CHAPTER [1659 I colonists. A similar establishment had been begun in Quebec. Regulations were made for the collec- tion of tithes. Societies of religious ladies in France sent some of their members to Montreal, for the re- lief of the sick and the education of young persons of their sex. While Canada was advancing in its internal im- provements, the Virginians extended tlieir discove- ries over the mountains. Daniel (Joxe, in his de- scription of Carolana, published in 1722, relcUes that Col. Woods of Virginia, dwelling near the falls of James river, about one hundred miles from the bay of Chesapeake, between the years 1654 and 1664, discovered at diflferent times, several branches of the Ohio and Mississippi He adds, he had in his possession, the journal of a Capt. Needham, who was employed by the Colonel. In 1660, the people of Virginia, at the death of Mathews, the protectors governor, called on Sir William Berkely, the former governor under the king, to resume the reins of government, and pro- claimed Charles the second as their legitimate sove- reign, before they had any intelligence of Crom- wells' death. Charles' restoration was soon after effected in England, and his authority recognised, in all his American colonies. This year was a disastrous one in Canada : large parties of the Iroquois incessantly rambled over the country, in every direction, killing or making priso- ners of the whites, who strayed to any distance from their plantations. The culture of the earth was much impeded by the terror they inspired. Even in Qi^ebec, the people were alarmed. The Ursu- line and. hospital nuns were frequently compelled to seek shelter out of their monasteries, at night. In the following year, an epidemic disease made great m 4. i662] THE THIRD. 67 havock. It was a kind of hooping cough, terminat- ing in pleurisy. Many of the whites, and the domes- ticated Indians fell victims to it. Its greatest rava- ges were among the chihJren. It was imagined to be occasioned by enchantment, and many of the facuhy, did, or affected to, believe it. Others were terrified into credulity, and the strangest reports were circulated and credited. Time and the pro- gress of knowledge have dispelled the opinion (which at tliis period prevailed in Europe, and the colonists had brought over) that at times, malignant spirits enabled some individuals to exercise super- natural powers over the health and lives of others. It was said, a fiery crown had been observed in the air at Montreal; lamentable cries heard at Trois Rivieres, in places, in which there was not any per- son ; that at Quebec, a canoe all in fire, had been seen on the river, with a man armed cap-a-pie, sur- rounded by a circle of the same element ; and in the island of Orleans, a woman had heard the cries of her fruit in her womb. A comet made its appear- ance ; a phenomenon seldom looked upon as of no importance, especially in calamitous times. The alarm at last subsided. The parties of Iro- ;J5[Uois, who desolated the country, became less nu- merous and less frequent ; these Indians finally sued for peace. The governor did not appear at first, very anxious to listen to their proposals ; but pru- dence commanded the acceptance of them. The Baron d'Avaugour relieved the Viscount d'Argenson, in 1662. Serious discontents now arose between the civil and ecclesiastical chiefs. Much distress resulted from the inobservance of the regulations, made to prevent the sale of spirituous liquors to the Indians. A woman, who was found guilty of a breach of them. ■I iM,< r m^l :w '1 " Gb CHAPTER fl66? was sent to prison, and at the solicitation of her friends, the superior of the Jesuits waited on the Baron, to solicit her release. He received the holy man with rudeness ; observing that, since the sale of spirituous liquors to the Indians was no offence in this woman, it should not, for the future, be one in any body. Obstinacy induced him afterwards to regulate his conduct, according to this rash declara- tion; the shopkeepers (thinking themselves safe) suflered cupidity to direct theirs, and the regu- lations were entirely disregarded. The clerg} exerted all their influence to suppress the growing evil, and withheld absolution from those, who re- fused to promise obedience to the regulations. The Bishop resorted to the use of the censures of the church against the obstinate; this created much ill will against him and his clergy, and he crossed the sea, to solicit the king's strict orders, for the sup- pression of this disorder. A dreadful earthquake was felt in Canada, on the fifth of February 1663. The first shock is said by Charlevoix, to have lasted half an hour ; after the first quarter of an hour, its violence gradually abated. At eight o'clock in the evening, a like shock was felt; some of the iiihabitants said they had counted as many as thirty-two shocks, during the night. In the intervals between the shocks, the surface of the ground undulated as the sea, and the people felt, in their houses, the sensations which are experienced in a vessel at anchor. On the sixth, at three o'clock in the morning, another most violent shock was felt. It is related that at Tadoussac, there was a rain of ashes for six hours. During thig strange commotion of nature, the bells of th( churches were kept constantly ringing, by the mo- tion of the steeples; the houses were so terribly iCC'j] THE THIRD C!' Ug this the shaken, that the eaves, on each side, alternately touched the ground. Several mountains altered their positions; others were precipitated into the river, and lakes were afterwards found, in the places on which they stood before. The commotion was ieh for nine hundred miles from east to west, and five hundred from north to south. This extraordinary phoenomenon was considered as the ctlect of the vengeance of God, irritated at the obstinacy of those, who, neglecting the admo- nitions of his ministers, and contemning the censures of his church, continued to sell brandy to the In- dians. The reverend writer, who has been cited, relates it was said, ignited appearances had been observed in the air, for several days before: globes of fire being seen over the cities of Quebec and Montreal, attended with a noise like that of ihe siniultaneous discharge of several pieces of heavy artillery; that the superior of the nuns, informed her confessor some time before, that being at her devo- tions, she believed " she saw the Lord, irritated against Canada, and she involuntarily demanded justice liom him for all the crimes committed in the country ; praying the souls might not perish with the bodies : a moment after, she felt conscious the di- vine justice was going to strike ; the contempt ol the church exciting God's wrath. She perceived almost instantaneously four devils, at the corners of Quebec, shaking the earth with extreme violence, and a person of majestic mien alternately slackening and drawing back a bridle, by which he held them." A female Indian, who had been baptised, was said to have received intelhgence of the impending chastisment of heaven. The reverend writer con- cludes his narration, by exultingly observing, " none- perished, all were converted." i1 ■t^- ' 'il m n i CHAPTER i;iGti4 The bishop was favourably heard at court, and returned with de Mesy, who at his recommendation, was sent to reheve the Baron d'Av.iugour, The company of New France, drawing but httle advantage from its charter, had surrendered it; and Gaudais, the king's commissioner to take possession of the country, arrived with the governor and bishop. One hundred famiHes came over with him. A num- ber of civil and mihtary oiiicers, and some troops were also sent. After having executed the object of his mission, received the oaths of fidelity of the former and new colonists, and made several ordinances for the re- gulation of the police and administration of justice, the commissioner returned to France. The governors had hitherto claimed cognizance ©f all suits, which the plaintiff brought before them, and disposed of them, in a summary way, and with- out appeal. They, however, seldom proceeded to judgment, without having previously tried in vain to induce the parties to submit their differences to the arbitration of their friends ; and the final decisions of the governors, when the attempt failed, had gene- rally given satisfaction. We have seen, however, that in 1640, a grand seneschal of New France and inferior judges at Quebec, Montreal and Trois Rivieres, had been appointed. By an edict of the king, of the month of March 1664, a sovereign coun- cil was created in New France. It was composed of the governor, the apostolic vicar, the intendant, and four counsellors, (chosen amoiig the most notable inhabitants, by, and removeablo at the pleasure of, these three officers) an attorney general and a clerk. This tribunal was directed to take the ordinances of the king, and the custom of Paris, as the rules of its decisions. The military and ecclesiastical chief* It* I !,' 1C661 THE THIRD. 71 .' ^l^ rois the had precedence over the intend ant in council, though the latter exorcised the functions of president. A majority of the judges was a quorum in civil, but the presence of five of them, was required in criminal, cases. Inferior tribunals were established at Quebec, Montreal and Trois Rivieres. The occupation, by the Dutch and Swedes, of the territory between New England and Mai viand, had never been viewed in England, as the exercise of a legitimate right, but rather as an encroachment on that of the crown, the country having been disco- vered by one of its subjects, Henry Hudson. The circumstance of his being, at the time, in the service of the states general, was not deemed to affect the claim of his natural sovereign. Charles the second, accordingly made a grant to his brother the Duke of York, and Lord Berkeley, of all the territory between New England and the river Delaware, and a force was sent to take possession of it in 1664. Governor Stuyvesant, who commanded at New Amsterdam, would have resisted the English forces ; but the inhabitants were unwilling to support him. He was therefore, compelled to yield. The town of New Amsterdam received the name of New York, which was also given to the province, and fort Orange that of iVlbany. The territory between the Hudson and the Dela- ware, the North and South river, was erected into a distinct province, and called New Jersey. In New France, de Mesy did not live on better terms with the bishop and clergy, than his prede- cessor. Great discontents prevailed also, between him and the members of the council. They rose to such an height, that he ordered Villere, a notable in- Habitant, who had been called to a seat in the coun- ii ri< •* 1 !. V , j.l.T 72 CIIAPTKU ricGs cil, ami Bourdon, thn attorney general, to bo arrested, and, after a detention of'a tew days, he shipped them to France. The stern wisdom and unshaken in- tegrity of* the prisoners, were universally acknowl- edged. Their complaints were tavourahly heard at court. The answer of the governor to the charges, exhibited against him, appeared unsatisfactory, and de Courcelles was sent to relieve him. Louis the fourteenth had, in the preceding year, appointed the Marquis de Tracy, his viceroy and lieutenant general in America. This ollicer was directed to visit the French islands in the West Indies, to proceed to Quebec and stay as long as might be necessary, to settle the disturbed govern- ment of the colony, and provide for its protection against the irruptions of the Iroquois. In June 1665, the viceroy landed at Quebec, with four companies of the regiment of Carignan Saheres. He dispatched a part of this small force, with some militia, under the orders of captain de Repentigny, who met several parties of the Iroquois, whom he reduced to order. The rest of the regiment arrived soon after, with de Salieres its colonel, and a consi- derable number of new settlers and tradesmen, and a stock of horses, oxen and sheep. The horses were the first seen in Canada. The addition to the pop- ulation of the colony, which then arrived, much exceeded its former numbers. The viceroy proceeded with a part of the troops to the river Richelieu, where he employed them in erecting three forts. The first, was on the spot on which had stood fort Richelieu, built by Montmagny in 1638, and which was gone to ruins. The new one was built by an officer of the name of Sorel, who was afterwards left in command there. It re- ceived his name, and communicated it to the riv^r I-OlfJ 1665] IIIE THIRD. 73 The second fort, was erected at the falls. It was at first called Fort Louis ; but Chainbly, the officer, who built and commanded it, having acquired the land around, it took his name. The third was nine miles higher up, and was called St. Theresa, from the circumstance of its having been completed on the day, on wliich tlie catholics worship that saint. These fortifications were intended as a protection against the Iroquois, who generally came down that river to invade the colony. They were greatly em- boldened by the expectation of aid, from the English at Albany. The new forts effectually guarded against their approach by the stream; but the Indians soon found other parts of the country afford- ing them as easy a passage. They became so troublesome, that the viceroy and governor were, for a considerable time, compelled to keep the field with the regular forces, and as many of the inhabi- tants as could be spared from the labours of agricul- ture. They had several encounters with large parties of Indians, whom they defeated. The latter found it of no avail, to continue their irruptions, while the colony was thus on its guard. The tranquility, which the retreat of the foe, and the vigilance of the chiefs gave to the colony, was however, soon disturbed, by events over which human foresight can have no control. Several shocks oi an earthquake, attended with the appearance of the meteors that had accompanied that of 1663, now excited great alarm. A deadly epidemic disease, added its horrors to those which the commotions of nature had produced. Charles the second, unmindful of his father's char- ter to Sir Robert Heath, about a third of a century before, had in 1663 granted to Lord Clarendon aud ■ I-, I-OU. h 10 M tJHAFTLK [ItJiU. 1^ W' others, the territory i'rom the river Sun Matheo or St. John, in Florida, to the thirty-sixth degree of northern latitude. There was as yet but an insig- nificant settlement, in this vast extent of country. It was on the north side of Albemarle Sound, and had been formed by stragglers from the colony pt" Vir- ginia, who, travelling southerly, had stopped at a small distance beyond its southern limit, and had been joined by emigrants, chiefly of the Quaker pro- fession, driven by the intolerant spirit of the people of New England. The new proprietors, having dis- covered valuable tracts of land not included in their charter, obtained in June 1665, a second and more extensive one. It covers all the territory from the twenty-ninth degree to Wynock, in 36 degrees 30 minutes of northern latitude. They effected shortly after, a small settlement on Cape Fear river, whicli was afterwards removed farther south, and became the nucleus of the state of South Carolina, as thai on Albemarle Sound, extending southerly and wes- terly, became that of North Carolina. On the seventeenth of September 1665, Philip the fourth of Spain died in his sixtieth year, and was succeeded by his son Charles the second. The French king, had in 1662, transferred to the West India Company, all the privileges which that of New France had enjoyed ; the former, not being in a situation to avail itself immediately of the royal favour, requested that the colonial government might for a while be administered by the king's of- ficer. In the spring of 1 667, the Marquis de Tracy, according to the king's order, put the company in formal possession of the country, and soon after sail- ed for France. Neither the colony, nor the com- pany appear to have derived any great advantage the yea oft shoi Ten 11570) THE THIRD. 7t. (1600 eo or ce ot iiisig- untry. 1(1 liad .f Vir- I at a d had sr pro- people ug dis- II their I more )m the ees 30 shortly , which )ecame as thai id wes- ilip the r\d wae^ 1 to the ch that )t being le royal jniment ng's of- Tracy, ipany in fter sail- he corn- vantage from this arrangement ; and in the following year, the freedom of commerce in New France was pro- claimed. 13y the treaty of Breda in 16G7, Acadie was res- tored to the French. The ecclesiastical government of New France had been hitherto conhded to an apostolic vicar, a bishop in partibus injiddium^ that of Pctrea. The pope now erected the city of Quebec, into a bishop's see, and St. Vallier was appointed its first incum- bent. This gentleman, however, did not receive the canonical institution, till four years after. The lords of manors in New France did not enjoy any ecclesiastical patronage; and the bishop who, receiving all the tithes collected in the diocess, was burdened with the support of the curates, had the uncontrolled appointment of them. It does not appear, that with the exception of the seminary of St. Sulpice, any lord in New France, ever claimed the administration of justice by his own judges. This corporation was in the exercise of this right as lords of the island of Montreal ; but they surrendered it to the king in 1692. The Chevalier de Grandfontaine and Sir John Temple, plenipotentiaries of the French and British crowns, signed in Boston, on the seventh of July 1670, a declaration, by which the right of France to all the country from the river of Pentagoet, to the island of Cape Breton (both inclusive) was recog- nised. The chevalier was appointed governor of Acadie. Count de Frontenac succeeded Courcelles, in the government of New France, in the following year. He found it desolated by repeated irruptions of the Iroquois, who came down along the eastern shore of lake Ontario, and descended the St. Law- rence. With the view of checking their approach n it- 7ti CHAPTEK [U570 this way, he built a fort at Catarocoui, on the lake, near the place where its waters form the river. The western company, by an edict of February 1670, had been authorised to send to the islands, small coins expressly struck for circulation there, to the amount of one nundred thousand livres, (about ;g20,000) and the edict especially provided, they should not circulate elsewhere. In November 1672, however, their circulation was authorized in the king's dominions in North America, and their value was increased one third; pieces of fifteen sous being raised to twenty, and others in the same proportion. At the same time, the practice, that had prevailed in the islands and in new France, of substituting the contract of exchange to that of sale was forbidden. The king ordered, that in future, all accounts, notes, bills, purchases and payments should be made in money, and not by exchange or computation of sugar, or other produce, under pain of nullity. Former con- tracts, notes, bills, obligations, leases, &c., in which a quantity of sugar, or other produce, was stipulated to be delivered,wereresolvedby the royal power,intoob- ligations to pay money. This interference in the con- cerns of individuals created confusion, and the great de- mand it occasioned for coin, increased its value and occasioned a consequent decrease of land and other property, which had a most mischievous eflfect. The Canadians had learnt from the Indians, that there was a large stream to the west, the course of which was unknown ; but they had ascertained it did not flow northerly nor easterly ; and great hopes were entertained that it might afford a passage to China, or at least to the Gulf of Mexico. Talon, the first intendant of New France, was about returning home, and determined on discovering, before he sailed, the course of this great river. He engaged, for this purpose, father Marquette, a 1673-] THE THIRD 77 jtte. a recoUet monk, who had been for a long time em- ployed in distant missions, and Joliet, a trader of Quebec, and a man of considerable information and experience in Indian affairs. The two adventurers proceeded to the bay of lake Michigan, and en- tered a river, called by the Indians Outagamis, and by the French, des renards. Ascending almost to its source, notwithstanding its falls, they made a small portage to that of Ouisconsing. Descending this stream, which flows westerly, they got into that they were in quest of, on the seventh of July 1673. History has not recorded any account of its having been floated on by any white man, since Muscoso, with the remainder of his army, descended it from Red River to its mouth, about one hundred and thirty years before. Committing themselves to the current, the holy man and his companion soon reached a village of the Illinois, near the mouth of the Missouri. These In- dians gladly received their visitors. Their nation was in alliance with the French, and traders from Canada came frequently among them; a circum- stance which had rendered them obnoxious to the Iroquois, whom they found too numerous to be suc- cessfully resisted, without the aid of their white friends. The guests were hospitably entertained, and their influence, with the governor and ecclesias- tical superior, was solicited, that some aid might be afforded them, and that a missionary might come and reside among them. After a short stay, the current, which now began to be strong, brought the travellers in a few days to a village of the Arkansas. Believing now they had fully ascertained that the course of the river was towards the Gulf of Mexico, their stock of provisions being nearly exhausted, they deemed it useless and 1 ' V'.i(l „. , •#-■, (,•'■'. i'i. •'.vil Bh ;' f t'*' i y^ j;i 78 CHAPTER [1U7.S unsafe to proceed farther, among unknown tribes, on whose disposition prudence forbade to rely. They therefore hastened back to the river of the Illinois, ascended it and proceeded to Chicagou, on lake Mi- chigan. Here they parted : the father returning to his mission, among the Indians on the northern shore of^ the lake, and the trader going down to Quebec, to impart to their employer the success of their la- bours. Count de Frontenac gave to the river they had explored the name of Colbert, in compliment to the then minister of the marine. Joliet's services in this circumstance, were remu- nerated by a grant of the large island of Anticosti, near the mouth of the river St. Lawrence. This important discovery filled all Canada with joy, and the inhabitants of the capital followed the constituted authorities of the colony to the cathedral church, where the bishop, surrounded by his clergy, sung a solemn Te Deum. Little did they suspect that the event, for which they ^ere rendering thanks to heaven, was marked, in the book of fate, as a prin- cipal one among those, which were to lead to the expulsion of the French nation from North America, that Providence had not destined the shores of the mighty stream for the abode of the vassals of any European prince; but had decreed that it should be for a while the boundary, and for ever after roll its waves in the midst of those free and prosperous communities, that now form the confederacy of the United States. Robertson. — Charlevoix. — Marshall. 1873) THE FOURTH, 79 in Hi M ■ , .■4 CHAPTER IV. ^ Tfie French are driven from Jicadie. — Complaints of the Canadians against their Governor. — The j96bS ae Fe- nelon.—Sale of spirituous liquors to the Indians. — Re- presentatipns of the Clergy. — The Archhishop of Paris and Father ae la Chaise. — LasaUe proposes to ex- plore the course of the Mississippi. — He goes to France. The Prince of Conti. — The Chevalier de Tonti. — La- salle returns. — Fort Front enac. — Adventurers from JVew- England cross the Mississippi and visit JVetv-Mexico. Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron and Michigan. — Little Miami River. — Illinois, — Lasalle^s men endeavour to indispose the Illinois against him. — He defeats their plan.-'-'The intrigue of a Mascoutan Indian. — Attempt to poison LasaUe. — Arkansas. — Dacan. — Hennepin. — Mississippi. — Falls of St. Anthony. — Sioux. — Pennsyl- vania. — -Miamis. — Outagamis. — Ainous. — Mascou- tans.' — Fort Crevecaur. — Irruptions of the Iroquois into the country of the Illinois. — Acadie restored to the French. — Fort Penkuit. — Chicagou. — Illinois. — Mis- sissippi River. — 7%e Miami. — Chickasaws. — Fort Prudhome. — Cappas. — Arkansas. — Alligators. — Tarn- sas. — Red River — Quinipissas. — Tangipaos. — Gidfcf Mexico. — LasaUe takes possession of the country, at the mouth of the Mississippi. — He calls the river, St. Louis, and the country Louisiana. — He is visited by Indians from several tribes. — He returns. — His party is attacked by the Quinipissas, who are routed. — The JSatchez. — Taensas. — Arkansas. — Chickasaw Bhifjfs. — LasaUe is detained there by sickness. — The Chevalier de Tonti proceeds with part of the men. — They meet at Michilli- mackinac. — The Chevalier goes to Fort St. Louis, and LasaUe to Quebec. — Count de Fronlenac. — LasaUe sails for France.. 1. ■ '. *■'' I' 80 CHAPTER [1U74 THE people of New England saw with a jealous eye, the French in possession of Acadie. On the tenth of August 1674, Chambly, who commanded there, was surprised in the fort of Pentagoet, by an English adventurer, who had lurked in his garrison for several days. This man had procured the aid of the crew of a Flemish privateer, about one hun- dred in number. The French, being but thirty in the fort, were soon subdued. The victor marched afterwards with a part of his force, to the fort on the river St. John. Manson, who commanded there, was found still less prepared for defence, than his chief. By the capture of these two forts, the only ones which the French had in Acadie, the whole country fell into the power of the invaders. Charles the second, disavowed this act of hostility, committed in a period of profound peace. It had been planned, and the means of its execution had been procured, in Boston. The absence of causes of external disturbance, gave rise to internal, in Canada. The colonists com- plained that, through the ill-timed exertion of the influence of Count de Frontenac, the seats in the superior council, which were destined for notable inhabitants, were exclusively filled by men entirely devoted to him — that more suits had been commen- ced in the last six months, than during the six pre- ceding years. An act of arbitrary power had greatly excited the clergy against him. He had imprisoned the abbe de Fenelon, then a priest of the seminary of St. Sulpice at Montreal, who afterwards became Archbishop of Camb,^ay, and acquired great reputa- tion, in the literary world, as the author of Telema- chus, on the alleged charge of having preached against him, and of having been officiously indus- trious in procuring attestations from the inhabitants, in favour of Perrot, whom the count had put under furs two .1' .: I 1675] THE FOURTH. 9] arrest. They also complained, that he had, of his own authority, exiled two members of the council, and openly quarelled with the intendant. Much ill will was created, between him and the bishop, clergy and missionaries, by the sale of spirit tuous liquors to the Indians, which they had hitherto successfully opposed, and the count now counte- nanced. The priests complained it destroyed the whole fruits of their labour among the converted Indians, and the bishop had declared the breac-i of the law, in this respect, a sin, the absolution of which was reserved to him alone, in his diocess. These dissentions were made known to the king, who, with the view of putting a stop to them, direct- ed that an assembly of the most notable inhabitants of the colony, should be convened and express its opinion on the propriety of disallowing the traffic, and that their determination should be laid before the archbishop of Paris and father de la Chaise, an eminent Jesuit, confessor of the king. It was urged in France, that a discontinuance of. the sale would deprive the colonial government of the attachment of the natives, who would be induced to carry their furs and peltries to Albany and New York. The two high dignitaries of the church, to whom the sovereign had committed the examination of this question, having conferred with St. Vallier, the Bish- op of Quebec, (who had been induced by his zeal in the cause of humanity, to go over and solicit the King's interference) decided, that the sale should not be allowed. This report became the basis of an or- dinance, the strictest observance of which was en- joined on the count, and the prelate pledged him- self to confine his interference to cases of the most flagrant violation of the ordinance. LOU. I. 11 ■ M ■ ^0 ;:i tk CHAPTER [1676 Father Marquette had died ; and the great joy, •which the discovery of the Mississippi had excited, had subsided. Johet was, perhaps, too much engaged by his own private concerns to prosecute the plans of further discoveries, and tlie utmost apathy, on this subject prevailed in the colonial government. To the enterprise of a then obscure individual, France owed her success in colonization on the Mississippi. Robert Cavelier de Lasalle, a native of Rouen^ who had spent several years in the order of the Je- Buits, and whom this circumstance had prevented from receiving any part of the succession of his pa- rents, who had ended their lives, while he was thus civilly dead, came to Canada, in search of some en- terprise that might give him wealth or fame. Such appeared to have been the prosecution of Marquette and Joliet's discoveries. He did not doubt that the mighty stream poured its waters into the Gulf of Mexico; but he fostered the idea, that by ascending it, a way might be found to some other river running w^terly and affording a passage to Japan and China. He communicated his vijews to count de Fronte- nac, to whom he suggested the propriety of enlarging the fort at Catarocoui, increasing its force, and thus by holding out protection, induce settlers to improve the surrounding country, which would afford a strong barrier to the rest of the colony in case the Iroquois renewed their irruptions. He presented, as a farther advantage, the facility, which this would give for the building of barques for the extension of trade, along the shores of the lakes, and of the limits of the colo- nies and the dominions of the king over distant tribes of Indians. The count entered into Lasalle's views ; but, as the execution of the proposed plan required considerable disbursements, which he did not choose to order without the minister's directions, he ordered 1678] THE FOURTH 8» the projector to go over, to present and explain hit plans. Lasalle, on his arrival, was fortunate enough to procure an introduction to, and gain the notice of the Prince de Conti, whose patronage secured him the most ample success at court. The king granted him letters of nobility, and an extensive territory around the fort at Catarocoui, now called fort Fron- tenac, on condition of his rebuilding it with stone, and invested him with ample power for prosecuting the projected discoveries, and carrying on trade with the natives. The prince desired Lasalle to take with him the chevaher de Tonti, an Italian officer, who had served in Sicily, where he had lost a hand. He had substituted to it, one made of copper, of which habit enabled him occasionally to make a powerful use. He was the son of the projf *3torof a plan of placing money at interest Tnot unknown n6w in the United States) called a tontme ; in which the principal, paid in by those who die, is lost to their estates, and enures to the benefit of the survivors. Daniel Coxe mentions, in his description of the English province of Carolana, that this year, 1678, a considerable number of persons went from New England, on a journey of discovery, and proceeded as far as New Mexico, four hundred and fifty miles beyond the Mississippi, and on their return rendered an account of their discoveries to the government of Boston, as is attested among many others by Colonel Dudley, then one of the magistrates, and allerwardg Governor of New England, and since Deputy Gover- nor of the Isle of Wight, under Lord Cutts. Lasalle, accompanied by the prince's protegee and thirty colonists, among whom were useful me- chanics, landed at Quebec on the 15th of September 1678rand proceeded without tarrying,to the entrance . far. ''m •*• . il. 1 1 1;. il 14 CHAPTER [1670 l!!' I of lake Ontario, then called Frontenac. He imme- diately employed his men, in rebuilding the fort, and put a barque of forty tons on the stocks. The expe- dition with which the fort and vessel were completed, gave to the colonial government a high idea of his activity. He was a man of genius, enterprise and perserve ranee, firm and undaunted. Power ren- dered him harsh, capricious and haughty. He w^as ambitious of fame ; but this did not render him in- attentive to pecuniary advantages. The barque being launched, Lasalle thought of nothing but trade and discoveries, and left the fort on the 18th of November.. After a tedious and dan* gerpus passage, he reached a village called Ononta- rien, where he purchased provisions, and proceeded to one of the Iroquois, near the falls of Niagara. Ht' stayed but one night there: next morning he went nine miles higher up, where selecting a convenient spot, he traced the lines of a fort, and set his men to.work : but, observing this gave umbrage to the Indians, he desisted: to preserve however what was already done, he surrounded it with a palisade. The season being now far advanced and the cold very severe, he deemed it best to place his men in winter quarters, and sent a party to reconnoitre the way to the Illinois ; leaving the rest at Niagara, with the Chevalier de Tonti, he returned to fort Fronte- nac. In the spring he came back with a considerable stock of merchandise, provisions and amunition: but his vessel was wrecked on approaching the shore ; most of the lading was however saved, and put on board of another barque, which his men had con- structed during the winter. He now despatched the chevalier with a few men, to explore the shores and country on the northeast side oHake Erie, then called Conti. The chevalier, after 11179] THE FOURTH. 86 performing this service, passed to lake Huron, and landed on the northern shore. He there heard of the party who had gone towards the Illinois ; they had passed higher up. After viewing the country he returned to Niagara. Lasalle had sold all his goods, and was gone for a new supply ; on his return, he brought beside? merchandise, a large stock of provi- sions and three recollet monks to minister to the spi- ritual wants of his people. The whole party now crossed lake Erie, without accident, but were detained for a long time, by tempestuous weather at Michillimackinac. Lasalle took a view of the isthmus, traded with the Indians, and laid the foundation of a fort. The chevalier proceeded northeasterly, in search of some men who had de- serted, and to obtain a better knowledge of the land in those parts. He went a shore near a straight callej St. Mary, and following the coast, reached a river which runs from the lake, and after a circuit of two hundred miles falls into the St. Lawrence. After a ramble of eight days he returned to his boat, and reaching the point of the lake, took the southern pass, and landed near a plantation of the Jesuits, where he found the men he was in quest of, and pre- vailed on them to go back to the party* In the meanwhile, Lasalle had, in the latter part of September, crossed the lakes Huron and Michigan, then called Tracy and Orleans, and landed in the bay of the Puants, on the 8th of October. From thence he had sent back the barque to Niagara, load- ed with furs and skins. Equally attentive to the im- provement of his fortune by commerce, and the ac- quisition of fame by prosecuting his discoveries, he proceeded in canoes with seventeen men to the little Miami, which he reached on the first of November.— He there carried on some trade witlithe natives. ■■J\ 1 rl M 8C CHAPTER [1679 whom he induced to put themselves under the protec-, tionof his sovereign, and with their consent took for- mal possession of their country for the crown of Francee — recting a fort near the mouth of the stream. The chevalier, though impatient of joining his leader, had been compelled by contrary weather and want of provisions to put ashore. His men were fa- tigued and refused to proceed till they had taken some rest. They gathered acorns and killed deer. — The chevalier, taking the boat, committed himself to the waves, promising shortly to return for them ; af- ter being tossed, during six days, by a tempest, he reached the fort Lasalle was building on the Little Miami. In expressing his pleasure at the return of the che- valier, the chief observed, it would have been much greater, if he had seen also the men, who were left behind. This kind of reproof induced the former, as soon as he had rested a while, to return for these men. He had hardly left land when a storm arose and cast him ashore ; dragging his boat along, he reached the spot from whence he had started. Calm being restored on the lake, the whole party re-em- barked and soon joined Lasalle, who was much pleas- ed at this addition to his force, viewing it as essential to the completion of his plan. Little did he think, these men would prove a source of vexation and dis- tress, and a great obstruction to his views. He had been successful in his trade, and the fort he had just completed enabled him to keep the In- dians in awe, and command the entrance of the lake : he now determined on prosecuting his journey three hundred miles further into the country of the Illinois Leaving ten men in the new fort, he proceeded up the river with the rest, and after a passage of four days. ie79) THE FOURTH, VI reached the stream that now bears the name of that tribe, and to which he gave that ofSeignelay. Lasalle had now forty men, besides the three friars and the chevalier. Advancing by small journeys, and making frequent excursions to view the country, he came about Christmas to a village of nearly five hundred cabins. It was entirely deserted : the ca- bins were open and at the mercy of the traveller — Kach was divided into two apartments generally, and . coarsely built; the outside covered with mud and the inside with mats. Under each, was a cellar full of corn; an article which the French greatly needed, and of which they did not neglect the opportunity of supplying themselves. Pursuing their way ninety miles further, they came to a lake about twenty miles in circumference, in which they found a great deal of fish. Crossing it, they found themselves again in the current of the river, and came to two Indian camps On perceiving the party, the natives sent their wo- men and children into the woods, and ranged them- selves in battle array, on each side of the stream. Lasalle having put his men in a posture of defence, one of the Indian chiefs advanced, and asked who they were and what was their object in thus coming among them. Lasalle directed his interpreter to an- swer the party were French; their object was to make the God of heaven known to the natives, and offer them the protection of the king of France, and to trade with them. The Illinois tendered their pipes to their visitors and received them with great cordiality. The French gave them brandy and some tools of husbandry, in return for the provisions taken in their village. Pleased at this tok^en of good faith, the Indians desired Lasalle to tarry, and allow them to entertain him and his men. The women and chil- dren came forward, and venison and dried buffalo i :?, , f 'J ■ 'i ,q * n& r •• CHAPTER [KJBO meat, with roots and fruit were presented, and three days were spent in convivial mirth. With the view of impressing his hosts with Jiwe, Lasalle made his people tire two volleys of musketry. The wonder excited by this unexpected tfiunder had the desired efTect. It was improved by the erection of a fort near the river. Uneasy, at his being with- out intelligence of the barque lie had sent to Niagara, richly laden with furs and peltries, and atari appear- ance of discontent, which forebode mutiny among his men, he gave the fort the name of Crevc Coeur, Heart Break. Till now his journey had been fortuijcite : he had carried his discoveries to the distance of fifteen hun- dred miles. Forts had been erected at reasonable distances to mark and preserve the possession he had taken of the country. The Indian nations had all willingly or otherwise yielded to his views : the most refractory had suflfered him to pass. But his men appeared now tired down, from the length of a jour- ney, the issue of which appeared uncertain, and dis- pleased to spend their time in deserts among wild men ; always without guides, often without food. — They broke out in murmurs against the projector and leader of a fatiguing and perilous ramble. His quick penetration did not allow any thing to escape him. He soon discovered their discontent and the mis- chievous designs of some of them, and exerted himself to avert the impending storm. Assurance of good treatment, the hope of glory, and the successful ex- ample of the Spaniards, were laid before his men to calm their minds. Some of the discontented, who had gained an ascendency over part of the rest, represen- ted to them how idle it was to continue the slaves of the caprice and the dupes of the visions and imagi* nary hopes of a leader, who considered the distresses I f ■■I! lOUU} THE FOURTH. %9 men they had borne, as binding them to bear others. — They asked wfiether they could expect any other re- ward, for protracted shivery, than misery and indi- gence, and what could be expected, at the end of a journey, ahnost to the confines of the earth, and in- accessible seas, but the necessity of returning poorer and more miserable than when thoy began it. They advised, in order to avert the impending calamity, to return, while they had sufficient strength; to part from a man who sought his own and their ruin; and aban- don him to his useless and painful discoveries. They adverted to the difficulty of a return, while their loader by his intelligence and his intrigues, had insured, at the experjse of tlieir labours and faligues, the means of overtaking and punishing them as tleserters. They asked whither they could go, with- out provisions or resources of any kind. The idea was suggested of cutting the tree by the root, ending their misery by the death of the author of it, and thus availing thc^mselves of the fruits of their labours and fatigues. The individuals, who were ready to give their assent to this proposal, were not in sufficient number. It was, however, determined to endeavour to induce the Indians to rise against La- salle, in the hope of reaping the advantage of the murder, without appearing to have, participated in it. The heads of the mutineers approached the na- tives, with apparent concern and confidence, told them, that, grateful for their hospitality, they were alarmed at the danger, which threatened them ; that Lasalle had entered into strong engagements with the Iroquois, tlieir greatest enemies; that he had advanced into their country to ascertain their strength, build a fort to keep them in subjection, and his meditated return to Fort Frontenac had n^ 12 LOW. I. h I i 4n ;:■■■ k > !'-■ tr 'i do CHAPTER [1660 1 ,1 I W^ ir- other object, than to convey to the Iroquois the in formation he had gained, and invite them to an ir ruption, while his force among the Illinois was ready to co-operate with them. Too ready an ear was given to these allegations ; Lasalle discovered instantly a change in the con- duct of the Indians, but not at first its cause. He was successful in his endeavours to obtain a dis- closure of it. He communicated to the Indians, the grounds he had of suspecting the perfidy of some of his men. He asked how impossible it was, that he could connect himself with the Iroquois. He said, he considered that nation as a perfidious one, and there could be neither credit nor safety in an alliance with these savages, thirsting for human blood, without faith, law or humanity, and instiga- ted only by their brutality and interest. He added, he had declared himself the friend of the Illinois, and opened his views to them on his arrival among them. The smallness of his force precluded the belief of an intention in him to subdue any Indian tribe, and the ingenuous calmness with which he spoke, gained him credit; so that the impression, made by some of his men on the Indians, appeared totally effaced. This success was, however, of small duration. An Indian of the Mascoutan, (a neighbouring tribe) called Mansolia, an artful fellow, was engaged by the Iroquois, to induce the Illinois to cut ofT the French. He loitered till night came on, in the neighbourhood of the camp ; then entering it, stop- ping at different fires, and having made presents to, and collected the head men, he opened the subject of his mission. He began, by observing that the common interest of all the Indian tribes, but the par- it .,- 1680] THE FOURTH. 91 ticular one of his and the Illinois, had induced his countrymen to depute him to the latter, to consult on the means of averting an impending calamity ; that the French made rapid strides, in their attempt to subjugate every nation from the lakes to the sea ; employing not only their own men, but the Indians themselves; that their alliance with the Iroquois was well known, and the fort, they had erected among the Illinois, was only a prelude to further encroach- ments, as soon as they were joined by their confe- derates ; and if they were suffered to remain unmo- lested, it would soon be too late to resist, and the evil prove without a remedy ; but while they were so small in number and that of the Illinois was so superior, they might be easily destroyed, and the blow they meditated warded off! This fellow's suggestions, deriving strength from their coincidence with those of Lasalle's men, had the desired effect. The suspicions, which Lasalle's address and candour had allayed, were awakened, and the head men spent the night in deliberation. In the morning, all the desultory hopes he had built on the apparent return of confidence, vanished on his noticing the cold reserve of some of the chiefs, and the unconcealed distrust and indignation of others. He vainly sought to discover the imme- diate cause of the change. He knew not whether it would not be better, to entrench himself in the fort. Alarmed and surprised, but unable to remain in suspense, he boldly advanced into the midst of the Indians, collected in small groups, and speaking their language sufficiently to be understood, he asked, whether he would ever have to begin and ever see diffidence and distrust on their brows. He observed, he had parted with them the preceding eve in peace and friendship, and he now found them armed and m i'i ;n It CHAPTER fl08O some of them ready to fall on him : iie was naked and unarmed in the midst of ihem, their ready and willing victim, if he could be convicted of any ma- chination against them. Moved at his open and undaunted demeanor, the Indians pointed to the deputy of the Mascoutans, sent to apprise them of his scheme and connection with their enemies. Rushing boldly towards him, Lasalle, in an imperious tone, demanded what token, what proof existed of this alleged connection. Mansolia, thus pressed, replied, that in circumstan- ces, in which the safety of a nation was concerned, full evidence was not always required to convict suspicious characters ; the smallest appearances often sufficed to justify precautions; and as the ad- dress of the turbulent and seditious consisted in the dissimulation of their schemes, that of the chiefs ol a nation did in the prevention of their success ; in the present circumstances, his past negociationp with the Iroquois, his intended return to Fort Fronte nac, and the fort he had just built, were sufficient presumptions to induce the Illinois to apprehend danger, and take the steps necessary to prevv;nt their fall into the snare he seemed to prepare. Lasalle replied, it behoved the Illinois to pre- pare means of defence ; but not against the French, who had come among them to protect and unite (hem in an Jilliance with the other tribes, under the patronage of the king of France; that the Iro- (jiiois had already subjugated the Miamis, Quicha- poos and tlio Mascoutanks, they now sought to add the Illinois to these nations; but they durst not make the attempt while they were connected with the French, and with the view of depriving them ol the advantage, they derived from their union, they hnd mado n«ie of ;.n individual of a conquered tribf !' r?k 16 80 J THE FOURTH 9'3 in pre- 3nch. unite idcr Iro- icha- add nol with m ol lhe> b CHAPTER •iH ,11 f i V , ■ ■ «.■"■■ 1 1 i|4i IS ill . » . ,' [lem French. The Chevalier, having no force to assist the Illinois, successfully airorded them his good of- fices as a mediator, with the aid of fathers (iabriel and Zenobe, who had remained with him. It was believed in Canada, that the Iroquois had been ex- cited by the English at Albany and the enemies of Lasalle. Charles the second having disowned the invasion of Acadie in 1674, and it having been accordingly restored to the French, with the fort of Pentagoet, and that of the river St. John, a small settlement had been formed at Port Royal. The English had built a fort between the rivers Kennebeck and Pentagoet, which they had called Penkuit. The Abenaquis claimed the country on which it stood, and complain- ed of its erection. The English induced the Iro- quois to fall on these Indians, who being unable at once to withstand these white and red enemies, re- conciled themselves to the former. The English, being so far successful, invaded Acadie and took the forts at Pentagoet and the river St. John. Valliere, who commanded at Port Royal, could not prevent the inhabitants from surrendering that place. Thus %vere the French once more driven from the country. Lasalle in the 'meanwhile, arrived at Fort Creve- coeur, and placed a garrison of fifteen men there, under a trusty officer, and proceeded up with work- men to finish the other which he called Fort St. Louis. Leaving the workmen in it, he hastened to meet the Chevalier at Michillimachinack, which he reached on the fifteenth of August. After having refreshed himself and his men for a few days, he sat off with the Chevalier and father Zenobe for Fort Frontenac. After a day's sail, he reached a village of the Iroquois, where he traded for peltries, and leaving his two companions there, he proceeded t« •"11 108 1] THE FOURTH the fort, from whence he sent a barque loaded with mercliaiidiso, provisions and ammunition, and a num- ber ot recruits. The Chevalier and the father went in her to the neighbourhood of the falls of Niagara, where takinsf her lading over land to lake Erie, after a short navigation, ihey landed on the shores of the Miami. Here the Chevalier exchanged some goods for corn, and the party increased their provision of meat by the cliase ; and were joined by a few French- men, and a number of Indians of the Abenaquis, Loup and Quickapoos. They here tarried till the latter part of November, when, Lasalle having joined them, they ascended the river to the mouth of the Chicagou, and went up to a portage of a mile that led them to the river of the Illinois. They spent the night near a large fire, the cold being extremely intense. In the morning, the water courses being all frozen, they proceeded to an Indian village, in which they staid for several days. After visiting Fort St. Louis and Fort Crevecoeur, the weather softening, they floated down the river of the Illinois to the Mississippi, which they entered on the second of February. The party stopped a while at the mouth of the Missouri, arid on the following day reached a village of the Tamoas, the inhabitants of which had left their houses to spend the winter in the woods. They made a short stay at the mouth of the Ohio, float- ing down to the Chickasaw bluffs, one of the par- ty, going into the woods, lost his way. This obli- ged Lasalle to stop. He visited the Indians in the neighbourhood, and built a tort, as a resting place for his countrymen '\avigating the river. At the so- licitation of the Chickasaw chiefs, he went to their principal village, attended by several of his men. They were entertained with much cordiality, and >*!«': m \i^ '■ a It > LOU. h \:i ii ' I n CHAPTER [1681 the Indians approved of his leaving a garriso!i in the fort he was building. The Ciiickasaws were a nu- merous nation, able to bring two thousand men into the field. Presents were reciprocally^ made, and the French and Indians parted in great h'iendship. La- salle, on reaching his fort, was much gratified to find the man, who was missing. He left him to finish the fort, and to command its small garrison. His name was Prudhomme ; it was given to the fort — and the bluff, on which the white banner was then raised, to this day is called by the French ecor a Prudhomc. This is the first act of formal possession, taken by the French nation of any part of the shores of the Mis- sissippi. The spot was, however, included within the limits olthe territory granted by Charles the first to Sir Robert Heath, and by Charles the second to Lord Clarendon and his associates. Lasalle continued his route in the latter part ol February, and did not land during the three first days. On the fourth, he reached a village of the Cappas. -As he advanced towards the landing, hr heard the beating of drums. This induced him to seek the opposite shore, and to throw up a small work of defence ; soon after a lew Indians came across ; Lasalle sent one of his men to meet them with a calumet, which was readily accepted. They offered to conduct the party to their village, promis- ing them safety and a good supply of provisions The invitation was accepted, and two Indians went forward to announce the approach of the French. A number of the chiefs came to the shore to meet ,lhe guests, and lead them to the village ; where they were lodged in a large cabin, and supplied with bear skins to lie'on. The object of Lasalle's expe- dition being inquired into, he told his hosts, he and his men wore subjects of the king of France, who i- [1681 jbbl] THfc: FOURTH dd [1 the I nu- 1 into d the La- find jhthc name id the ted, to dhome. by the ; Mis- within le first ond to jart ol ;e first of the ing, he him to , small 5 came them They jromis- visions IS went ^'rench. to meet re they )d with s expe- he and ce. who had sent ihem to reconnoitre the country, and ortcr to the Indians his friendship, aUiance and protection. Corn and smouked bufliilo meat were brought in, and the French made pr ents of Huitable goods. When Lasalle took leave, two young men were given him as guides to the Arkansas. This tribe dwelt about twenty-five miles lower. They had three villages; the second was at the dis- tance of twenty-five miles from the first. They gave the French a friendly reception. In the last village many Indians being assembled, Lasalle witli their assent took possession of the country for his sove- reign, fixing the arms of France on a lofty tree, and causing them to be saluted by a discharge of mus- ketry. The awe, which this unexpected explosion excited, increased the respect of the natives for their visitors, whom they earnestly pressed to tarry. On the day after their departure, the French saw for the first time alligators, some of which were of an enormous size. - The next nation towards the sea was the Taensas, who dwelt at the distance of about one hundred and eighty miles from the Arkansas. On approaching their first village, Lasalle despatched the Chevalier de Tonti towards it. It stood on a lake, at some distance from the river. The chief received the Chevalier kindly, and came with him to meet La- salle. The healths of the king of France and of the chief of the Taensas were drank in this interview, under a volley of musketry. A supply of provisions was obtained ; some presents were made to the na- tives, and the French departed and floated down the river. On the second day, a pirogue approached from the shore, apparently to reconnoitre the party. The Chevalier was sent to chase her, and as he came ' .^^^ v%^, V] /<' I ■vlr' H^t OHAPTIiH [1G81 much pleased at seeing the scalps of the Quiiiipissas, 111 the hands of the Indians accompanying him. The French, being invited to an entertainment, noticed with surprise that not a woman of their hosts was among them. A moment after, a number of armed men appeared. Lasalie immediately arose and ordered his men to take their arms. The head man requested him not to be alarmed, and directed the armed ones of his nation to halt; informing his guests they were a party, who had been skirmishing with the Iroquois, and assured them that no indivi- dual of his nation harboured any other sentiment towards the French, but that of esteem and friend- ship. Notwithstanding this assurance, the French sat off in the belief that Lasalle's quick motion had averted a blow. The Taensas and Arkansas received the party, with as much cordiality as when they went down. The .French left the latter tribe on the twelfth of May, and stopped at Fort Prudhomme. Lasalie found himself too unwell to proceed : he therefore sent the Chevalier de Tonti forward, with twenty men, French and Indians. His indisposition, de- tained him among the Chickasaws for nearly two months, and he joined the Chevalier at Michillima- chinack, in the latter part of September. They spent a few days together there, and the latter went to take the command of Fort St. Louis of the Illinois, and the former continued his route to Quebec. The Count de Frontenac had sailed for France some time before Lasalle^s arrival. The relation the latter gave of his expedition, excited great joy in Canada. He was impatient to announce his success to his sovereign, and took shipping tor France in October. Charlevoix. — Tonti. — Hennepin, :e6s in 10821 THE FIFTH CHAPTER V. JO.S Le Febvre de la Barre. — De Meuhs. — Lasalle arrives in France. — The Marquis of Scignelai. — Expedition for the Mississippi. — Volunteers^ soldiers and colonists, mechanics, priests. — The jleet weighs anchor, under Beaujeu. — Hispaniola. — Cuba. Beaujeu misses the mouth of the Mississippi, and is driven tvestwardly. — Bay of St. Bernard. — Lasalle attempts to find the Mississippi by land. — Indians. — One of the vessels is cast ashore. — James 11. — Commerce of Canada. — Champigny de JVorroy. — Card money. — Beaujeu sails for France. — A fort built at the ivestern extremity of the bay of Sf. Bernard. — Another attempt to find the Mississippi. — Point Huricr. — An establishment com- menced on the banks of Rio Colorado, or Riviere aux vaches. — The fortifications on the gulf are demolished, and all the colonists remove to Colorado, where they build a new fort. — The Chevalier de Tonti descends the Mis- sissippi, in search of the colonists. — Theyaic distressed by disease, Indian hostilities and famine. — Last attempt to fiwd the Mississippi. — Irruptions of the Iroquois in Canada. — The Marquis de Denonville. — His corres- pondence with {he Governor of JVew York, — Paste- board money. — Lasalle loses his last vessel, and sets off for the Illinois. — Buffaloes. — Biscatonge Indians. — Chinonoas. — Rattle Snake. — Cents. — JVassonites — Sickness and return of Lasalle. — State of the colony. — Lasalle determines to return to France, by the way of Canada. — One of his party falls sick, is sent back and killed by the Indians. — Resentment of his brother. — The party stops to kill buffaloes, and cure the meat. — Muti- ny. — Lasalle and his nephew are murdered. — Division of the party. — The murderers quarrel and some of them i .*a m ^M \i ■:p': «». •SSI I If 'U r;:}^ it r ' : i .* %■>.■■■ ■ ; . . ■i: v!i ■• ! ' \ lli I 104 CHAPTER [1683 are killed ; the others seek, refuge among the Indians. — Lasalle''s brother^ Father JIthanase and Jive others^ reach the Arkansas. — Couture and Delaunay. — Lasalle^s bro- ther and his companions i(o to the /llinoisf and from thence to Quebec^ and embcrrkfor France. LE FEBVRE DE LA BARRE, the successor of Count de Frontenac in the government of New France, and de Meules, the new intendant, landed at Quebec in the spring of 1683. Lasalle was received at court, with all the atten- tion due to a man, who had planned and carried into execution, an enterprise so useful to the nation; and the Marquis de Seignelay, who had succeeded Colbert, liis lather, in the ministry of the Marine, gave directions some time after for the preparation of an expedition at la Rochelle, in order to enable Lasalle to plant a French colony, on the banks of the Mississippi. The vessels, destined for this service, were the king's ship the Joli, the frigate the Aimable, the brig la Belle and the ketch St. Francis. The command of them was given to Beaujeu. Twelve young gentlemen accompanied Lasalle as volunteers ; a company of fifty soldiers was given him, and the king granted a free passage, and made a liberal advance in money, provisions and imple- ments of husbandry, to twelve families who consen- ted to emigrate. A number of usetul mechanics were also embarked, with some other individuals. In order to provide for the spiritual wants of these people, five clergymen, one of whom was Lasalle's brother, were sent. Thus, besides the ollicers and crews, about two hundred and fifty persons accom- panied Lasalle. Beaujeu did not, however, weigh anchor till the 4 1684] THE FIFTH. 10;. the fourth of July 1684. He shaped his course for His- pariiola; but before he reached it, tt storm scattered his small fleet. The Aimable and the Belle reached together Petit Goave, where the Joli had arrived before them. The St. Francis, being a dull sailor, was overtaken and captured by two Spanish priva- teers. A severe indisposition detained Lasalle or shore for several days; during which, many of his people, yielding to the incitement of a warm climate, favoured by the want of occupation, became the vic- tims of intemperance and consequent disease ; and several died. The fleet sat sail on the twenty-fifth of November, and was for many days becalmed ; on the ninth of December, it was betbre the Cape de los corrientes in the island of Cuba, and on the twenty-seventh, their observation showed them to be in the twenty-eighth degree of northern latitude. Their reckoning an- nounced the approach of land, and towards sun down, they found bottom in thirty-two fathoms. La- salle and Beaujpu determined on sailing W. N. W., till the water shoaled to six fathoms, and on the twenty-ninth they saw land, at the apparent distance of six leagues. There was no person in the fleet, acquainted with the coast. Lasalle, noticing a strong current easter- ly, thought himself near the Apalaches. The ves- sels continued sailing in the same direction, and on new year's day the afichor was cast in six tathoms, the land appearing distant about four leagues. Two boats were ordered ashore. Lasalle went in one of them. He had hardly landed, when the wind grow- ing fresher and fresher, he was compelled to re- turn; the other boat was behind and followed him biick. The land w;is flat and woody. He took ap observation, and found himself in twenty-nine, ten. LOU. I. 14 ;■?'■ ':i „ • ' " ,!■< 4 At ■ I, ';- ^ 1 , 1 ^ i ♦. ■■ ■i ■ ■■ ., ' V 1 , 1 I I t\^ iOo CHAPTER tl685 The weather uas hazy, and the wind continued high. The coast appeared lined with battures and breakers. Sailing again W. N. W. as soon as the wind abated, they vainly sought for several days the mouth of the Mississippi. On the thirteenth, they sent ashore for water; a number ot Indians came along the beach ; the wind was from the sea. The fleet cast anchor, within half a league from the shore. The natives seemed by gestures, to seek to induce the French to land. They shewed their bows, then laid them on the ground, and walked composedly along, with arms akimbo. A white handkerchiei was waved at the end of a musket, as an invitation to them to approach. Throwing a log into the water, they swam aboard, each keeping one arm on the log. Lasalle attempted in vain to make himself under- stood. The natives pointed to hogs, fowls and the hide of a cow, apparently desirous to convey the idea of their having such animals. Small presents were made, which seemed to gratify them much. When they went back, the shallowness of the water preventing the close approach of the boats, the In- dians swam away. The French thought the natives gave them to understand there was a great river near, which occasioned the battures. Lasalle now began seriously to apprehend he had passed the Mississippi, and proposed to Beaujeu to sail back. The naval commander was of a different opinion, and nothing was determined on for several days. At last, Lasalle selecting half a dozen of men, undertook to seek the mighty stream by a march along the shore. The weather was extremely hazy, the land low, flat and sandy, destitute of grass, and fresh Water was only to be found in stagnant pools. He noticed numerous tracks of deer, and saw a great luesj THE FIFTH J07 IT^ . ' if ■ . 'i' 1 1 '.'■ .■' : great number of water fowls ; having wandered from day break till three o'clock, Lasalle began to despair, and brought his men back ; he spent several days in vain attempts to induce Beaujeu to come to some determination. He next landed one hundred and twenty men, with the view of sending them along the shore, wliile the Belle sailed in the same direction, till they reached the river he was in quest of. He gave the command of them to Joutel, who marched at their head on the fourth of February, and on the eighth came to a wide stream, on the banks of which he halted for the Belle. Tired of waiting, Joutel had ordered a raft to be built to cross the stream, when the Joli and the Belle hove in sight, and Lasalle came soon after with the Aimable. Beaujeu, now ordered out the boats of the three vessels, to sound on the bar, and in the channel, which he directed to be staked. Finding there was a sufficiency of water, it was thought best to bring the shipping over the bar. The Joli and the Belle accordingly came in, and anchored in safety, but the Aimable struck on the bar and soon after went ashore. It was believed, that design, not accident, had occasioned this mis- fortune ; Aigran, who commanded her, having re- fused to receive on board a pilot of the Belle, sent by Lasalle, to follow the stakes, or permit an anchor to be cast, when the vessel struck. During the night, the wind rose and the waves became violent; she went to pieces with a boat of the Joli, which had been used in saving part of her lading, and had been left fastened to the wreck. Lasalle had to lament, with the loss of this vessel, that of a quantity of pro- visions, ammunition and implements of husbandry. He saved a few barrels X)f tlour, wine and brandy, and some powder. V t>:'X' 1 V h 4 i , ll:.'* t.)!!' » it. i ■ 'I -.1 1 1 '* ■ . ■M ^.i^j; n M •I I los CHAPTER [1U80 A party of Indians came to the camp; lie made them some trifling presents, witli which they ap- peared much pleased. At their request, he visited their village, consisting of about fifty cabins, at a small distance from the shore. Other parties on the following day hovered around the camp, without venturing to attack it. They captured and carried off two white men, who had straggled to a distance. A party went in pursuit of them, and compelled the surrender of the prisoners. The Indians returned a few nights afterwards in great numbers : and, just at the dawn of day, the camp was assailed hy a volley of arrows, which killed two and wounded se- veral men in the camp. An instant and rapid flight enabled the Indians to avoid pursuit. On the sixth of February 1685, on the demise of Charles the second of England, at the age of fifty- five, without issue, his brother James the second, succeeded him. With the view of encreasing the commerce of New France, and aflfording to the nobility of Canada the means of extending their fortunes, Louis the fourteenth, by an edict of the month of March of the same year, permitted them to engage in trade, by land and sea, Avithout thereby committing any act of derogation. This wise measure at home, was followed by one of a different character in the colony. Canada was greatly distressed by the scarcity of a circulating medium, universally felt in all new settlements, and Champigny de Norroy, who succeeded de Meules in the intendancy, sought relief in an emission of card money, which was put into circulation, under an or- dinance of the governor and intendant. Each card bore the stamp of the king's arms, and its value, was signed by the colonial treasurer, and > 1 ItiBoJ THE FIFTH iOH had the coats of arms of the governor and intendant, impressed on wax. Beaujeu sailed for France on the fifteenth of March, in the Joh, taking with him the captain and most of the crew of the Aimable. He refuse»d to land a numherof cannon balls, which he had bronght for the colony, on the pretence that they were in the bottom of his ship, and he could not unload her with- out risk. He left twelve pieces of cannon, but not a single ball. After his departure, Lasalle occupied himself in building a fort at the western extremity of the bay, which now bears the name of St. Bernard, and gar- risoned it with one hundred men. Leaving Moran- gies, his nephew, in command there, he sat off with a party of fifty men, accompanied by the abbe de La- salle his brother, and two recollct friars, father Ze- nobe, who had descended the Mississippi with him a kw years before, and father Maxime. His object was to seek for the month of the Mississippi river, at the bottom of the bay. The captain of the Belle, was directed to sound this estuary in his boats, and to bring the vessel as far as he could ; he followed the coast to a point, which was called Point Hurier, after an officer, who was left there with a few men, to throw up a small work. The party now pro- ceeded to the eastern extremity of the bay, and to a considerable distance beyond, and returned without finding the Mississippi. In the middle of April, Lasalle established a new post sixteen miles up a river, which from the number of cows he found on its bank, he called Cow River ; it is believed to be the one called by the Spaniards Rio Colorado de Texas. A party of Indians came to attack him ; but they were repulsed. Towards the latter part of the month, Lasalle re. ^tf '■'ii \'r I '. -i^ i \P ■i • ) !'■ * 1 I'll nu CIIAPTEU [168* turned to the fort, in which he had left Morangies. On Easter Sunday, divine service was performed with great solemnity, every one receiving the sacra- ment. This fort and the small work thrown up by Hu- rler, were now abandoned and demolished ; all the colornsts removingtothenewsettlement,with all their effects. The ground was prepared for cultivation, and a number of houses were elected for common and private use. A fort was built, in which twelve pieces of cannon were mounted, and a large sub- terraneous magazine made. The ibrt was called Fort St. Louis. In the mean while, the chevalier de Tonti, hav- ing received intelligence from Canada of the depar- ture of a fleet from France, in which Lasalle wag bringing colonists to the Mississippi, left the fort at the Illinois, in order to meet his ibrmer chief. The Indians every where greeted the chevalier, who reached the mouth of the river, without being able to receive any information of his countrymen, fie staid there several weeks, and the bor.ts, which he sent towards the east and west in seaich of Lasalle, returned without any account of him. Despairing of being more successful if he staid longer, he re- luctantly reascended the stream. The tree, on which Lasalle had two years before placed the es- cutcheon of France, had been upi'ooted in a storm, and the chevalier raised another token of the pos- session taken for the king, on the banks of the river, about twenty miles from the sea. Mortified and chagrined, he progressed slowly, stopping in the vil- lages on the way, endeavouring to obtain some ac- count of the French colonists. All his attempts proved fruitless, and he reached his fort among the Illinois, in the month of May. met!) THE FIFTH. Ill During the fall, most of the colonists on Rio Colo- rado sickened and many died. The Indians frequently came near the fort, and at times killed such of the French who strayed into the woods. Lasaile marched against them, v\ith a party whom he had provideil with a kind of wooden jackets, that protected them against arrows. He killed several Indians, and made some prisoners. A little girl ahout lour years of age, who was then taken, was the first of the natives, who received bap- tism in the colony. Disease and the fatigues of this kind of warfare, interrupted so much the labours of agriculture, that but a scanty crop was made. The seed grain hav- ing been brought shelled was a circumstance that had its effect, in disappointing the hopes of the sower: wheat seldom coming well in virgin ground, when the seed has not been kept in the ear. The captain of the Belle, having gone a hunting with half a dozen of his men, was surprised by a party of Indians, who slew them all. After paying the last duty to their bodies, Lasalle and his brother, attended by twenty men, left the fort with the view of resuming the search of the Mississippi. The bay he was on received a number of rivers, none of which was of such a depth or width, as allowed it to be considered as a branch of the mighty one. Lasalle visited them all. He was impeded in his progress by the difficulty of crossing them, by almost incessant rains, and the necessity, at every stage, to provide against a sudden attack. On the thirteenth of February 1686, he came to so wide and deep a stream, that he suspected it to be that he was looking for. He threw up a light work on its banks, in which he placed nine men. Proceeding higher up, he came to a large village of Indians, i' 51 1*4)t. I!! ,1 \ >j u« CUAI'TER [160t> uliero ho was conlially received. From the infor- maliori he received, he was convinced his conjec- ture was erroneous : after a further progress, he re- trogaded, took back his nine men, and returned to the settlement which he reached on the last day ol May. The Iroquois encouraged and aided by governor Dongan of New York, continued their irruptions on the frontier settlements of Canada, and Louis the fourteenth was induced, at the pressing solicitations of the colonists, to send a body of troops to their succour. Labarre being old and infirm, the Marnuis de Denonville was sent to relieve him. In his hrst communication to the minister, which is of the eighth of May 1 686, this officer recommended the erection of a fort, wilh a garrison of four or five hundred men at Niagara, to shut out the English from the lakes ; secure exclusively the fur trade to Canada, afford an asylum to the allied Indians, and deprive deser- ters from the king's troops of the facility of joining the English at Albany; who employed them as guides in military and commercial excursions, among the tribes in alliance with the French. The Marquis encreased the garrison of Fort Fon- tenac, and furnished it abundantly with provisions and ammunition. This gave umbrage to governor Dongan, who wrote him the Iroquois considered this reinforcement as the prelude to the invasion of their country; that these Indians were the allies, nay the subjects of the English crown, and an act of hostility against them could oidy be viewed as an infraction of the peace, which existed between France and England ; that he was informed a fort was about to be erected at Niagara; a circumstance which surprised him the more, as the Marquis, though but lately arrived in America, could not well be inofl] THE FIFTH. U.. ro- bo siipposod ifrnoraiit of that part of the country brinj^ within thr province of New Vork. The Marcjuis answered, that the consciousness of the Iroquois, t|iat tliey (!eserve'! I'll I «• ■ -^1 ' n 114 CHAPTER [1686 changed once a year ; but in course of time, bills ceased to be given for them. Their value, which till then had been equal to gold, now began to diminish ; the price of all commodities rose proportionably, and the colonial government was compelled, in order to meet the increased demands on its treasury, to re- sort to new and repeated emissions ; and the people found a new source of distress, in the means adopted for their relief The English colonies in America, in the latter part of the seventeenth and the first of the eighteenth cen- tury, had also recourse to emissions of paper cur- rency. They every where yielded at first, a mo- mentary relief The currency borrowed its value from confidence ; moderaiion might have preserved, but profusion almost universally destroyed it, and the depreciated paper proved a greater evil than that it was intended to remedy. The earliest emissions in these colonies, date in those of New England of 1696, in New York of 1709, in New Jersey of 1720, in Pennsylvania of 1722, in Delaware of 1730, in North Carolina and Barbadoes of 170 J, and in South Carolina of 1703. If the co- lonies of Maryland and Virginia, during the period of their dependence on the crown, had no paper currency (a circumstance which has not been ascer- tained) it was probably owing to their finding in tobac- co, their staple commodity, the means of substituting the contract of exchange to that of sale. Merchants there kept their accounts in pounds of tobacco, and the tiees of the colonial oflScers were by law fixed and made payable in that article. A lew days after the return of Lasalle to the fort, the Belle was cast ashore in a hurricane and bilged. The orticer who commanded her, the chaplain and four of her crew, alone escaped. With her, thirty- [1686 bills K till nish ; , and er to re- eople apted r part ticen- : cur- a mo- value erved, t, and 1 than late in fl709, 722, in ladoes he co- period paper ascer- tobac- ituting •chants 20, and w fixed le fort, bilged. Hin and thirty- 1686J THE FIFTH lU six barrels of flour, some wine and a quantity of merchandize were lost. She was the only vessel remaining in the colony, and would have been of vast service to Lasalle ; he expected to have sailed in her to Hispaniola, in search of succour. On the loss of his last vessel, he determined to proceed to Fort St. Louis of the Illinois, in order to apprize government of his miscarriage, and solicit farther aid. Accompanied by his brother and nephew, by father Athanase, fifteen other Frenchmen and two trusty Indians, who had followed him from Canada, on the twenty-second of May, mass having been said to implore the benediction of heaven on his journey, he sat off and travelled northeasterly, taking with him two canoes and two sleighs. He crossed several streams, and saw large herds of buffaloes, among which were a few horses, so wild that they could not be caught without great ad- dress and much difficulty. Every night, he took the precaution of surrounding his camp with poles, to guard against surprise. On the twenty-fifth, towards noon, he met with four Indians on horseback, of a tribe called the Quoaquis ; their dresi> was chiefly of leather ; they had boots, saddles and a kind of shield of the same material, and wooden stirrups ; the bits of their bridles were of wolf or bear's teeth. They inquired who the party were, and, being in- formed, invited them to their village. Two days after, Lasalle crossed a river, which he called Riber, from one of the party, who was drowned in crossing it. Here he halted for six days ; his men killed a buffalo, and salted and smoked the meat. Three days after he crossed another stream, which he called Hiens, after one of the party, who sank ■mm ■ ;><].)< IH , .^t'ill ( t. ' '• •*• r'^x.-y'd l>,V' .!> I' « .': n il lie CHAPTER [1686 into the mud and was drawn out with great diffi- culty. Lasalle now altered his course, travelling due east. After a march of several days, he came to a tribe called the Biscatonges, where he obtained dressed buffalo skins, of which his men made mocko- sons, a kind of covering for the foot, much used by the Indians, and resembling a mitten or a glove without fingers. These Indians also suppHed La- salle with canoes ; the two, he had brought from the fort, being already so crazy as to be of but little use. On the following day, as the French approached a village, one of them shot a deer; this so terrified the Indians, that they all fled. T.asalle ordered his men under arms, as they entered the village. It con- sisted of about three hundred cabins; the wife of one of the chiefs was still in hers, being so old that she could not move. She was given to understand, she had nothing to fear. Three of her sons, who had remained at a small distance, noticing the peaceable demeanor of the strangers, called back her country- men, who immediately returned. They offered the calumet to, and entertained, the French with much cordiality. Unwilling to put too much confidence in these friendly appear.inces, Lasalle encamped at night, on the opposite side of a cane brake, that encircled the village, and surrounded himself with poles as usual. These precautions proved timely ; for during the night, a party of Indians, armed with arrows, ap- proached. The rustling of the canes warning La- salle, ho gave them to understand, without quitting his entrenchment, that if they did not retire, he would order his men to fire. The night passed with- out any further disturi)ance, and in the morning, the iG86] THE FIFTH. 11' hosts and the guests parted with apparent marks of friendship. Eight miles further, they came to a village of the Chinonoas. These Indians dwelt in the neighbour- hood of the Spaniards, who often came among and vexed them. They immediately recognised the French as being of another nation, by their language and mien; and their hate of the Spaniards, inspired them with the opposite sentiment for their present visitors, who were not long without letting their hosts know, they were at war with the Spaniards. The Indians pressed Lasalle to tarry, and accom- pany them on an expedition they were projecting, against their troublesome neighbours. He excused himself on the smallness of his party, who were ill provided with arms. He was supplied with provi- sions, and took leave. On the next day, Rica, the Indian servant of La- salle, stopped suddenly, exclaimi!ig he was a dead man; he immediately fell, and in a few minutes, swelled to an astonishing degree. He had been bitten by a rattle snake. Alter the scarification of the wound, and the application of such herbs, as his countrymen quickly pointed out, he was relieved. This accident detained the party during two days. They next came to a wide river, which rendered it necessary to make a raft with canes and branches covered with hides. Lasalle, his nephew and two servants, ventured on it first. When they reached the middle of the stream, the violence of the current carried them out of the sight of their companions. After floating thus for a couple of miles, the raft rested on a large tree which had fallen into the river, almost torn out by the roots. By pulling on its branches, they found the means of reaching the op- posite shore. The rest of the party remained all ■.^ '■^ ■ ■.■•■<' ;i| ^.}»f ;*'f 'Itl • 'I ■r::\s ^ I'M lib CHAPTER [1686 the night and the following day in distressing un- certainty. They proceeded along the river, loudly calling their leader, and night came on without their being relieved ; but in the morning, the calls being resumed, were soon answered by Lasalle from the opposite shore. A stronger raft was made, and the rest of the party crossed. They now refached a village of the Cenis, having overtaken an Indian on horseback, who was return- ing to it. His wife sat behind him, and other horses followed, loaded with the produce of his chase. He gave part of it to Lasalle, and preceded the party into the village, leaving his wife with them. Some of the chiefs came out to meet the French, who staid several days, and traded with their hosts for some horses. This was the largest settlement, Lasalle had come to. It extended for upwards of twenty miles, interspersed with hamlets of len or twelve cabins. These were large, often exceeding forty feet in length. Dollars were seen among the peo- ple, and many articles of furniture, as spoons, forks, plates. &.C., which manifested they traded with the Spaniards. Horses were in great plenty, and the Indians very willing to part with a serviceable one, for an axe. Lasalle saw, in one of the cabins, a printed copy of one of the Pope's Bulls, exempting Mexicans from fast during the summer. The natives made a very good map of their country on pieces of bark, and shewed they were within six days' march from the Spanish settlements. After staying five or six days, Lasalle proceeded to the Nassonites, where he was received with much courtesy. It was perceivable that the Indians of this tribe, had much iptercourse with the Spaniards ; for when they saw father Athanase, they made the sign of the cross and kneeled, to give him to understand, 1687J THE FIFTH. Hi) they were acquainted with the ceremonies of the mass. Here, lour men of the party deserted, at- tracted, as was beheved, by the charms of some of the Cenis women. Lasalle and his nephew fell dangerously iH. Two months elapsed, before they felt themselves in a si- tuation to travel. His ammunition now was exhaust- ed, and he was at the distance of four hundred and fifty miles in a straight line from his fort. The party unanimously agreed to return. On their march back, one of them attempting to swim across a river was devoured by an alligator. They reached the fort, on the seventeenth of October. There was a considerable tract of land cleared, and under cultivation. Comfortable houses had been built, and gardens were to be seen near most of them ; the settlement was in a flourishing condi- tion, and the Indians, in the immediate neighbour- hood, were friendly. After a stay of two months with the colonists, La- salle determined on returning by the way of Canada to France, in order to solicit a reinforcement of hus- bandmen and mechanics. He sat ofT in the begin- ning of the new year, accompanied by his brother and nephew, father Athanase and seventeen men. He took the same route as before. There were in the party, when they left the settlement, two brothers of the name of Lancelot. The younger, being weak and infirm, was unable to keep up, and was sent back on the second day; the elder was desirous to re- turn also ; but Lasalle, thinking the party too weak, refused his consent. The young man was met near the settlement by a party of Indians, who killed him. Intelligence of this misfortuFie reaching the party, the surviving brother, casting the blame on Lasalle, did not conceal his resentment ; but vented it in f ' ^'fyi ■■■■ l.ij.ll ■ n I m t#' ■; I- 120 CHAPTER [1G87 threats. At length, it seemed to have Bubsided. After a march of about two months, provisions fail- ing, this man with Liotot, the surgeon, Hiens aod Duhault, were sent to kill buffaloes and salt and smoke the meat. These persons, displeased with Lasalle and his nephew, who commanded this small detachment, plotted their destruction. In the even- ing of the seventeenth of March, Liotot despatched Lasalle's nephew, his servant and an Indian, with an axe. His companions standing by, ready to defend him with their arms, had any resistance been made, Lasalle, missing his nephew, left the party with father Athanase, and retrograded. Meeting Lancelot, he inquired whither his nephew was; the wretch pointed to a spot, over which a number of buzzards were hovering; as Lasalle advanced, he met with another of the accomplices, to whom he put the same ques- tion ; but Duhault, who lay concealed in high grass, fired ; the ball lodged in Lasalle's head ; he fell and survived an hour only. This was on the nineteenth of March 1687, near the western branch of Trinity River. The murderers, joined by other malcontents, tak- ing possession of the provisions, ammunition and every thing that belonged to the deceased, compel- led the rest of the party to continue with them. In a quarrel among themselves, two of them were killed, and the rest sought an asylum among the Indians. Lasalle's brother, lather Athanase and five others continued their route towards the Illinois. A few days after, de Monte, one of them, bathing in a river, was drowned. In the latter part of July, this small party reached the country of the Arkansas. They noticed a large cross fixed in the ground, near a house built like those of the French in Canada. Here they found two of their countrymen. Couture 1687] THE FIFTlf dL2l anil Delaunay, natives of Rouen, who liad come thither I'rotn the fort at the Illiiiois. Here the party learned that the Chevalier de Tonti, on his way to the mouth of the Mississippi, to meet Lasalle, had left six Frenchmen, at the Arkansas; four of whom had returned to the Illinois. After staying sometime with Couture and Delaunay, the travellers disposed of their horses and procured canoes, in v'hich they ascended the Mississippi, and the river of the Illi- nois to Fort St. Louis, which they reached on the fourth of September. The Chevalier de Tonti was absent, and Bellefontaine, his lieutenant, comman- ded. The travellers thought it prudent to conceal the death of Lasalle ; they staid but a few days in the fort, and proceeded, by the way of Michillimackinac to Canada, and landed at Quebec, on the ninth of October, and soon after took shipping for France. ^■m ■■A\ ■■'A m Charlevoix. "^Tonli. — Hennepin: ■■ *i ■h ■ . -)» ^tr- LOU. I jl6 ■'1 ii ■ :. -t^ •,h Im :;} t. 122 CllAPTEK lC>ii7 CHAPTEK VI. The English excite the Iro(jUois against the Indian allies of the French. — Proposals of James II. to Louia XIV. for the neutrality of their Jlmericcm dominions, — /«- structions to Denonvtlle. — Th^ Fnglish attack Iberville^ in '^ndson'^s Bay., and he repels them, — Iroeptois Chiefs d> ^c(/, made ptisoners and sent to the galley 8 at Mar- settles. — Vandreuil leads the Canadian Joyces against the Iroquois. — Correspondence between Denonville and the Governor of JVeiv York. — The French are attacked in a defile. — (jiood conduct of their red allies and the mi- litia. — The Iroquois are routed.^ one of their villages is burnt., and their plantations laid waste. — Denonville marches buck to JSlagara and builds a fort. — Epidemic disease. — The Iroquois ravage the plantations near Fort Frontenac. — They sue for and obtain peace. — Po- pulation of Canada. — Mdication of James II. — Wil- liam and Alary. — Distress of the Colony on the Gidf of Me.vico. — Jllonzo de Leon scours the country. — Province of Texas. — Frontenac returns to JS^ew France. Commissioners for settling the boundaries of the French and English Colonies in JVorth America. — Frontenac^s instructions. — De C allieres. — La Cajfiniere. — Projected attack of JVeiv York. — Irruption oj the Iroquois — De- claration of War between France and England. — Corlacr, Sermentel and Kaskebe. — Medal. — Famine. Vaudrenil takes possession of jlcadie. — Du Palais. — The English possess themselves of Hudson'' s Bay. — Ibervervtlle retakes it and winters there. — Scurvy. — Iber- ville reduces the Fort at Pentagoet. — The English land in Jlcudie and distress the planters. — Iberville's success in JYew Foundland. — Th Fort in Hudson^s Bay taken by the English., and retaken by Iberville. — Peace of Bis- ivick. — IJe C allieres. Ii".;:'/ mi] THE SrXTH IK) DURING Ihe fall oflGB?, a party of the Iro(iuois fell on some of the Indians in alliance with the French near Michilliniackinac. Fathek Lamber- ville, the missionary at that post, was informed that this attack had been determined on at a meetin": of deputies o( several tribes, the chiefs of which had been lately convened at Albany, by the governor of New York, who had assin-ed them the Marcpiis de Denonviile meant to wage war against them: the governor advised them to begin it themselves, by falling on the French or their allies, whenever they met them, as, not suspecting any attack, they wotdd be found an easy prey. He promised that, whatever might be the consequences, he never would for- sake his red allies. While the government of New Vork was provok- ing its Indians to hostilities against Canada, James the second was apparently pursuing quite a ditfer- ent line of conduct. The Marquis received a letter from the Minister, inibrming him that the cabinet of St. James had proposed to the Ambassador of France, a treaty of neutrality, between the subjects of the two crowns in North America; and its offers having been accepted, one had been concluded in the preceding fall. The Marquis was accordingly directed to have the treaty puolished throughout the colony, and registered in the superior council, and to see it faith- fully executed by the king's subjects in Canada. By the fourteenth and fifteenth articles, it was agreed that the two sovereigns should send or- ders to their respective governors and other officers, to cause to be arrested and prosecuted, as pirates, the captains and crews of all vessels, sailing without a commission, and any of the subjects of either king, sailing under one from a prince or state at war with him. ;»t' 'M If •' n I m hf i : I ' *•■ ; lii'J CHAPTER [iG8e i8» ■. It docs not npppar that tlie Encjlisli Imd any other viow, than to hill the French into srcmily ; tor ihcy fell on Fort St. Anne, in Hudson's iJay ; hut f hcrvillc, who commanded there, repelled the i>ss;ul;tnls, look one ol their ships, and burnt a house which they h;id erected on the sea-shore. Louis tfie t'ourtc^enth, with the view of increasing the crews of his ji^alleys, arwl nvener ol' Indians, and guided by a French (leserter, were surprised carrying goods and amunition to Michillimackinac. The oHlcer commanding there, seized the goods and amunition, made the Enghsh prisoners, and sent tlic deserter to the Manpiis, who had him shot. The Jirmy now moved to the river dcs Sables^ and marched into the country of the enemy. After hav- ing safely passed through two defdes, it was attacked by a party of about eight hundred Iroquois, who, pouring a destructive tire on its van, ran to at- tack its rear, whih? another party repeated the clmrge in front. This threw the army in some confusion ; but the alHed Indians, better used to figlit in the woods, stood together, till the French rallied to them. The regulars, to whom this kind of warfare was (piite novel, were not so useful in this instance as the militia. The army, now collected, dispersed the Indians. The French had ordy six men killed : the Iroquois forty-five killed and sixty wounded. The Marquis now marched to and encamped in one of the largest villages of the enemy, which was found quite deserted, and every house in it was burnt. Alter rambling for ten days, and laying waste every settlement and destroying every plantation, the Mar- quis, finding his regulars and militia much weakened by fatigue and disease, and his Indians impatient of returning, gave up the pursuit and returned to Nia- agara, where he employed his men in building a fort. In the fall an epidemic disease ravaged the colony. Fort Chambly and Fort Frontenac were attacked in November; although the Indians were repelled in both places, they committed great ravages on the plantations of the neighbourhood, and burnt several houses. 1 1 . |n^: ,#. i •;!; fi! u M h^ii ClfAPrKli i(ii;ti '' ! They ina(l<' proposals ofp'^no, in lOOlJ, iUr. follow, iupj year, on crondidon (hat (heir chieis in Miirseilleg should he hron^ht baek. The Marc|uiH wilhngly ac- cepted these oilers. The Irontier s«'tllers had been prevented, by the dread ol" new irruptions, Irom cul- tivatintr their fields. Dearth prevailed all over the colony, and the enemy was the more to be feared, that he had a powerful aid in the Fji^lish at New York. A(;cording to a census of this year, Canada had a population of eleven thousand two hundred and forty- nine persons. James attempting to establish popery, had become obnoxious to the people ; he was cruel and oppress- ive, and his subjects, who, half a century before, had led his father to the scaffold, offered his crown to the prince of Orange, the husband of his eldest daughter. W illiam landed in England, on the fourth of Novem- ber, 1688. .lames, terrified, abdicated his crown and iled to France. The Irish for awhile supported his cause; but William and Mary were soon affer re- cognised as sovereigns of the three kingdoms. The people left by Lasalle in Fort St. Louis, not receiving any succour from France, and their stock of amunition being exhausted, were unable to de- fend themselves against the neighbouring Indians. Disease made great havoc among them ; in the mean- while, the Viceroy of Mexico, in compliance with a standing article of his instructions, by Philip the.se- cond,enjoining the extermination of all foreigners who might penetrate into the gulf of Mexico, directed an expedition to be formed at Cohaguilla, under the orders of Don Alonzo dc Leon, to scour the country and hunt out the French colonists, if any were still remaining. This officer, with a small force, arrived on the twenty-second of April, 1689, at Fort St. Louis, and on the twenty-fourth, at the entrance of the bay. T\ mean- with a he.se- s who ed an r the untry e still rrived jouis, le bay. low] THE SIXTH 1'21 wlirrc lie found \Uv hullol'llip French vessel that had hern wreeked. lie saw no \s\i\\v man at either plaer. Having heard, on his niarcfi that some oi" Lasalle's companions wcro still Handinnj,^ .ihout the country^ or had taken rv.\u^v nmon^ the Indians, he shaped his course towards the A^^sinais, hut found no trace of those he was in <|uest ol^ (f is said that Don Alon/o was courteously received by the Assinais, and gave thes<' Indians the appellation of Tcxdf or fnends. A few years after, the Spaniards sent mis- sionaries into this part of the? country, and afterwards estahlibhed military posts or presidios^ among these Indians. These missions or posts were the begin- ning of the Spanish settlements in the province of Texas. Tlie Count de Frontenac was now appointed governor-general of New France. In his instructions, which bear date of the seventh of June, 1 089, it is sta- ted that the reciprocal and repealed attacks of the French and English in Acadie and Hudson's Bay, had induced the appointment ofcommissioncrs,onthe part of the two crowns, to report on their respective pretentions ; but, as the facts alleged, by either party, were not admitted by the other, the conferences had been suspended, till they could be verified. In the meanwhile, the late revolution in England had put, at least for the present, an end to these negociations. The count was, therefore, instructed to aid the company trading to these places, and drive the English from the ground they had usurped. He was informed that, with regard to Acadie, the English commissioners had recognised the rights of France on the territory, as far as Pentagoet ; and the attack of the forts on that river, by tlie people of Boston had been disavowed ; and he was instructed to take, in concert with Monneval, governor of Acadie, the 'ill' ; i'\ 1" M M !^ 128 cnAPTt:R fiusu measures necessary to prevent the repetition of a like outrage. It was announced that the king, in- formed that the English of New York continued their intrigues with the Iroquois, inducing them to wage war against his Canadian subjects and his Indian al- lies, whom they supplied with arms and ammunition, had determined, on carrying into execution, a plan, projected by Callieres, the governor of Montreal, lor taking possession of the city and province of New York, and had directed La CalFiniere to proceed with a naval ibrce to Acadie and follow the count's direc- tions. • On his arrival in Acadie, with this naval comman- der, while the governor-general was concerting with him the plans of simultaneous attacks by the navy on the city of New York, and the land forces on Al- bany, the intelligence he received from Canada was such as to induce him to forego every plan of otieusive operation against the English. Fifteen hundred Iroouois made an irruption, in the island of Montreal, on the twenty -fifth of August. This overpowering force struck every one on the island with consternation : no resistance was made. The Indians laid the plantations waste, burnt the bouse and massacred the male inhabitants that fell into their hands. The females were made prisoners; but even all their lives were not spared. The bellies of pregnant women were ripped open, and the fruit torn out of the womb. Small children were put on the spit, and the mother compelled to turn it. Two hundred persons were killed, in the small settlement of La Chine, the first they attacked. As they advan- ced towards the town of Montreal, destruction, fire and smoke marked their way. They made them- selves masters of the fort, notwithstanding the vigor- ous and resolute resistance of Kobeyre, who com- 'rrit ■'h 1691] THE SIXTH. 12d manded there. Thus they were in possession of the whole island ; they kept it till October. On the arrival of the Count de Frontenac at Que- bec, the Iroquois retreated lor awhile, in order to provide the means of returning soon, in a situation to pursue their irruptions as far as the capital, where they intended to cooperate with an English fleet, which they expected to meet before it. They boast- ed that before the spring, there should not be one Frenchman alive in Canada. In the meanwhile, war had been declared in France against Eiigland, on the twenty-fifth of June. The winter was spent in Canada, in making arrange- ments tor the campaign of the following year. The chiefs lost not, in their attention to the measures which the defence of the colony demanded, the view of the offensive ones, recommended by the king against New York and Albany — considering the re- duction of the English colony, as the only mean of protecting that committed to their care: but the spring vessels brought the king^s orders to abandon the projected attack on the city of New York by sea, the immense armaments, which circumstances re- quired in Europe, disabling the minister of the navy from sparing any ships for that purpose. Three large detachments of the army advanced in the spring on the northern frontier of New York, and had considerable success. They took Corlaer, Ser- mantel and Kaskebe. Afterwards, a party of the Iroquois came to the mouth of the river Sorel, and carried off a number of lads, who were pasturing cattle. The Iroquois were pursued and the lads brought back, except one, whom they had killed, because he could not keep up with them. Another party, who came to the island of Orleans. LOU. I. 17 » .1 130 CHAPTER [1691 Fi' 1 I'M 1- " I I,; lit ^i! ii i was attacked by a farmer, of the name of '^olumbet, who collected tweuty-tive o( his neighbours. He was killed, with a few of his followers ; but the Iroquois were repelled and left twenty-tive ol their men on the field of battle. A third made about thirty prisoners, men, women and children: they were followed, but the purbuit proved a fatal one to them, as the Indians, unable to escape with their captives, mnssacred them all. The French had no navul force in North America. The English colonies supplied the mother country with one; and Sir William Phipps, sailing from Bos- ton'with a small fleet, on the twenty-second of May, took Port Royal, in Acadie, and soon after the other ports of that colony. Thence he proceeded to the island of New Foundland, where he pillaged the porl of Plaisance. On the sixteenth of June, his fleet, now consisting ofthirty-four sail, cast anchor below Quebec, and he summoned the Count de Frontenac to surrender. On receiving a resolute answer, Sir William approached the city, and the fort began a fierce cannonade: the flag-staflfof his ship was broken by a shot, and a Ca- nadian boldly committed himself to the waves to take it: he succeeded, notwithstanding the brisk fire of the musketry, and the flag was triumphantly carried to the cathedral, where it was deposited as a trophy. On the eighteenth, fifteen hundred men landed, and were repulsed with the loss of three hundred. On the next day, the shipping drew near and cannonaded the lower town; but the fire from the castle soon compelled them to retire in some confusion. On the twentieth, a larger body was landed than before, at some distance below the city: they boldly advanced towards it; but the count sallied forth, with all his force, and repulsed them. They retreated to the Hi iboij THE SIXTH. IJl [1691 )]umbet, He was Iroquois !ii oil the , women puibuit iiiable to II. iLmerica. country ora Bos- of May, le other (1 to the the porl insisting ;, and he Jer. On roached ide: the id a Ca- i to take fire of carried trophy. ed, and 3d. On lonaded le soon On the [jfore, at Ivauced i all his to the pl'icc of their landing, where the vicinity of the ship- .piiig prevented him from following them. During the night, five pieces of artillery were landed, and in the morning the enemy advanced with these; but the count coming out, with a larger force than the pre- ceding day, the English retreated at first in tolerably good order; but the galling fire of the French on the rear, and of their Indinns on the land side, soon threw them in great confusion: those who reached the boats, embarking and pushing ofl' in much haste, left their companions and cannon behind ; many of those were killed and the rest taken. The fleet now weighed anchor and drifted down. They stopped out of the reach of the guns of the French, till an exchange of prisoners was made — Sir William having several on board of his Heet, taken in Acadie, New Foundland, and along the St. Law- rence as he ascended it. He had expected that while he was attacking Que- bec, a number of Iroquois, swelled and directed by some of his countrymen from Albany, would enter the island of Montreal and fall on the town : thus creating a necessity for the division of the forces of the colony, which would ensure the fall of Quebec, and finally enable him to make himself master of the whole province. But the English did not find among the Iro- quois all the warriors they expected to join. The garrison of the upper fort had been reinforced and well supplied with arms and ammunition, and an at- tack being expected above, rather than below, the militia were able to disperse the parties of the Iro- quois, who approached. Louis the fourteenth caused a medal to be struck in commemoration of this negative victory ; which is believed to be the first event, in the history of Ame- rica, of which there is a numismatic record. The inscription on the medal is, Francia in novo orbc victrit. v:i| I, ,- 'k ^». I I* ! 11 Blf: m t32 CHAPTER tl692 In the fall, the scarcity of provisions was ex- treme. The alarm, in which the country liad been in the spring and the beginning of the summer, had drawn most of the people from their farms during seed time ; and allhough a small tleet of merchant vessels, which entered the river while the English were attacking Quebec, found a shelter, till after their departure, up the Saguenay, the supply they brought in afforded but a temporary relief and was soon exhausted. The famine was most severely felt in the capital : the troops were sent in small detach- ments in every parish, and the men scattered among such farmers, as could best afford them subsistence. They were all very cheerfully received. The Iroquois came down in great numbers the following spring. A body of upwards of one thou- sand encamped near the island of Montreal : a de- tachment of one hundred arid twenty was sent nor- therly, and one of two hundred southerly. The first fell on the settlements of the Pointe aux trembles^ where they burnt upwards of thirty houses and made several prisoners, whom they treated with extreme cruelty. The other, among whom were about twen- ty Englis' men, went towards Chambly, where they laid all the plantations waste, capturing men, women and children. Several other parties went in various directions : all carrying desolation before them. The colonists could not keep any large force together, owing to the improbability of finding subsistence. Small bodies, however, kept the field, and scoured the country with so much success, that the foe was compelled to retreat. A victualling convoy, which arrived during the summer, enabled the Canadians to wait for the sea- son of reaping. The Chevalier de Villebon, appointed governor of Acadie, arrived at Port Royal in November : find* M [1692 as ex- d been ?r, had during >rchant Rnglish 11 after )ly they ind was rely felt detach- I among iislence. 3ers the le thou- l: a de- ent nor- rhe first trembles^ nd made extreme ut twen- ere they , women 1 various ^m. The ogether, sisteiice. scoured foe was ring the the sea- rovernor \er : find- 1694) THE SIXTH. 13i ing no English force there, he called the inhabitants together, and, hoisting the white flag, took quiet and formal possession of the country. Canada was greatly disturbed in the following year by the Iroquois : the French had several skir- mishes witli large parties of these Indians ; but no decisive action took place. In the latter part, a French fleet under the orders of Du Palais, came on the Canadian sea. The Eng- lish attacked Plaisance, in the island of New Found- land without success : and the government of Massa- chusetts was equally unfortunate in an attempt against Villebon in Acadie. In 1693, king William determined to indulge the peopleof New England and New Yoflc, with a second effort to reduce Quebec — the frontier settlements of these provinces being incessantly harrassed by irruptions of the Indians allied wilh France, often directed by the white people ; but an attack on Mar- tinique was the previous object of the naval and land forces destined against Canada. A contagious fever broke out in the fleet, while it was in the West Indies, and by the time the ships reached North America, had swept away upwards of three thousand soldiers and sailors. This disaster prevented any hostility against Canada or Acadie. Fort St. Anne, in the bay of Hudson, was taken by the English. Iberville wa^ in the following year, sent thither with two ships, and a small land force. The Eng- lish had a garrison of fifty men only, in Fort Nelson. There was no military officer commanding there ; but, they were under the orders of a factor of the company ; he made no resistance. On its being re- duced, its name was changed to Fort Bourbon ; Iber- ville wintered there. The scurvy made a great havoc among his people. In the summer he leA the i-, -vr "I ■-:)^:i I'- 134 criAPTKR IIC'JH I ! Ir n ^ II pi |t.^ ! !!^ command to Lasaut, to whom he gave Mariisrny, as his lieutenant, with a garrison of sixty CanadifMis and some Indians. He brought away a very considerable quantity of furs and peltries, collected from the natives. In Canada, the Count de Frontenac, contrary to the representations of the Intendant, the advice of his military officers, and the directions of the Minis- ter, took upon himself to rebuild the fort at Cata- rocoui. He went up, with seven hundred men for this purpose. It was in vain objected to him, that this force, and the funds that were I bus to be em- ployed, might be more usefully used in an offensive expedition against the Iroquois, who contiriued to annoy the distant settlements. He left in it a garrison of fifty-eight men. In the fall, the Count and the Intendant recom- mended to the Minister, to send ten or twelve ships of the line against an English fleet that was expected in the Canadian sea, and to attempt the reduction of Boston. They represented that town as carrying on a considerable trade, and assured him its falling into the hands of the French would ensure the fishe- ries exclusively to them. The king's council, how- ever, determined on confining the operations of the next campaign in America, to driving the English from the places they occupied in New Foundland, and the fort of Penkuit, from which they continued to harrass the settlements in Acadie, and which, being in the immediate neighbourhood of the Abenaquis, gave the people of New England, a great oppor- tunity of subduing these Indians, or at least of seduc- ing them from their alliance with, and dependence on the French crown. Accordingly, in the next summer, Iberville arrived with two ships, on the coast of Acadie, and on the ['■f ;j IC'JH shis and able the ry to ce of linia- Cata- in for 1, that e em- 3nsive led to trrition •ecom- 3 ships peeled luction ptrryiug falling ; fishe- , how- of the nglish dland, uedto being laquis, oppor- seduc- >nce on irrived on the 1G05J THE SIXTH. 135 third of July, met with three ships of war of the ene- my; one of which, the Newport of sixty guns, he captured: a heavy fog, that rose during the en- gagement, favoured the escape of the other two. Having taken fifty Indians on board at Beaubassin, he proceeded to Pentagoet, where the Baron of St. Castin, had marched with twenty-five soldiers and two hundred and fifty Indians. On the fifteenth, the Baron, having raised two batteries, sent a summons to the Commandant, representing the land and naval forces, ready to co-operate against him, as too large to admit of a successful resistance. The English- man replied, that if the sea was covered with French ships, and the country around with French soldiers, he would not think of surrendering the fort, as long as he had a gun to fire. On this, a cannonade be- gan, from the batteries and shipping. Iberville landed during the night and erected a bomb battery. On the next day, fire bombs, thrown into the fort, appeared to create confusion : the Baron now sent word that, if the besieged waited for the assault, they would have his Indians to deal with, whom it might possibly be out of his power to control. This threat had its effect, and the fort capitulated. Iberville, after this, sailed for New Foundland. An English fleet still hovered on the coast of Acadie : its commander, having landed four or five hundred men at Beaubassin, was shown by the inhabitants an instrument of writing, left with them by Sir Wil- liam Phipps, declaring that, as they had submitted to the forces of William and Mary, he had taken them under his sovereign's protection. They were answered, they should in no manner be injured. Orders were accordingly given to the soldiers, who were prohibited from taking any thing, except such cattle as iniffht be needed for the fleet ; for which, 14' 136 CHAPTER [169j I' if i n payment was promised. The commodore walked with the inhabitants, who had waited on him, to the house of one Bourgeois, where he and his officers were entertained, and where the most respectable inhabitants came to visit him. The soldiers, how- ever, went pibout pillaging, and treating the Acadians a« a conquered people, and when complaints were made to the chief, he did not restrain ihem. Walk- ing out accidentally, towards the church, he noticed a paper stuck on the door, subscribed by Count de Frontenac. It contained regulations, resp f- N| Charlevoir. f;1 ir.fr/i THE SRVENTIf. CHAPTER VII. iMX Iberville's offers to plant a French colony in Louisiana are accepted. — jjn expedition is prepared^ sails from La Rochdle^ and touches at Hispaniola. — Amres de la Riolle. — Pensacola. — Massacre^ Horn^ Ship^ Chan- dcleur and Cat Islands. — j} settlement be^un on Ship Island. — Bay of Pascagoula. — Biloxi and Bayagoula Indians. — Iberville and Bienville enter and ascend the Mississippi. — Fork of Chetimachas. — Washas. — Plu' queinines. — Bayou Munchac. — Oiimas. — Point Cou- pee. — Portage de la Croix. — Lakes Maurppas and Pontchartrain. — Bay of St. Louis. — A fort built on the Bay of Biloxi. — Iberville leaves Sauvolle in command and sails for France — Scotch colony at Darien. — Sau- voile sends a small vessel to Hispaniola for provisions. — Colapissas. — Chickasaws. — Missionaries among the Yazoos and Tunicas. — Mobile and Thome Indians visit Sauvolle. — English Turn. — French Protestants. — Return of Iberville. — Boisbriant. — St. Denys. — Mal- ton. — A fort built on the Mississippi. — The Chevalier de Tonti. — The JVatchez and Taensas. — St. Come. — Rosalie. — Yatassees. — Protest of the Governor of Pen- sacola. — Washitas. — Red River. — Iberville sails for Frande. — Philip V. — War of the Spanish succession.-^ St. Peter and Green Rivers. — Fort Thnillier. — Sagan. Sauvolle dies. — Choctaws, Chickasaws and Alibamons. — Return of Iberville — Head Quarters removed ie Mobile. — Dauphine Island. Iberville departs for France. — Queen Anne. — Declaration of War. — Irrup- tion from Canada into Massachusetts and JVew Hamp- shire. — Attack of St. Augustine. — Wabash. — Apala- chian Indians. — Bienville chastises the Alibamons. — Recruits. — Grey Sisters. — Fire at Biloxi. — Disease. — '4,1 Ml '-'I "ill MM , ' / ■\'\K} t'iiAi"n;ii fl()01! \-\\ ill .'i \W Drslrurfinn of fhr. Frmrk srlllrment on the Jl'dhash. — Ckifk'dsmcs and (liorditrs. — (.'kcinhrrs. — Illinois. — l\t- (lirr (irdtiot. — nin/tii^oulos. Unions. — ..Irhttnsfts. — Ibrrrillcs t/rnfli. — 'Dinini.s. — 'l\irnsondence ly. Wil- iompany, aids, and , dispers- frigates, ningo for )f greater ling with rpose, in ther with a guide, northern iree hun- ach, the e array. into the olapissaip 1699] THE SEVENTH. 147 replied, that three days before, two white men, whom they took to he English frotn Carolina, came at the head of two Iniiidred Chichasaus. attacked their vil- lage and carried away some of tlu'ir people into cap- tivity, and they had at first considered Bienville and his white comp niions as EnglislnniMi. The Baya- gonla chief undeceived them, and told them, that those who came lo visit them were Prencli, and ene- mies of the English — that their object, in coming to the village, was to solicit the friendship and alliance of its inhabitants. The Colapissas laid dovvn their arms and received and entertained the French with great cordiality. Bienville made them a few presents, and exchanged with them promises of reciprocal friendship, alliance and support. On his return to the fort, he spent there but a few days, and sat oflfeasterly on a like errand; he ascend- ed the Pascagoula river, on the banks of which the nation who gave it its name, the Biloxis and the Moe- tobies had villages — and he proceeded as far as the Mobilians. Having been as successful with these tribes as with the Colapissas, and equally anxious to live on good terms with his white as his red neigh- bours, he paid a visit to Don Andres at Pensacola. Ever since the discovery of the Mississippi by La- salle, Canadian huntsmen, or coureurs de bois^ strayed at times to the banks of that river, and missionaries from that colony had been led by their zeal to locate themselves amotig the Indians on the Wabash, the Illinois and other streams that pay the tribute of their waters to the Mississippi, and of late among se- veral tribes on the very banks of that river; and on the first of July, Sauvolle had the pleasure, which he lit- tle expected, of receiving the visits of two of these missionaries, who resided with the Tensas and Ya- zou Indians. "! n 11 ■■\^l '■J';ii . :ti. ; r>i ^1 ■ itf M '148 CHAPTER [io9y >4 w ' I ■II iff m ]■;■' ill I The holy men, coming to preach amonpj the Ou- mas, hatl hnartl of a French settlement on the sea shore; they floated down the Mississippi to visit it, and reached the tort tlirongh tlie lakes. Their names were Montiguy and Davion; the latter resided on an eminence, on the east side of the Mississippi, between the present towns of St Fraricisville and Natchez, whi.ch the French called after him La Roche a Davion. While the Rnglish held tliis part of the country, the spot was called fjottus' heights. From a fort, built inider the presidency of John Adams, it hears now the i»amc ol Fort Adams. These clergymen spent a few days with their countrymen, and returned to their respective missions. Parties from the Mobile and Thome Indians visit- ed their French neighbours in the month of August, and the vessel despatched to St. Domingo on the de- parture of Iberville, returned with an ample supply of provisions, which began to be much needed. Iberville, on ascending the Mississippi, had noticed three outlets ; one on the eastern side, and tw o on the western, now called the tbrk of the Chetimachas, and Bayou Plaquemines. He had descended through the first, and had instructed Sauvolle to have the two others explored. Perfect tranquillity reigning in the settlement, Bienville was sent, with ten Canadians in two piroiiues, on this service. They crossed lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas, and ascending through Bayou Manchac, reached the Mississippi and (loated down to the fork. Taking al- ways the western prong, whenever the stream fork- ed, Bienville fell into a bayou in which the water failed; visiting several villages of Indians on the way, he returned to the Mississippi, which he descended, and on the sixteenth of September, met an English ship of sixteen guns. Captain Bar, who commanded [109tt g Ou- e sea isit it, Their ?sidecl ssippi, e and im L« part of eights, f John These rymen, a visit- August, tlie de- ipply of noticed 3 on the las, and ugh the the two g in the [lians m Lurepas, lied the iing al- rn fork- e water le way, cendcd, English maiided 1699J THE SEVENTH. i4V her, informed Bienville he had left below another ship of his nation of the same force; these shipf were sent by Daniel Coxe of New Jersey, who then was the proprietor of the immense grant of land from Charles 1. of England to Sir Kobert Heath, in 1627. The obj(^ct of captain Bar and his companion was, to sound the passes of I he Mississippi. They were afterwards to return and convoy (bur smaller vessels, bringing several famihes, intended as the beginning of an KiigHsh colony, on the banks of the river. Capt. Bar was uncertain whether the stream he was explo- ring Avas the Mississippi or not. Bienville told him it wr.s further west, that the country they were in was a dependence of the French colony of Canada, and the French had a strong fort and some settlements higher up, which induced Bar to retrogade. The part of the river, in which Bien- ville met him, was the beginning of a large bend, where the ship was detained; the wind which brought her up ceasing, from the very great turn of the river, to be favorable. From this circumstance, the place was called the English Turn; an appellation which it ••till retains. While Bienville was on l)oard, a French engineer, named Secon, handed him a memorial to be forward- ed to the court of France. It stated, that the memo- rialist, and ibur hundred protestant families who had emigrated from B^ ranee to Carolina, in consequence of the revocation of the edict of Nantz, in 1684, were anxious to come and live under the French govern- ment in Louisiana, provided liberty of conscience was promised them. This paper was accordingly forwar- ded; but the Count de Ponlchartrain answered, that his sovereign hadnot driven these protestants from his kingdom to make a republic of them in America. Re- ligious intolerance had greatly thinned the population ^'':« »• HJ n I'? 'i fi i( '\ 160 CHAPTER [16U9 1 w: I'l'll !V* m I. ''ill of France, and was now to chrrk that of her colonics. Its (lire evils were not confined to Catholic counlries nor to the old world — they have heen felt even in "the land of the free." Ahout sixty years hefore, the general court of Massachusetts excluded irorn the enjoyment of political rights, those who had not heen received into the church as meinhers; and even at this day, the constitution of North Carolina withholds some of them from those who deny the truth of the protestant religion. Bienville, after the departure of the English ships. descended the river to the sea, and sounded its wes- tern pass; he found eleven feet of water on its bar. Returning, he reached the village of the Bayagou- las on the first of October. These Indians were in the greatest consternation ; having been lately surprised by the Oumas, who made several of their people pri- soners. The war that had broke out betMcen these two tribes was occasioned by a dispute about their limits. Bienville, on leaving them, promised to the Bayagoulas, that he would soon return with some of his men, and compel the Oumas to make peace with them. On his way down, he was guided to a portage or crossing place; his pirogues were carried over to bayou Tigouyou, through which he reached lake Pontchartrain, and in four days arrived at the Ibrt of Biloxi. Several guns fired at sea, attracted the attention of the colonists on the seventh of December. Sauvolle sent out a light boat, which soon came back with the pleasing intelligence of the approach of a French fleet. It consisted of a fifty and a forty gun ship, com- manded by Iberville and the Count de Sugeres; Sau- volle had been appointed governor, Bienville Ionics. II J trios /en in IT. the jm the )t been ven at hholds I of tlie I ships. its wrs- , bfir. lyagou- e in the irpriscd ►pie pri- ?n these •ut their I to the some of ice with tage or over to led lake e fort of :?ntion of 5auvolle with the French ip, com- es; Sau- Bienviile 17001 THE HKVKiNTH 15} Tientenant j^overnor of [.ouisiana; and Boislirinni major of the fort. This olfieer, with two others, St. Deiiys and Malon, came in the ships, witli sixty Ca- nadians; they were aecornpani(,'d by Ijcsneur, a geo- logist, who was sent to examine a greenish earth or ochre, which some of the meii, who had accompanied Dacan up the Mississippi, had noticetl on its hanks. Iberville, liiiding from l>ien\ille's report, thnt the English meditated :ui establishment on the Mississip- pi, determined on ellecting one immediately. He de- parted ibr tiiat purpose in the smallest vessel, with fifty Canadians, on the seventeenth of January, having sent Bienville by the lakes to the Bayagoulas to pro- cure guides to some spot in the lower part of the ri- ver, secure from the iimndation. They led him to an elevated one, at the distance of fifty-four miles from the sea; where Iberville met them soon after, and the building of a fort wns immediately begun. Towards the middle ol" February, they were met by the Chevalier de Tonti from the Ilhnois with se- ven men ; he had lei't others, w ho had accompanied him, at the Bayagoulas. The object of his journey was, to ascertain the truth of a report which had reached him, of the establishment of a French coIo- Three days after, Ibervill? and Bienville sat off" with the chevalier and a small party for t!ie upper part of the Mississippi. They stopped at the Baya- goulas, with whom they remained till the first of March, and proceeded to the Oumas, with the view of inducing or compelling them to release the prison- ers they had taken Irom the Bayagoulas. On ap- proaching the village of the Oumas, Iberville went forward with a few Bayagoula chiefs ; as he approach- ed their village, the Oumas met and received him with much respect. He was successful in hisendea- '4 ■"4 1 •'.V r, 152 CHAl'TKR , m (170(1 I li ^:f *iii I vours ; pc'iuo wab nifulc holwrcn Ihe two tribes, and the Bayai^oiila prisonrrs w(M*e lilH'ialod. From the Oumas, the Trench |yrocee(h'i(>nviil<' in cotntitaiid, in tlir fort on the Mississippi. jmkI sent St. Driiys with twt'lvc (ana- ilians and a nunthrr of Indians to pro.secuto the dis^c.o- Verirs \\o had h<'p;nn on lied rivrr. Ailhoiio;h ihr I- rcnch had now hrcn upwards ol two v<'ai*s in Louisiana, (hey do ncd appear (o have resorted to the cuhm-e of the earth lor suhsislenee; they (h'pen(h*d entirely on stipph's iVoin !•' ranee or St. l)oinin<^o.' lisiiin''" and hnnli. ^ allorded the co- lony fresh meat, and the jM'ople e.irried on a small trade with the Indian trilcs ( n the siaeoast. Cloveru- mcnl, instrail ol" e.onrent rating lh<' population, seem- ed more intent on makin*;- new discoveries w here other setthMnents mit^ht he made, and to seek in the bowels of the (Mrth lor metals and ochies. 'V\iv at- tention oi'the colonid ollicers had heen directed to a search ll)r jjcarls. 'i'he wool olhulliiloes was pointed out to them as the future staple commodity of the country, and they were directetl to have aniunherof these animals penned and tamed. iNay, thouuhts were entertained of shipping some olthe y(»untj; to Prance, in order to propagate the species tliere. Charles the second, the (iflh and last monarch of Spain of the house of Austria, died on tl»e tenth of No- veud)(!r 1700, in the thirty-ninth year of his age, and without issue. His nill called to the throne, he was leaving, Philip, Duke of Anjou. a grandson ol" Louis the I'ourteenth. Although the new king was received with acclamations in LVhulrid, his elevation vvas pow- erfully opposed hy the Archduke Charles, who wa* siuppoited hy itis lather, and hy England, Holland, Sa- voy. Prussia and Portugal. Thus, the llames of war hegan to rage in Europe, in that contest, which ik called the war of the vSpanisli succession. St. Denys returned in the fall, after a very tiresome journey ol upwards of ijix. months, without any mate- 1 1 70<'' fort on Canu- ck ilisto- ards ol to liavc iisU'iifL'; raiK'c Ol 1 \\\v vo- a small (lovnii- iii, sct'in- :>s uhcrc I'k ill the Tilt' at- I'tcvl It) a ? poiiittnl y ol" lilt' lIlllllxM" ol lliouglils youiiii; to \Vl'(\ jiiarch of Jill of No- . ai^e, and It', lie was ol" Louis i receivt'd was pow- . Avho vvai (Hand, Su- es of war ,, which Ik y tiresome any mate- kU)\\ TUK SKVKNTir. \!jf} rial iiilonnifion respoclin^ (lie Indians in the upper pari of iJrd ri\<'r. licsijciir had !i>«<'n (1701 >cl, had peiise, roi^ues I tliem, to pro- rle was jisiana, be Mis- le man. )uent of troops. In pursuance oi the knitfirn ot" the priest amonc; them, till thev had avenijed the death ot ta- Iher Foncault, his collenii^ue. murderetl l)y the Co- roas, at the instiiration of the Knjilish. and he expect- ed thev would seize the t'raders oi' that naiion amon^ them, anpor!ed by another Canadian of the name ol F^ambert, who was returninjj;; to the Wabash with forty of his neighbours. The Tunica chiefs sat otl^ h iving promised to meet St. Denys at the NatcJiez. lJien\ ille gave orders for building pirogues ; but before they were tinished. ac- counts reached Mobile of the total destruction ol the French settlemer*s on the Wabash, by the Indian allies of the British. Lambert gave up liis intended journey, and it being thought dangerous lor St. Denys and his party to proceed, w ilhout the escort which had been anticipated, the project was abandoned. Juchereau sent down to Mobile fifteen thousand hides, which he and ins companions had collected on the Wabash. The Indians near the French were not always in peace among themselves. In the spring, the Chick- asaws made an irruption into the countt-y of the Cboctawfe, captured a number of their people, car- i 70irj THE SRVKNTH. 16f. nod thnm to South Carolinn, and sold tlirin as slaves. '^J'licrt' were about Ibrty ol'llio Ibruier.inoM, women and children, around the foit oC Mobile. These people soli(Mted an escort from I3ienville, as they could not return home without crossing; the country of the hitter. IJe detached St. Denys with twcMity Cana- di IMS, on tliis service. As they approaehed the first Choctaw village, he went in alone to b(>seech the chiefs to allow the hulians he escorted to pass. \\i grantinj^ this re(pi"st, the chiet's stipulated that their heatJ man. should be allowed to reproach the Chick- asaw^^.in the prescnceol the Freni;h.tbr the ireachery of their people. 'I hey were brought into an open field tor this purpose, with their guns cocked and their knives in their hands. The Choctaw chieis were surroiuided by three hundrr'd warriors. Their head man. holding a calumet, began by upbraiding the Chickasaws. with the pcrfidity of their nation. He assured them tliat, if the French took any interest hi their safety, it w;»s from a want of knowledge of their baseness, and it was just th(:y should expiate by their deaths the crimes ol their people. He lowered the pfuuiage of the calumet, and at this preconcert- ed signal, the Choctaws taking a correct aim, fired. The Chickasaw women and children alone escaped. This was not, however, edected without the destruc- tion ofsomc^oftlie Choctaws. St. Denys, attempting to intertipre, was himselt wounded. The Choctaw chiefs biought him back to the Ibrt and a great num- ber oi their warriors followed in mournlul pro^;ession. During the Liext month a number of Chickasaw chiefs went to the Tunicas, and embarkini;, at their village, descended the Mi^^sissippi and bayou IVlan- chac. They crossed tlie lakes and came to Mobile, to solicit IVienville's mediation, in elTecling a reconci- liation, with the Choctaws. Six other chiets came. lGt> CHAPTER [1706 Ci; ,■,. m •i'( -J in another direction, on the same rrrnnd. [To sent an otfircM*, nttenilcMl by threr Canadians an.'< in alliiuice with his nation, to accompany and assist him in taking; revena;e. The Tunicas, find- in*:; themselves too weak to resist this invasion, souf^^ht retii<»;e amona; the Oumas ; and. like the Tensas, re- warded the hospit;dity they received, hy risin tv^ A pa I scal|)s a Noveuil) expectai whom tl tack on the moni actually twenty ( to its rel ber; thti approac of thret white m( ed by Si rolina. sacoia, v provisio A ve brandy with th( years aft a vessel The had plai Englanc tiers of ever, di LOIJ. t, ^ ■- {■109] TIIK SEN KNTU k;^ niiichas. (lr?trovo;sed the iiiliahitatits. During; Ihe siitiiner, .in niisiicerssrid altetnpt was made ()!i ,\<'adie. Inmi New Kii<;l and. Two lmiidre(l Indiicis, lie id<'d l>v a i\'\\ Kncjlisli- in<'ii. eaine lo Pens leol i, sat (iir to llie houses near the lort, killed (en Spmijirds a. id a rrenehinan. and made twelve .\|)alaelie or Choetaw Indians prisoners. A party of Tou.ichas came to Mohile with two scalps and a slave of the Abikas in the l)ei»;innin<; ot NovemlMM"; they reported the Alihamons were indaily expectation of Kiij^lish troops from (Miarleston, witli whom they were preparing:, to m ireli to a srdin<;ly in the latter part of the month, I5iciiville was inforiinMl that the place was actually besieged. At the head of one hundred and twenty Canadians and as many Indians, he marched to its relief. He reacthed it on the eii^hth of Decem- ber; the besiegers had withdi-awn on hearing of the approach of the French. Their force consisted only of three hundred and fifty Fiidians, and thirteen white men, commanded by one Cheney, commission- ed by Sir NathanielJohnson, governor of South Ca- rolina. The French, after staying three days in Peii- sacoia, were ordered, on account of the scarcity of provisions, to return. A vessel from Havana, laden with provisions, brandy and tobacco, came early in January to trade with the colony. This was the first instance, ten years after the arrival of the French in Louisiana, of a vessel coming to trade with them. The Marquis de Vaudreuil, governor of Canada had planned a considerable expedition against New England. His allied Indians kept the frontier set- tlers of that country in constant alarm. He was, how- ever, disappointed in his expectation of raising the LOU. t. 22 I 1. ■ 1 ■ 11 •*«l l"u CHAPTER- [1710 |l '):■■! force he had contemplated. A strong party of'Cana- dians and Indians, nevertheless, entered the province of Massachusetts, and destroyed a part of tiie town of Haverhill, killed one hundred olits inhahilants.and carried olf seventy prisoners. In the pursuit, howe- ver, a number ol" the prisoners uere retaken, and a few of the French killed. In the following year, the I*ritish cabinet determi- ned on vigorous and simullancous attacks on Montre- al and Quebec. The first was to be conducted by General Nichol- son, successively lieutenant-governor of New York and Virginia: he was to proceed through lake Cham- plain. He led his force to Wood creek, vvliere he was to wait the arrival of a British Heet at Boston, at which place it was to receive the troops destined to act against Quebec. The New England provinces, and that of New York had very cheerfully raised the men required for this service. The expectations, which this armament had excited in the British prcv vinces, were disappointed, inconsecpience of thetleet, which was to proceed to Boston, being ordered on another service in Portugal. The success of tlie settlement, attempted in Loui- siana, not having aiiswered the hopes of the court of Prance, it was determined to make a considerable change in the government of the colony. With this view, de Muys. an otficer who had served with dis- tinction in Canada during the preceding and present war, was appointed governor-general of Louisiana : the great distance from that colony to Quebec, the seat oltho governor-general of New-France, of which it was a dependence, had induced the belief that the foi mer ought to be independent of the latter. Di- ron d'Artaguette was sent as commissary ordonateur, with instructions to inquire into the conduct of the I [1710 )f'Cana- rovince e town nts.aiid , liowe- aiid a etermi- Montrc- Nichol- ;u York ? Cham- liore he )ston, at itined to ovinces, iscd the citations* isli pr(v theileet, ered on in Loui- court of iderable /ith thift vith dis- present uisiana : bee. the )f which Ihat the •r. Di- )nateur, of the 1711J THE SEVENTH. 171 former administrators of the colony, against whom complaints had been made, to which the ill success of the establishment seemed to give consequetice. The frigate, in which these gentlemen had embark- ed, arrived at Ship island in the beginning of the New Year. The governor-general had died during the passage. D'Artaguette found Louisiana in comparative tran- quility. Vessels from St. Domingo, Martinique and La Rochelle, now came to trade with the colonists. Early in September, a privateer from Jamaica, land- ed his men on Dauphine island, where they commit- ted considerable depredations. This is the first in- stance of hostility of white people against the colony. On the twenty-fourth, General Nicholson with a corps of marines, and four regiments of infantry, arriv- ed from Boston, before Port lloyal in Acadie. He immediately invested the town, which soon after sur- rendered. Its name, in coinpliment to the British queen, was changed to that of Annapolis. Colonel Vetche was left there in command. The settlement near the fort at Mobile suffered much in the spring, from the overflowing of the river; in consequence of which, at the recommendation of d'Artaguette, the spot was abandoned, and a new fort built higher up. It was the one, which till very lately, stood immediately below the present city of Mobile. The government of South Carolina prevailed again on the Chickasaws to attack the Choctaws, w ho were always the steadfast friends of the French. When intelligence of this reached Mobile, there were about thirty Chickasaw chiefs around the tort. Bienville, at their request sent Chateaugut', with thirty men to escort them home. This service was successfully T!? m '■|j X '*'■■■ 1'.^ •r 'r-l '^rm l*{..-- "•'I I 'C .1'. I , .[ 1 172 CHAPTER J712 performed, notwithstanding the Choctaws made great ellbrts to intercept these Indians. The government of France Irom this period ceas- ed furnishing supplies to Lonisiann, and trusted to the industry of private adventurers, to uhom liowever, it nlVorded sonu? aid. A frigate arrived in the month of September, laden witti provisions hy individuals ; the king fun" 'led the ship only. D'Artnguette returned in her, r. ch r^gretted by the colonists ; obs'-rvations, during h.sstay in liouisinna. perlectly conviiiced him, that its slow piogress coidd not be accelerat(»d by Bienville, with the Iceble means of which he had the command. In the summer. General Tlill, at the head of six thousand five hundred European and Provincial troops, sailed from Boston for the attack of Quebec; on the twenty-third of August, a violent storm cast eight of his transports on shore near Egg Island. One thousand of his men perished: the ships were greatly injured; and this disaster iruluced him to return. In the mean while, Ceneral Nicholson had led four thou- sand men destined to the siege of Montreal to Alba- ny. The return of the tleet having: enabled the Mar- quis de Vaudreuil to support Montreal, with all his force, Nicholson retrogaded. A ship of twenty-six guns, under the orders of La- ville Voisin, came to Ship Island in the beginning of the next year. This "enlleman had made a fruitless attempt to sell hvv cargo to the Spaniards at Touspe. He had brought to the viceroy letters, which he sup- posed would have insured his admission into the ports of Mexico ; but througli some mismanagement his :?cheme tailed; not howevei-, without his selling his cargo to some Spanish merchants, w ho engaged to re- ceive it at Ship Island. He grew impatient of wait- mg for them, and went on a short cruize towards St. J712 1713J THE SEVENTH. 17.^ )f La- liiig of uitless (iispe. p sup- ports lit fiis Mir his J |to rc- w a it- is St. Antonio. Themerchants arrived with their cash, wait- ed awhile, and went away without seeing him. On the arrival of d'Artaguette in France, and the re- port he made of the slate of the colony, the king's council despaired of reahzing the advantages wjiich had been anticipated from it. as long as it remained on its tbrmer looting, and determiiud to grant the ex- clusive commerce of Louisiana, with great privileges, to Anthony Crozat, an eujinent merchant. The war was terminated by the treaty of Utrecht, on the thirtieth of March of the following year: by its twelfth article, France ceded to Great Britain, "No- va Scotia or Acadie, with its ancient boundaries, as also the city of Port Royal, now called Annapolis, and all other things, in the said parts, wliich depends on these lands." There were at this period in Louisiana two compa- nies of infantry of fifty^ men each, and seventy-five Ca- nadian volunteers in the king's pay. The rest of tlie population consisted of twenty-eight families; one half of whom were engaged, not in agriculture, but in hor- ticulture : the heads of the others were shop and ta vern keepers, oremployedin mechanical occupations. A rmmber of individuals derived their support by mi- nistering to the wants of the troops. There were but twenty negroes in the colony: adding to these the king's officers and clergy, the aggregate amount oi the population was three hundred and eighty persons. A i'ew female Indians and children were domestica- ted in the houses of the white people, and groups of the males were incessantly sauntering, or encamped around them. The collection of all these individunls, on one com- pact spot, could have claimed no higher appellation than that of a hamlet ; yet they were dispersed through a vast extent of country, the parts of which It 1 .-1 A\ f. W' &^ ■'r ■ ' . Y i. a '% 174 CHAPTER [1713 ! if- were separated by the sea, by lakes and wide rivers. Five forts, or large batteries, had been erected for their protection at Mobile, Biloxi, on the Mississippi, and at Ship and Dauphine Islands. Lumber, hides and peltries, constituted the ob- jects of exportation, which the colony presented to commerce. A number of woodsmen, ov coureitrs de bois from Canada, had followed the missionaries, who had been sent among the nations of Indians, between that province and Louisiana. These men plied with- in a circle, of a radius of several hundred miles, of which the father's chapel was the centre, in search of furs, peltries and hides. When they deemed they had gathered a sutficient quantify of these articles, they floated down the Mississippi, and brought them to Mobile where they exchanged them tor European goods, with which they returned. The natives near- er to the fort, carried on the same trade. Lumber was easily obtained around the settlement: of late, vessels, from St. Domingo and Martinique, brought sugar, coffee, molasses and rum to Louisiana, and took its peltries, hides and lumber in exchange. The colonists procured some specie from the garrison of Pensacola, whom they supplied with vegetables and fowls. Those who followed this sort of trade, by fur- nishing also the officers and troops, obtained flour and salt provisions from the king's stores, which were abundantly supplied from France and Vera Cruz. Trifling, but successful essays had shown, that indi- go, tobacco and cotton could be cultivated to great advantage: but hands were ^^ anting. Experience had shewn, that the frequent and heavy mists and fogs were unfavourable to the culture of wheat, by causing it to rust. The French had been unfortunate in the selection of the places they had occupied. The sandy coa&t 1 / 13] THE SEVENTH i^i [1713 rivers, ed lor ssippi, the ob- ited to reurs de es, who ►etween 2i\ with- niles, of earch ot ed they articles, rht tliem European ^es near- Lumber : of late, brought ana, and ,ge. The irrison ot ^hles anti le, by fur- flour and ich were fcra Cruz, that indi- d to great xperience and fogs :>y causing selection iiidy coast of Biloxi is as sterile as llie deserts of Arabia. The stunted shrubs of Ship and Daupine Islands, announce the poverty of the soil by which they are nurtured. In the contracted spot, on which Sauvolle had located his brother on the Mississippi, the few soldiers un- der him, insulated during part of the year, had the mighty stream to combat. The buz and sting of the musquetoes, the hissing of the snakes, the croak- ings of tlie frogs, and the cries of the alligators, inces- santly asserted, that the lease the God of nature had given these reptiles of this part of the country, had still a few centuries to run. In the barrens, around the new fort of Mobile, the continual su^h of the nee- dle-leaved tree seemed to warn d'Artaguette his people must recede farther from the sea, before they came to good land. It is true, during the last ten years, war had in some degree checked the prosperity of the colony, al- though during the whole of its continuance, except the descent of the crew of a privateer from Jamaica, no act of hostility was committed by an enemy with- in the colony ; but the incessant irruptions on the land of the Indians, under the protection of Louisia- na by those in alliance with Carolina, prevented the extension of the commerce and settlements of the French towards the north. Yet, all these difficulties would have been promptly overcome, if agriculture had been attended to. The coast of the sea abounded with shell and other fish; the lagoons near Mobile ri- ver were covered with waterfowls; the forests teem- ed with deer; the prairies with buiialoes, and the air with wild turkies. By cutting down the lofty pine trees around the fort, the colonists would have unco- vered a soil, abundantly producing corn and peas. By abandoning the posts on the Mississippi, Ship and Dauphine Islands, and at the Biloxi, the necessary KS" y w ''I ■ : '•11 ; 'A- ■ : ' Si- : • I ' ■ i ■ ; I: '» 'f^ 173 ClfAPTFK [17 M military ciuties would have left a considerable num- ber orindividuals to the labours of tillage ; especially imprudence had spared frecpjent divisions of theai to travel for thousands of miles in tjuest of ochres and minerals, or in the discovery of distant land, while that which was occupied, was sutlered to remain un- productive. I'hus, in the concerns of communities, as in those of individuals, immediate, leal and se- cure advantages are foregone, for distant, dubious and otten visionary ones. According to a return made by the Marquis do Vau- dreuil to the minister, there were, at this period, in New France, includirig Acadie, four thousand four hundred ami eighty persons capable of bearing arms ; wliich supposes a population of about twenty-five thouftand. Charlevoix. — Laharpc. T7iyj THE EIGHTH i7.9 CHAPTER VIII. Chartf:r. — Lamottc CmHlhc^ Duclos^ Lebas, Dirigoiu, La- lotra drs Ur^lns.-Stipcrior Council. — Jlrrcuigements with Ci'nzat... Hi >' fdiiis. — AIisUH(lrrstamlin(i; beticcen the new govrrnor an(/ Ricnvilh. — Indians — ('ard money of Ca- nada,— Part of the Choctaws drawn tu the British. — Fort ''Joiilohsp. — St. [)emjs. — fhon^e I. — Lamofte Cadil- lac irocs to fhn Illinois in search of a silver mine., and is dis'ipnoin/rtl. — The Choctaws are prevailed onto drive thn Bri ish traders from their villal fP- r. MMi 1 ", <■' CIIAPTCR [171 m\ V i'J chifockcs. — UEpinai and Hvbcrf, mid three cowpnnies of infantry arrive. — JS'cw colonists.—Trefvnlaine^ Gimcl^ Dubrciiil and Mossy. — The bay of Shi j> Isbind is stopped up. — Alisniidersldtidiiifi^ between lUe7iville and UEpinai and Hubert. — CrozaCs a^'cnts make a last but unsuccess- ful attempt to trade ivifh Vera Cruz. — lie surrenders his privilege. CROZAT'S charter bears date the twenty-sixth of September, 1712. Ity preamble states, that the attention the king has always given to the interests and commerce ot' his subjects, induced him, notwithstanding the almost continual wars he was obhged to sustain, since the begiiming of his reign, to seek every opportunity oi hicreasing and extending the trade of his colonies in America; that, accordingly, he had in lbB3, given ortlers for exploring the territory on the northern continent, between New France and New Mexico; and Lasane,who had been employed in this service, had succeeded so far, as to leave no doubt of the facility of opening a communication between Canada and the gulf of Mexico, through the large rivers that flow in the intermediate space; which had induced the king, immediately alter the peace of Riswick to send thither a colony and maintain a garrison, to keep up the possession taken in 1683, of the territory on the gulf, between Carolina on the east, and old and new Mexico on the west. But, war having broke out soon after in Europe, he had not been able to diMW from this colony the advantages he had an- ticipated, because the merchants of the kingdom, engaged in maritime commerce, had relations and concerns in the other I" rencli colonies, which they could not rf'liiKjuish. The king declares that, on the report made to hirtt I' < 1713] THE HIGHTll 170 of tlio situation of tlic tcM-ritory, now known as the proviiic(3 of Louisinna, ho has Jetcrmineul to rstab- lish there a commeree, which will be very honeficial to France ; it being now necessor^ to seek in foreign countries many articles of comtnerce, which may be obtained there, for mertliantlize of the growth or manufacture of the kingdom. He accordingly grants (o Cr^^zat the exchisive commerce of all the territory, poss(?ssed by the crown, between old and new Mexico, and Carolina, and all the settlements, ports, roads and rivers there- in — |)rincipally the port and road of Dauphine Island, before called Massacre Island, the river St. Louis, previously called the Mississippi, from the sea to the Illinois, the river St. Philip, before called Missouri, the river St. Jerome, betbre called the Wabasli, with all the land, lakes and rivers mediately or immed- iately flowing into any part oi the river St. Louis or Mississippi. The territory, thus described, is to be and remain included, under the style of the government of Louis- iana, and to be a dependence of the government of New France, to which it is to be subordinate. The king's territory, beyond the Illinois, is to be and con- tinue part of the government of New France, to which it is annexed ; and he reserves to himself the faculty of enlarging that of Louisiana. The right is given to the grantee, to export from France into Louisiana, all kinds of goods, wares and merchandize, during fifteen years, and to carry on there such o commerce as he may think fit. All persons, natural or corporate, are inhibited from trading there, under pain of the confiscation of their goods, wares, merchandize and vessels: and the officers of the king are commanded to assist the grantee, his agents and factors, in seizing them. "I ■ Vl 1 I ► . I ■ fit 1. i 4 ' 1 ■ i ■ *1 i '.■« ' 189 CHAPTFR I 1 7 1 :^ Permission is ^'\vi^x\ him to opon nnl work mines, and to export the on* to rriiiiec diiri'm- (il'lcni yeJirs. The prop<'rly ot all the miiies, \\r may diseoxer and Avork, is •iiven him: yium of >z{it in lateur, goods, I other Ivancc and he : Span- ises on plying Cam- jwcver cfusing on the g had ). lac, to Crns in Uinois, est, to rotec- tnt had I Louis- under- 1714] TIIK r.IGHTir 1*3 *bject iarJB, vanee o the th'M-c- led by ice. Greai lie, al- liUhcii. J use oi lor the passed liiicess [lis was in the ertully tVoni lot' ore, jliboui- il them great y. and Ih mine. |c cause lation to 1716] THE EKiHTH 180 ..W learn on his arrival, that the pieces ot" ore, which Dutiji;ne had brought down, came from Mexico, and liad been lelt as curiosities, by a ^-paniard, with a gentleman at the IHinois, from whom Dutigne had received them. Disappointed in his hope of the silver mine, he visited mines of lead on the western side of the Mississippi, and returned to Mohile, with- out boasting ol' the object of his errand. The Hritisli,in I he meanwhile, were progressing fast in their plan of establishing truckhouses among the (/hoctaws, Natchez, Yazons and other nations on the Mississippi. Bienville had sent tor the principal chiefs of theChoctaws; he upbraided tliem for their treachery; urging that the French were the oidy peo- ple, from whom they could conveniently get the goods they wanted, as the British were at a comparative great distance from their villages. He prevailed on (hem to draw off all conmiunication with them and the Itidians in their alliance. The Choctaws kept their word, and on their return drove oflTevery British trader Irom their villages. An olficer of the name of Young, a native of South Carolina, who was then with the Choctaws, made his way to the Natchez, and descended the Mississippi, with the view of inducing the Oumas, Pascagoulas, Chouachas and Colapissas, to enter into an alliance with his nation. Laloire des Ursins, Crozat's prin- cipal agent on the river, went up in a pirogue to meet the intruder. He tbund him near Bayou Man- chac, arrested and sent him a prisoner to Mobile, Bienville allowed him to proceed to Pensacola, whence he attempted to reach Carolina by land, but was killed by some of the Thome Indians. While Bienville was thus successful in preserving the attachment of the Choctaws and the natives on the Mississippi, he had the pleasure of learning that T.or. I. 24 ■lot; CllAriEK [1710' X ■: the Indians bordering 0!i Carolinu, imitating the Clioetavvs, had turned against the Britisli, and invad- ed the frontier settlements of that province. The Yamassees, the Creeks and Apahichians spread de- solation and slaughter in the south; while the Cher- okees, Congarees and Catawhas, ravaged the north- ern part. It was computed the cneuij were between seven and eight thousand strong. Indeed every tribe from Florida to Cape Fear, liad engaged in tlie war. The security of Charleston was doubted. It had no! more than twelve hundred men lit to bear arras ; but there were several forts near it, which offered places of refuge. Governor Craven marched with his small force against the enemy, who had advanced as far as Stono, where thoy burnt the church, as they did every house on their way. 'I'he governor ad- vanced slowly and with caution, and as he proceed- ed, the straggling parties (led belbre him. till he reached the Haltketchers, where the Indians had pitched their great camp. Here a sharp battle ensued. The Indians were repulsed and the gover- nor pursued them over the Savannah river. It is said the province lost, in this war, upwards of eight hundred men, women and children. The Vamasee>; ^vere driven iVom the land they had heretofore occu- pied, behind Port IJoyal Island, on the northeast sid<» of the Savannah river. Tliev settled in the neijrh- bourhood of the Spaniards, by whom the British al- legeil they had been instigated. An otficer of the garrison of Mobile, called Si Helen, who happened to be in a village of the Chick- asaws, in which were lifteen British traders, was protected by a Choctaw chief, while these men were killed: but. being mistaken tor one of them, by a young Indian who entered the cabin he was in, while he stoop I'd to light a cigar, he was slain. l>' 1' i 715] THE EIGHTII. in: Bienville forwarded presents io the Indians, who had seceded from the British alliance, and directed his messengers to indnce them to send to Mobile some of their head men, with whom a treaty might be made. The Indians of the two villages of the Choctaws, who had remained steadfast in tlieir friendship for the French, were still in the very neighbonrhood of Mobile. Bienville sent word to the chiefs of the other villages, he would not confide in them as friends, but cease to have any communication with them, if they persisted in refusing to receive their countrymen. He required them to send him the head of Ousachoutie (the brother of the principal chief) who had been most aciive in introducing the British traders, and fomenting the civil war. The Choctaws, after some debate, slew the obnoxious chief, and sent for their countrymen of the two vil- lages. In the summer, the garrison was reinforced by two companies of infantry, commanded by Marigny de Mandeville and Bagot. With them came Rouzeau, s'^ai to succeed Dirigoin, as principal director of Cro'^at's concerns in Louisiana. At the same time, Bien\ille received the commis- sion of commander-general of all the establishments on the Mississippi, and the rivers flowing into it. A ship from La Rochelle, and another from Mar- tinico, came to Dauphine Island to trade. They were not permitted to land any goods, as this would have been a violation of Crozat"s privilege. , Louis the fourteenth died on the first of September, in his seventy-seventh year, and was succeeded by his grand-son, Louis the fifteenth. The new monarch being in his sixth year only, his uncle, the Duke of Orleans, governed the kingdom, during the minority. l8o ClfAPTEK LI7I0 ■5 The Choroki'os fell, in the Ix'g'nming of tlic next year. 011 tlie Frencli settleinenls on the \Val)nsli. and killed two men. named Uanisnv and Lon^euil. The I'alher of ihe latter, who was the kind's lieutenant at Montreal, induced the Iroquois to deelare war ajiiainst the Cherokecs. It was proseeuled wiih mueh vigour for a considerable time, and ended in the rout ol the latter. In execution of the kind's order, Bienville assumed the command of the estahlishments on the Missi»ippi. A few French stragj>;lers had settled anioi:^ Itie Tunicas, Natchez, Vazous and Baya<>oiilas, and we have seen that clergymen from Caiiad;', visited, at times, these tribes, as missionaries, and r^onie of them had located themselves among thrse hidians: but there was as yet, but one small fort on the mighty Btream, not tar from the sea. He was instrueU'd to erect two others — one among the Natchez, and the other on the Wabash. I'he comieetion of Louisiana with Canada was a favourite object at court, and it had been very strongly recommended to both the colonial governments. There was already a consi- derable population on that river, with whom the Ca- nadians kept a regular intercoi.rse, by their hunts- men or coureurs de bois ; this rising settlement aftbrded also a commodious resting place, to emi- grants from Canada to Louisiana. Laloire des Ursins, who lived in the fort on the iVIississippi. as director ol" Crozat's concerns on the river, had built six large pirogues ior the intended expedition, and Bienville having reached the ibrt with a detachment, ordered his men to proceed to the landing of the Tunicas. These Indians had lately removed to the banks oi" a lake, which empties in the Mississippi, through a bayou, to which they gavo their name, which it still retains. I' II7IG ic noxt bli, and . The 'Uiiiit at aiiaiust 1 viootir it ol tllP issiiiiifd Dl:g the and we sited, nt noiae of liiciiaiiH : [' Miiiihty lU'U'd to and tlie ionisiana rt, and it l)oth (lie a eonsi- tlie Ca- r liunts- ttlemcnt to eini- on tlie IS on the ntended the i'ort oceed to ians had 1 empties ich thev i7ir.) THE EIGHTH. 189 Bienvillespent a few days with Laloire des Ursins, in order to liuve a < onlerenee with tlie head men ol the Cdouaehas. a tribe who lived a little below the spot on wliieli the city ol" New Orleans is built; on reaching his delaehment, he was inibrmed the Natch- ez had lat<'ly killed two Frenchmen, and stopped and robbed nine Canadians, who were descending the river. They had sent a messenger to solicit their aid in resisting tlie French. He sent an interpreter to the Natchez, directing him to conceal from them Bienville's knowledge of the murder — and to request tliem to meet him on friendly terms at their landing. In the iiojie that a shew of confidence might induce him to overlook what had happened, when he was in- formed oi" it, nineteen of these Indians attended with the nine Canadi.ins. Among the Ibrmer, were five suns and seven villaore chiefs. Bienville had pitched his tent on (he bank of the Mississippi, and the Indians, as they approached, were told they could not be received as friends till the death ol his countrymen was expiated. The head of the deputation, turning towards the sun, addressed tliaA luminary in an invocation, which ht; seemed to think would appease Bienville, to whom he tendered the calumet of peace. He was told no reconciliation could be expected, till the head of the chief, at whose instigation the F^rench had been killed, was brought to the camp. He replied that chiefvvas a grciit war- rior and a sun. On this, Bienville had him and some of his companions arrested and put under guard and in irons. On the next day, the captives sent a messenger to the village for the desired head. He returned with that of an Indian, who had consented to die for hi.*- chief: but Bienville, having been apprised of the de- <'eption, refused the proffered hcnul. With as little ''■"'■n 190 CHAP'I'Ell [ITIK nB'j * '.;), !':» success, the same imposition was attempted the fol- low ing (lay. Tlie Canadians having informed Bienville that six pirogues were on their way Iromthe llhnois,an(l would probahly be stopped by the Indians, if timely prce.iu- fions were not taken, a canoe was despatcln d at night, and the people on the pirogues, being thus ap- prised of the impending danger, were enabled to avoid it. A number of the Natchez came io Bienville's camp and surrendered themselves, (hisirous to lose their lives, that they might in the next world wait on their captive chiefs, if their lives were not spared. He told them he had no doubt that Longbeard, one of his pri- soners, had been concerned in the murder, and was one of those who had favoured the admission of the British traders among the Nalcliez ; but, as he had come into the camp of the French as a messenger of peace, his life would not be taken, till the determina- tion oi the nation, to retuse the head that had been demanded, was known. The Indians, in the camp, however expressed their wish that, as he was a tur- bulent fellow, and had often disturbed their tranquil- ity, he might be sacrificed. Bienville declined doing so, until he had the consent of the nation. The Indi- an was however secretly dispatched, by liis country- men, without tbo participation of any of the white people. After this, Bienville and the French accompanied the Indians to their village. The property of the Ca- nadians was restored, and with the consent of the Nat- chez a fort was begun, on the spot which Iberville had before chosen tor a town. It was called Fort Ro- salie, and a small garrison was left in it, under the order of Pailloux, in the latter part of .Tune. One of Crozat's ships arrived «it Mobilr in the to^^ pK i71(! THE EIGHTH IHl loAviiijj; month, with a largo supply ofgooils and pro- visions; she landed twenty passengers. After a journey of upwards ottwo years, St. Denys readied Mohile, in the month of August. We have seen that he was sent in 171 1 into the internal pro- vinces of Spain, for the doid)Ie purpose of finding a vent for Crozafs goods, and cheeking the advances of the Spaniards, wlio were preparing to form settle- ments, in the neighbourhood of Natchitoches. He had reached this place, with his Canadians and Indi- ans, without accident. He employed them in erect- ing a i\'\\- huts for some of the Canadians he was to leave there, and having engaged some individuals of the neighhouring tribes to join the Natchitoches, he supplied them with a few implements of husbandry, and useful seeds. Then, taking twelve chosen Cana- dians and a small luunbei- of Indians, he left Red ri- ver and marched westerly. After journeying for twen- ty days he came to a village of the Assinais, not far from the spot where Lasalle was murdered, about thirty years before. There he obtained guides, who led him one hundred and fifty leagues farther, to the easternmost settlement of the Spaniards on Rio bravo; it was called St. John the Baptist, or Presidiodel Norte. Don Pedrod»' Villescas,whocommanded there, received the French with much hospitality. St. De- nys informed his host he was sent, by Lamotte Cadil- lac, to make arrangements for a commerce that might be equally benefici.d to the Spanish and French colo- nists. Don Pedro said he could not do any thing, without consulting the governor of Caouis, under whose imme, wlu'U he informed liini.that Ur »' *i In provis"K)inl innttrrs, (ixiiiir of seals, making invrnto- rirs, v\ Nortr, at the (lisUiiicc ol about six m*''ps I'loin tlie stronin. The garrison of tUis post consisted ot" a ra})lain, lieutenant and tliirty-six soldiers. TUv. sellleiuent uas confined to a S(|uare, siniounded with inu«l- hoiises. Williin this command, were the missions ol St. .Joseph and St. Bernard. The French were inl'ormed here, that tlic ^oods, brouglit by St. Denys, had heen seiziul, and he was gone to Mexico to solicit their relciise. H'o avoid a similar misfortune, they plac<'d theirs in the hands of the friars, and afterwards disposed of them to mer- chants from Bocca de Leo!i. 'J hey were taiiyinp to receive their payuient, when accounts reac'icd the presidio, that St. Denys !iad hecn iniprisotu'il This induced them to depart ahrui)tly, and make the best of their wav to Mobile. On their nUurn tliey found a new missloj* had been established ot the Adayes, under tlie ijame of San Miguel de I^inarez. The report of these people^ con\ inccd the colonial government, that it would be in vain to make any further attempt towards establishing a trade Avith the neighbouring provinces of Spain. Bienville, acconling to the last instructions he had received, despatclied Chateauguo, with fifty men, to take possession of the bay of St. Joseph, between Pen- sacolaand St. Marks. Chateauguemarkedoutthe lines of a fort, and left Gousy to build and commaid it. In the meanwhile, Bienville visited the banks of the Mississippi, in order to select a spot tor the prin- cipal settlement of the province. He chose that, on which the city of New Orleans now stands, and left there fifty meti to clear the ground and erect barracks. The coiupany had been taught, by the failure of all the plans of Crozat. that nothing was to be expected f n 1 1 l7J!t] THF iNINTII. 20,% IxMit six Ciipliiiii, Itlcmrnt til ininl- ss'kmis ot (' ^00(1 s, 1 lie was ) iivoid it IkukIs ot [1 to IIHT- rrviiiy 1o (•iifMl tllC .,i This tlio bt'Si hsul hren le ol" San p colonial uakc any A\ ith the IS he hatl V men. (o vecii Pen- t the lines u,d it. hanks of the prin- p that, on , and left barracks, ure of all expected from a trade uilh the Spaniards, or the search atlet mines of the precious metals, in l^onisiana ; and, that iioconsideralde advanlat!; site to Bayou Manchac, to Paris Duvernay; at the Tchoupitoulas, to de Muys ; at the Oumas, to the Marquis d'Ancouis ; at the Cannes Brulees, to the Marquis d'Artagnac ; opposite to these on the right side of the river, to de Guiche, de la Honsaie and de la Houpe; at the bay of St. Louis, to Madame de Mezieres ; and at the Pascagoulas, to Madame de Chaumont. It had been stipulated with Law, that he should bring fifteen hundred persons from Germany or Pro- ' ' ). -» ^ i 'ft' 'M i :i -;i t* I » !• ; SOU cirAPTini |17I^ i1 .' t vcMico, to PC'tfIr (hrljMid i;r;ui(<'U ic pn- iliowcd n (nins- )m the liinr, t<> )(>liiiul. )uisiiina o Paris ril. Eirrived ; raiulval, }, with a vcsyols. director, oyrd as settlers lat of (% with sixty seU (h'Ts, went lu lake posse'ssion ol'his ^raiit, at tlie (-ad- <»da«jiiions, up Krd river. Bi/art was sent with a small delaehrni'ut to the rivr-r Vazous, where he hnilt fort St. Peter, and l>ois!)riant w^. Thus tlu' settlements of the Preneh, in Louisiana, ae(piired the utmost ext(?nsion from east to vvesi, they oat with tivemen and a quantity of provisions: and on the next day, another boat laden also witJi provisions, going irotn Dauphine Island to the lort at Mobile, was captured. In the meanwhile, Bienville reached Dauphine Island, with a large body of Indians, and the Span- iards were repulsed in their attempt to land. Nine- teen of their men were killed or drowned. Eighteen French deserters were taken by the Indians : seven- teen of them were shot at Mobile, and the other hung on the island. It appearing impracticable to prevent the enemy from entering Mobile river, it was determined no longer to attempt sending provisions to the fort. Every effort was directed to the protection of the island. The Spaniards did not attempt any thing till the eighteenth, when two ships were discovered coming from Pensacola. They hovered around the island the two following days, and ISerigny employed this time in erecting batteries near the places in which a landing was most to be apprehended. On the twenty-first, the enemy approached the western end of the island, and exchanged a few shots with a French ship, supported by a, battery. They next moved to Point Guiderv, at the eastern end of the settlement. Serigny ordered Trudeau, a Canadian officer, to take as many Indians as he could, and op- pose the landing. About one hundred Spaniards came on shore; but Trudeau, approaching with twelve Indians onlv. they were so alarmed at the [1719 ivn to Don French to were sent resist the iiy's ships li five men next dnv, ^oihjr fro'.n ciiplured. Dauphiiie the Span- id. Nine- Eighteen lis : seven- other hnng the enemy rmined no 3 the fort, tion of the any thing discovered around the employed places in nded. On le western lots with a They next end of the Canadian d, and op- Spaniards hing with led at ihc 171f>J THE NINTH 2K5 yells and shrieks of those allies of the French, tiiat they retreated in much confusion. Ten of their men were killed or drowned. On the next day, the enemy succeeded in effecting a second landing at the same place, but the only advantage it procured was a supply of water, obtained before the force sent by Serigny to drive them back arrived. On the same day the garrison was reinforced by sixty Indians from Mobile ; at night the barracks were consumed by an accidental fire. Shots were again exchanged the next morning by a Spanish and a French ship under a battery. The former sailed off", on the Ibllowing day, after firing a few broad sides at the houses. The rest of the fleet, departing one after the other, were all out of sight on the twenlyeighth. Three sliips of the line, under the orders of the Count de Champineslin, escorting two company ships, hove in sight on the first of September. The garri- son were greatly alarmed, mistaking them for a fleet from Vera Cruz, which, it had been reported, was coming to prosecute the success of the Spanish arms, and reduce the whole province of Louisiana. Villardo, a new director, with two hundred passen- gers, arrived with Cliampmeslin. A council of war was held on board of the Count's ship, in which it was determined to attack Pensaco- la. Two hundred soldiers were accordingly taken on board of the fleet, and the anchors were weighed on the fifteenth. Bienville sat off" at the same time from Mobile, by land, with the same rmmber of soldi- ers and about one hundred Indians ; those on Dau- phine Island having gone in the fleet. Having invest- ed the fort, he hoisted a white flag, a signal precon- certed with Champmeslin, who immediately brought the naval force into the harbour. The main tort did •^14 CHAPTER [nitr not fire a single gun; the small one was defended for acouple of'liours. The shipping made a brisk but unsucceHsful resistance. The Indians were allowed to pillage the main fort ; but were prevented from scalping any one. When the Spanish commodore presented his sword to Champmeslin, the latter immediately girt it on him, saying he deserved to wear it. The comman- der of the land forces was treated in a different man- ner; Champmeslin ordered a common sailor to re- ceive his sword, and reprimanded the Spaniard lorhis want of courage ; saying he did not deserve to serve his king. The Spaniards lost many men, the French six on- ly. The number of prisoners made was eighteen hundred. The hope had been entertained that a large supply of provisions and ammunition would have been found in the forts ; but it turned out they had provisions for a fortnight only. The discovery induced Champ- meslin to hasten the departure of his prisoners. The officer, who carried them to Havana, was direct- ed to bring back all the French prisoners there, and in order to insure their return, the field officers lately taken were detained as hostages. A brig laden with corn, flour and brandy, sent from Havana to supply the fleet, which was expected from Vera Cruz, entered the harbour of Pensacola on the twenty-eighth, having mistaken the shipping in it for that of her nation. Her captain reported that, when he sailed, it was confidently believed in the island of Cuba, that the Spanish flag was flying in every fort of Louisiana. Early in October, a brig from Vera Cruz arrived with six hundred sacks of flour, and afterwards a smal- ler vessel from the same port. They were both de- [nit> i719] THE NINTH. ^1; d for kbut [3wed from iwoi'd it on iman- . man- to rc- forliisi serve six on- ^hteen supply 1 found ons for phamp- The direct- re, and 5 lately nt from ?d from on the n it for when land of fort ol arrived a smal- oth de- ceived by the Spanish flag, whicli was kept flying over the forts, for this purpose. The French fleet sailed on the twenty-third ; De- Hsle, a lieutettant of the king's ships, was left in com- mand at Pensacola. Of forty (h'serters, who were found with tlie Spaniards, twelve were hung on hoard of the ships : the others were condemned to hard la- bour for the benefit ol the company. The directors in France having drawn the atten- tion of the king, to the alterations which the new or- der of things required in the organization of the supe- rior council of Louisiana, this tribunal had been new modelled ; and by an edict of the month of Septem- ber it had been ordered that it should be composed of such directors of the company, as might be in the province, the commandant-general, a senior counsel- lor, the king's two lieutenants, three other counsel- lors, an attorney-general and a clerk. The quorum was fixed at three members in civil, and five in criminal, cases. Those present were au- thorised to call in some of the most notable inhabi- tants, to form a quorum^ in case of the absence or le- gitimate excuse ofthe others. Judgments, in origin- al, as in appellate cases, were to be in the last resort, and without costs. The sessions were to be monthly. Hitherto the council had been the sole tribunal in the colony. The suitors had no other to which they could resort. The increasing extension of the po- pulation demanded that judges should be dispersed in the several parts ofthe province. The directors ofthe company, or its agents in the distant parts, with two of the most notable inhabitants ofthe neighbour- hood, in civil, and four in criminal cases, were con- stituted inferior tribunals. Theirjudgments, though subject to an appeal to the superior council, were car- ,< ' I'' , .. % hi ■i\ 1 ■; ' ' I.) . cnAi*Ti:h [171 7I;es of the Missouiis were at the dislaiu'c* of three hundred and (ifty yards from the uK)uth of the river, which bears their name, and those of tlie Osages, about ninety miles farther. He iormally took possession oCthe countries of these Indians, in the name of the king, and erected posltr with liis arms, in testimonial of it. Delochon, a gentleman w ho had been recommend- ed by the directors for his skill in mineralogy, had been sent to the Marameg, a river that falls into the Mississippi, a little al)0\e the Missouri, and on the same side. He obtained some ore, at a place point- ed out by the Indians, and asserted, that a pound of it had produced two penny weights oi'siher. On his return to Mobile, he jiad been sent back with a num- ber of workmen ; aiul the process being repeated on a very large scale, a few thousand pounds ofvery in- ferior lead were obtained. It was believed he had been guilty of a gross imposition. Accounts w ere received from Euroj)e that the wes- tern and the eastern companies had been united: the aggregate body preserving the name of the former. The new directors sent positive orders to Bienville to remove the head quarters of the colony to Biloxi : an unfortunate step, as the land there is a barren soil, absolutely incapable of culture; the anchorage un- sale. and the coast of difficult access. The directors sent for publication in the province, a proclamation of theirs notilyinsf the prices, at which goods were to be obtained in the company's stores at Mobile, Dauphiue Island and Pensacola. To these 17201 TiTi-: NixTir i\^ |uit;e.s ail advanro oflivo prr cent, was lo ho in\i]vd OH goods (h'li\( mcmI at i\r\v OrUaiis, icii at the Nal- clioz. tliirlornattlic Vaxous, t\v1 j«>) : several oi his countrymen had heon kilhtl, and olhris nride prisoners; so that his nation was greatly redntu-d ; but du> arrival ol the French was about to pi event its ulter destruction. He concluded they should return thanks to the great spirit, w hose w rath was no doubt aj>|)eased. and yield every possible assistance to the French, as his nation well knew that the Naoudishes and other wandering tribes bad given them peace siiu'.e the arriNalofsome of the French, under l.asalle. Laharpe, desiring intbrmation as to the nearest Spanish settlements, and the nighbouring tribes otln- dians, was apprised that southerly, at the distance of tiiirty mik\-. were the Assinais, and one hundred and twenty miles from these the Nadocoes. The Spaniards had lately sent friars and soldiers among these two tribes, whose villages could not be ap- proached by land, except in the lowest waters; as a river was to be crossed, which, in the wet season, iiumdated the country to a large extent. At the dis- tance of one hundred and eighty miles, on the left side of the river, were wanderirig tribes of Indians, 17201 Tllf: M\Tlf. nm 22t who vvci'oal Wiir with llic f 'jidnyM, in the lUMglilioiii- lioo«l oluhoni th. "^Phr iJiOBt common trees were the copidm, willow, elm, red and whit*' oak, laurel aial plum. 'I'he woods abounded in vines, and the prairies weie lull ofstraw- )>erries, cranberries antl wild purslain. ]jaharpo employed his men at lirst in eroclin«>a lar^e and strong blockhouse, in which he was assist- ed by the Jnclians. By repeated observations, he Ibund it in latitude 3.'J. Af). and he reckoned it was distant, in a straight way I'rom the Ibrt ot'Natchitoch- es, two bundled and filty miles. Don Martin de Alacorne having in the mean while returned to the neighbourhood, Laharpe despatched a corporal of his garrison, who spoke the language oi several tribes ol' Indians, with a letter, soliciting Don Martin's I'riend^hip and correspondence, and tender- ing any servitic in liis power; intbrming him he had it in charge to seek every opportunity ol" opening a trade with the Spaniards. Laharpe, at the same time addressed Father Marsello, the superior of the missi- onaries in the province ot Texas, begging his friend- ship, and offering a correspondence, advantageous to the mission — observing, the conversion of the Indi- ans ought to engage the attention of all good christi- ans; and as some assistance might be usefid, in ena- bling his reverence successfully to preach the gospel in these parts, and enlist the Indians under the banner mi >r- 1 i -. vmi\ ii^\ CirAPTtlK Li72«» of the cross, he suggcstrd the father should writf> to his friends in Mexico and Bo(!ca de Leon, that thej^^ would find, at Natchitoches and tiie Nassonites, any kind otEuropean goods they might have occasion for, on very good terms. He conchuled hy assuring the holy man, he would he allowed a handsome commis- sion on any sale etfbcted through his aid. By the return of the corporal, Don Martin recipro- cated Laharpe's oflTers of service ; but expressed hiie surprise at the occupation by the French, of a ter- ritory, which he observed made a part of the > ice- royalty of Mexico. He requested Lahnrpe, to make it known to his chief, that the necessity of using force to remove the detachment might be averted. The fathers reply was of a diflferent cast. He wrote that, as the proposed correspondence was tendered on principles of religion, charity and esteem, he cheerfully accepted it, and would apprise his friends of Laha. pe's arrival and views. He added, that, as it did not become the clergy to be concerned in trade, he had to request the correspondence might be kept secret ; especially as he was not on very good terms with Don Martin, who, he intimated, would probably be soon removed. Laharpe expressed to the latter, he was astonished at the assertion, that the post, just occupied by the French, was within the government of Mexico, as he and his countrymen had always considered the whole country, which the Spaniards called the province of Texas, as part of Louisiana, of w hich Lasalle had taken possession thirty-six years before. He added, he had never understood till now, that the pretentions of Spain had ever been extended to the east of Rio Bravo; all the rivers, flowing into the Mississippi being the property of France, with all the country they watered. 1720] THE NLVrM. «iij There >vas at the distance of thirty miles to the northwest of tlie spot occupied by the French, a salt spring, from which they obtained four hundred weight of salt. A Dulcino Indian, coming from Natchitoches, in- formed the Nassonites, the French w(l the council, IS iiillii- he sub- )\i, dis- • vessrly fcred so mise, on lajority. iiiiinable and a of Nat- risen in time corisid- undred tuated Bour- le pro- the sea al cen- ■ssion of xtent it spot on (t n^i] TIIK NINTH. 90*1 ■4 which the city of Natchez stands, might have become th<' centre of the popidation of the colony. The majority was probably intluenced by the com- meroial agents of the company, who viewed New Bi- loxi, as the spot from which their store keepers at Mobile. Pensacola. Shi[) Island and the old J3iloxi. might be more conveniently watched. Bienville complained, that these gentlemen tlnvart- ed his views, and prevented the compaay from reap- ing the benefit from his exertions, which t!:ey were calcnlated to produce. A company ship ariived on the third of January. 1721. with three hundred settlers of the grant of Madame Chaumont, on Pascagoula river, and another landed in* the following month, eighty girls from the Salpetriere, a house of correction in Paris, with one hundred otiier passengers. It seems the late order of council, prohibiting tiie transportation of vagabonds and convicts, was not considered as extending to females. In their despatches to Bienville, by these ships, the directors expressed their grief, at the division which existed betw een him and their priiicipal agents in Louisiana, by whicKthc affairs of the coinpany had been brought to such a situation, that it would be preferable, that the establishment had now to be begun. The report of the unfortunate condition of their concerns had excited great murmurs in France, and the direction was daily reproached for tlie im- mense expenses it had incurred : it w as chaj'ged w ith having appointed chiei's too careless of the affairs of the company, and too careful of their own That the regent, who was informed of the discredit, in which the stock of the coinpany had fallen, so far from keeping the promise he had made of promoting Jijm to the rank of a brigadier, and sending him the ■•}■ If;.;, v^•■ v. i'M u HM e;ii Ai'TicK [17'^J i.r- i n i:M i'l broad ribbon of the order of St. Louis, would have |)roceed<;(l a<^.iinst him with Hoverity, if lio had not been iiiiorined that the cornjiaiiy's agents in the co- lony, had thwarted his views; that th(» directors Ihit- tered themselves, tliat by sending out new agents, and the new arrangements tliat were ahout to he made, the state of" things would he changed, and tlie regent become sensible of his merit; that his royal Inghness had told them, the king's graces were be- stowed on etlective services ordy, and as it was sug- gested, that he (Bienville) might now merit them, it was proper to wait till he might prove himself worthj of them. The directors, while they assured Bienville they would foster the regent's good dispositions towards him, did not conceal their disapprobation of the pro- motion he had made of some non-commissioned offi- cers. They instructed him, for the future to exercise the right of suspension only, and leave to them that of removal and appointment. They recommended to him to correspond with the Marquis de Vaudreuil, governor-general of New France, and to exert him- self to induce his Indian allies to declare themselves against the Sioux, whom the Poxes had engaged in their interest. The fort at Kaskaskias was ordered by the compa- ny to be called Fort Chartres; that of Mobile, Fort Conde, and that of Biloxi, Fort St. Louis. Orders were given to Pauger, to make a survey of the bay of Mobile, and the entrance of the Mississip- pi. Two hundred German settlers of I-iaw's grant were landed in the month of March at Biloxi, out of twelve hundred who had been recruited. The rest had di- ed before they embarked, or on the passage. They were followed by five hundred negroes from the coast [iriJ IV^IJ THE NINTH ii6) 1(1 have mil not the co- ol's ll'at- agciits, t to he 111 id the is roysvl vere hc- \'as suj];- tliem. it t' wortlij ^ille they towards • the pro- oned olfi- ) exercise ttiem tliat nended to '^audreuil, jxert him- lemselves ngaged in le compa- bile, Fori survey of Mississip- rraiit were . of twelve est had di- ge. They [n the coast ofAlrica. This i»icreaso of population was rendered less welcome liy the great dearth of provisions under which the colony laboured. Hi<^*nville desp;itched a vessel to 8t. Domingo for a :«upply. He ernphjyed (or this service, I3eranger, who had lately arrived frcun lfa\ana, whero.sitioii was prarliscd tor a while with considerable wuccess, in the sonlliein British provin- ces, a fi'W years het'ore the declaration of their inde- pend'Mir.e. A fenuile. drivtwi lor lier misconduct from the s<'rvice of a maid of honor of princess Matilda, sist(;r to George ill. was convicted at the Old Bailey, and transported to Maryland. She eHected her es- cape beibre the expiration of her time, and trav(dled througli Virginia and both the ('arolinas, persniitili.g the princess, and levying contributions on the (sedu- lity oi'planters and merchants; and even some of the king's olficers. She was at last arrested in Charles- ton, prosecuted and whipped. A company sliip had sailed lor [iOuisiana in 1718, with troops, and one huiidretl convicts, and had ne- ver been heard of It was now discoi'ered that, like the tleet of Lasalle, she had missed 1'ie Mississippi, and had been driven to the west. Her commarider had mistaken the island of Cuba for ihat ol' St. Do- mingo, and had been compelled to pass through the old channel to get into the gulf He made a large bay, in the twenty-nintli degree of latitude, and disco- vering he had lost his way, wandered lor several days. His misfortune was increaied by a contagious disease breaking out among the 'jonvicls. I'^ive of his olH- cers, Bellisle, Allard, Delisie, Legend re and (>orlut, thought it less dangerous to lani, ininaiidei' r St. Do- •ough the o a hii'i^e md dis(;o- ;ralpi. returned and made his report to Bienville. He l()und the har a deposit of mud, ahout three hundred feet wide, and ahout twice that in length. It appeared to him it was occasioned hy the current of the river and the llux of the sea which, greatly ohstructing the current, caused the river to overflow. He took notice that the stream, heing ve- ry mud ly, left on its shores and islands, heaps of timh'M*. covered hy annual layers of mud; the smal- ler timber tilling up the interstices, in this manner, islands, and new land along the shore, were incessant- ly formed; and after a few years, canes and w illows be- gan to rise on the crust formed by several layers. He expressed his opinion, that with little trouble, by gi- ving a proper direction to the floating timber, dykes might be formed along one of the channels, and by sinking old vessels, so as to stop the others ; the velo- city of the water might be increased in the former, and a very great depth obtained in time; an opera- tion which he said was now forming in some parts of the passes — one of which he had noticed the prece- ding year, when he found on it but ten or eleven feet of water, and eight months after, from thirteen to four- teen ; while a bar had extended to the island of the Bahze, which was one hundred and eighteen feet if LOU. I. 30 it. • 99<1 iiiArrioK [nx2 wi f. widlh, and iloiiMr that in Icnjrtli willi Miirniirionrr in iUo mi(li;^lit^. nnd reported lliat another had caijf^ht lire, at the distance ol" sixty h'a«;u<^s from the shore; part ol'lho crow had saved tlieniselves in the long boat, the rest perislieil. Aceonnts were received from the Illinois that a par- ty ofthree hinidred Spaniards had marched Ironi San- ta Fc to tl)o npper pari ol the provinc«!, uhile they expected a lleet would attack it on the shore. Se- venty ol'them only had persevered in the attempt, <»;ui- ded Wy l^adonra Indians, who directcul them so north- erly, that they reached the river of the (.'anseys near the Missouri, where tlicv IMi anioiiir Indians, allies ot the 1' rench, w ho destroyrs. chielly Ciermans. came in a com|)any ship. Marijr.iy de Alandevill*'. who had <»;one to France, where he had ohlained the cross of St. Louis and the coann uid ol Fort Co.ide, returned in her, accompani- ed hy (rArensl)ourg, a Swedish otlicer, and three others. I'y this vessel, the colonists learnt the I'ailnre and sudden 'lepirture fro!n 1'^ ranee ol the celebrated Law. This <>;ave room to the aj)prehension, that the settle- ment of the province might be abandoned or prosecu- ted wil!i k'ss vig()ur. ' Another (uiineaman landed three hundred negroet ii few davs after. John Law% of Lauriston, in North Britain, was a celebrated financier, who having gained the confi- dence of the Duke of Orleans, regent of France, set- tled at Paris: where, under the auspices of govorn- I; I7««) rilH MXTH ISo 1 1 < r nrnrr in motit, lir rst.ihlishrd a l»niik. with a capital of twelve hmidrc*! lliuiisaiid dollirs. Soon alter, ^overnnuMit l»« came lai-y^ely iiiti-rested in it, and it assumed tfie numeol'llie Koyal l^ank, 'I'lie (nii»inal projet'toreon- tiiiiied attlie li<>ad ot'its atliiiis, and. a\ ailing himself ot the thirst li)r speculation, w Inch its success exi'ited, 1' lined the scheme of a lari;e commercial compa- ny, to which it was intended to transfer all the privi- Icires, possessions and eirecls of the foreijrn trading companies, that had heen incorporated in France. The royal hank was to he attached to it. The regent gave it letters patent, under the style of the Western Company. Trom ih,* mighty stream, tiiat traverses Louisiana, Law's undertaking wan called the Missis- sippi scdieme. The r'xclusive trade to China and all the east indies was afterwards granted to the company now called tin? India Company. Chancellor d'Agues- seau opposed the plan with so much earnestness, that the regent look the seals from hitn and exiled him to his estate. The stockholders flattered themselves, that the vast cpianlity of land, and the valuable property the company possessed, would enahle it to make profits fur exceeding those of the most successful adventur- ers. Accordingly, the directors declared a dividend of two hundred per cent. The delusion was so com- plete, that the stock rose to sixty times its original cost. The notes of the bank took the place ol" the paper securities government had issued, and so great was the demand (or them, that all the metallic medi- um was paid into the bank. un, was a Charlevoix. — Luharpe. — Vergennes. — Duprat: 'i'M' CHAP r Ell [17^* lf t, ., ^ ku; \ .f ; CHAPTER X. Dnvcrgicr. — Bcnarddc Laharpc. — Haj^ of Si. /^rrnarci.-*- De JMasillicrcy Dudcmnme and Duplrsnc. — ./] Ginnca- man. — Principal establishment ordered to be removed to JVcw Orleans. — Survejf of the ricer of the ./]rkaiisas. — The JVlarqids de Gallo. — Cliickasaw hostilities. — Father Charlevoix. — Toulouse Island. — Loubois. — Latour. — Price of JVegroes., Tobacco and Rice fixed. — Copper coinarre. — Militarif., Civil and Relii{ious divisions of the Province. — Larenaudiere — German Coast. — Fence with Spain. — Pcnsacola restored. — Chickasaw hostili- ties amonu; the Ya2(>ns. — P^ort on the Afissouri. — Capu- chins. — ^'1 hurricane. — Hostilities committed by the JVat- chez. — ^n unexpected crop of rice. — The directors re- m,ove to JVew Orleans. — t/] Swiss companij deserts to Charleston. — Large grants of land. — Indigo. — St. Jo- seph abandoned. — Spanish force in the province of Texas. — The Choctaws defeat the Chickasaws. — jUter- ations in the value of coin. — Jesuits. — The Catholic, the. onhj religion tolerated. — Fxpidsion oj the Jews. — Black Code. — FAlict relating to correspondence. — Edict rela- /ini{ to f'orses and cattle. — De la Chaise and Fcrratdt. — Philip I . abdicates the throne. — Ijouis ascends it and dies. — Philip resumes the crown. — Superior Council. Treaties with the Jesuits., Capuchins and Crsvline JVuns. Ferricr. — (i-orgc II. — Girls de la Cassette. — Improve- ments in JVew Orleans. — Land regulations. *j^ i' ON the filteenth of July, Du verifier, who had late- ly been appointed Director, Ordoiinateur, Command- ant of the Marine and President of the Council, land- ed at Pcnsacola. He brought crostics of St. Louis for Boisbrianl. Chateaugue and 8t Denys. '■*&-: : mm., i i 722] THK TENTH. i'JI The Company, more intent on extending than im- proviny; its possessions in Louisiana, had determin- ed, notwithstanding the unanimous representations of Bienville and all the eolonial olficers, to have an es- tablishment on the gull to the west of the Mississippi. For this purpose Bernard de la Harpe eame over with Duvergier, having been appointed Commandant and inspector of commerce at the bay of St. Bernard. Masilliore, administrator of the grant of the Marquis dp Mezieres, Desmarches, Dudemaine and Duplesne, his associates accompanied him. The arrival of Duvergier with such ample powers gave much uneasiness to Bienville, who, while he re- mained if) command, could not brook to be excluded from the presidency of the council. Chateaugue, who had the rank of a captain i[) the royal navy, thought himself injured by the command of the navy being given to another, and Delorme imagined his pretentions to the olHce of Ordonnateur had been overlooked. Three hundred negroes arrived from Africa on the 15th of August. The occupation of the bay of St. Bernard, notwith- standing the positive orders of which Laharpe wai? the bearer, was still viewed in Louisiana as a prema- ture operation, attended with considerable and use- less expense, recpiiring a number of men, who could not well be spared, and promising, if any, none but very precarious and distant advantages. The diffi- culty of protecting and suppl)'ing so distant a post, the extrerne barrenness of the soil to the extent that had been explored, the ferocity of the Indians in the neighbourhood,some of whom were said to be anthro- pophagi, appeared to present unsurmountable obsta- cles, while no probable advantage could be contempla- ted, but the preservation of the possession, which La- ■•at [■-' ^5' '"^-'il '■■■• ' '. -il ' ^■' ' ' LI ■y !■ I- i' \k i' liiU CIJAPTER [rri't ■.. ifS, sallc hiid l.iken of that part of the country, thirty six yoais before, in which his litie and that ol the greatest part of his followers fiadbeen sacrificed. Laharpe was now arrived with a coinmission, of which he was im- patient to avail himself, and Bienville gave his reluc- tant assent to the measure. Beranger was directed to carry the new comman- dant and liiirty men to the bay ; fifteen barrels of tlour and as many of meat were spared for their use. The we;)kness of the detachment, and the siiiall- ness of the supply (both, in the opinion of Laharpe inadequate) furnished him irrefragable proof that he was starting on an expedition, in which the best wishes of Bienville did not attend him. lie weighed anchor on the twenty-sixth of August. His instructions Irom the company were to take formal possession of the country, and to set up a post with the arms of France, on some conspicuous part of the shore — to build a Ibrt and secure by treaties the amity and good will ot as many of the Indian tribes as he could. If he met any Spanish force, in the country, he was directed to represent to the com- mandant, that "it belonged to the crown of France, by virtue of the possession taken by Lasalle, in 168.'), and in case he, or any other stranger, insisted on the right of staying, to remove him by force. The order of the council for the removal of head quarters to Biloxi was now executed, and Bienville, with his staff removed thither, leaving Marigny in command at FortConde. Since the departure of Law from France, the af- fairs of the company there, had fallen into great confusion and disorder, and very little attention was given to the supplies that were needed in Louisiana. None being procured by agriculture, provisions be- came extremely scarce. To provide against thr 112^1 THE TENTH. Jciit distress of imperitling fnmine, such ottho troops, as could be spared from the service of the posts, were sent, in small detachments, to Pearl river, i*ascagoula and among the Indians, to procure their subsistence by fishing atid hunting. Their unskilfulness, in this mode of seeking sustenance, made it necessary to have recourse to impressment. This measure caus- ed great murmurs among the planters; but the scarcity of provisions was productive of more dread- ful consocpiences among the soldiers. Twenty-six men, Avho were in garrison at Fort Toulouse, on the river of the Alibamons, exasperated by hunger and distress, mutinied, aiul rising against Marchand, their commander, marched off'with their arms and baggage, in the expectation of findiiig their way to the back settlements of Carolina. Villemont, the lieutenant, immediately rode to the village and prevailed ori the Indians to go and way-lay tfie deserters ; they were overpowered, by the savage assailants, but not with- out great carnage. Sixteen were killed, and two only escaped. The other eight being made prisoners, were broudit to Fort Louis and soon after executed. In the latter part of September, the colony was, in some measure, relieved by the arrival of a ship from France, with provisions. She brought accounts that the Regent had placed the affairs of the company under the direction of three commissioners. Thev were Ferrand, Faget arid Machinet. Laharpe returned from the bay of St. Bernard, on the third of October. He reported he had proceed- ed three hundred miles westerly from the Mississippi. On the 27th of August, he had entered a bay in lati- tude 29. 5. which he took for the one he was sent to. He found, on the bar, at its entrance, eleven feet of water, and having crossed it he sailed westerly; the ioundinfi^ s;a\<' all along from fifteen to twenty feet 'n:i I; s:' 240 CHAPTER [172S; MM Ir:; There was a small island, at the entrance of the bay. Bellisle, Laharpe's lieutenant, having gone on shore on the 29lh, met a party of Indians, about forty in number, many of whom offered to come on board. He suffered six of them to enter his boat ; others followed in four canoes. They were entertained on board of the vessel, and amoiig other presents a dog, a cock andafew hens were given them; they seemed greatly pleased vvitli them. On the next day, Bellisle having again landed with a few soldiers,was met by some olthese Indians, who led him to their village. The FVench were hospita- bly received, and mdde a tew presents to their hosts ; and the soldiers, with a view of show ing them the effect of gun powder, made a discharge of their pieces. Bellisle visited the Indians agairj on the next day. He told them the intention of the French, in coming to the bay, was to settle and live in friendship with the natives, and afford them protection against their enemies. They replied they would communicate this to, and consult, their countrymen. On the second of September, the Indians continu- ing to evince great reserve, the vessel proceeded farther westerly. Laharpe and Bellisle went several times ashore, attended by a few soldiers, to view the country, without seeing any Indians. Sailing N. W^ and N. N. W. for two leagues, they came to an island, at the distance of a musket shot from the main. Here a number of Indians came on board, while many others appeared on the shore on horseback, ranged in battle array. This induced Laharpe to forbear landing. The vessel proceeded to another island near the main, and sailing farther on they found a river flowing through a wide prairie. The river was wide, its water excellent, and the current slow. ,iM nsaj THE TKNTH ;^41 Saili?)^ alonfijtlio coast, several miles farther, they cast auehorat riigjht, before a ehister of* cabins. La- harpe and Hellish' lijoing ashore on the next day were coldly received. The squaws began to yell, striking their sides and screaming horridly The men asked Laharpo for some li^oods ; he answered all the goods the Frencli had brought were still on board oi'lheir vessol. and the men in the boat had come widi o other intention than to see the country and pay the inhabitants a friendly visit : they were answered one should not come empty handed among strangers. A vehement debate ensued, which induced the French to apprehend that they would be massacred. The pirty, who were lor moderate measures, at last pre- vailed, and the French were presented with some dried meat and roots. Laharpe hiving repeated his intention of settling on tfie coast, the Indians expressed their absolute disapprobation of it ; urging that they were afraid of the French, notwithstanding he represented to them their opposition would bringdown against them the Assinais and other tribes, allies of his nation. They persisted in asserting their fixed determimtiori not to allow him to settle, and their wish that the vessel should depart. According to the observation Laharpe made, the shore of the bay extended to the south, in a series of hills and prairies, interspersed with well timbered land. In the bottom of the bay, he saw^ a river, the mouth of which appeared to be about one huntlred jards wide. On the fifth, a number of Indians came on board, unarmed. Laharpe was unttble to prevail on them to consent to his making a settlement in their coun- try. Finding that the number of Indians on the bay wa^^ i.ov. I. 31 I- % ^ ' I wz CHAPTER (172'J 1 ^'^ considerable, and that but little dependence could be placed in his soldiers, he united with his lieuten- ant in the opinion, that it would be imprudent to at- tempt to force himself upon the natives; but he took the ill judged resolution to carry off'a few of them by stratagem, in the hope, that the manner in which they would be received at Fort St. Louis, and the view of the establishment of the French there, might operate on their minds, so as to conquer their obstinacy, and dispose their countrymen to forbear any further op- position to the settlement of the French among them. Accordingly, he detained twelve of his visitors, as hostages for some of his men who were sent ashore for water, dismissing the other Indians with presents. He learned from his captives, that their nation was at war with the Assinais and the Adayes, and that a num- ber of Spaniards had lately passed through tiieir country with large droves of cattle. The water being brought, the anchor was weigh- ed, and the vessel went into deep water. At night the Indians manifested their uneasiness, and wished to be sent ashore, but were told to wait till the morn- ing. At sunrise, Laharpe sent nine of them into the ca- bin, and made a few soldiers stand by with fixed bay- onets, to prevent any of them to come out. This pre- caution excited great alarm among them, and they manifested their apprehension that their destruction was intended. They were told not to fear any thing for themselves or their companions— that they would be carried to the chief of the French, in order that he might learn from them the motives of their people in preventing his warriors from settling among them, after receivi ig the presents he had sent them — that they would be treated kindly and allow ed soon to re- turn. 1722] THE TENTH. 24; The Indians on deck were now furnished with a canoe to reach the shorp. Laharpe made them a few presents, and recommended to them not to allow the Spaniards to settle in their country. Immediate- ly on their leaving the vessel, the guard was remo- ved, the Indians in the cahin allowed to come on deck, and a boat was sent on shore to set up a post on a point of land, with a leaden plate on which the arms of France were engraven. The Indians on board still imagined they were to be landed ; but on the return of the boat, they disco- vered their error, and endeavoured by various means to induce Laharpe to change his determination; sometimes telling him, if he kept in, he would run on the shoals; at other times offering to conduct him to places where good oysters were to be had, or to point out spots, in which treasures were hidden. According to the information of the Indians, and the judgment of Laharpe, the bay he came from was the one Don Martin de Alacorne discovered in 1718, which he placed in twenty-nine degrees, five min- utes, and which he called del Spiritu Santo. Bienville highly disapproved the conduct of La- harpe in decoying these Indians, and gave orders to carry them back immediately; but while preparations were making, they escaped and sought their home by land. No further attempt to settle the bay of St. Bernard appears ever to have been made by the French. La- harpe was greatly mortified at the abandonment of the plan. He thought considerable advantages might have been derived from it, as the situation of the bay afforded safe harbours and a great facility to com- merce with the Spaniards, and its navigable rivers Hivited population. The scarcity of provisions, arms and ammunition in the colony, the smallness of its mi- •I. 244 CHAPTER [)72ii litnry force, in rrlation to llio many posts to l»o pro- tritlrd, wore coiisidcrt'd by the coloiiiiil atliniiiistra- tion, as iiisiipcraMc obstacles. On the day alter Laliarpe's ictnni. l/icnvill'' learnt by acliet exceed 10 Btilise, J a hiirh iial of his so islaiul, 0(1. -low tlie lo Moi^io- ol" Uiron •f Paris, lis d'An- Marquis Mouse a ers of the a, at the Biloxi on e twenty month, /ed soon ouis, and aint gene- 1 of Bien- tion a set nt of the provided red and X dollars, tobacco, e dollars fi or six t7«3] THK TENTH i.'-l'i' Wine was sold at twenty-six livres or six dollars and fifty oonts tfio barrel, and brandy at one hundrod and Iwonly livros or thirty dollars the (juarler cask. A copper coinat!;o had lately been struck fo." the use of (he king's colonies in America, and ordered to be used in the p lytnent of the troops. It was declared a lawful tender in the company stores. The province for civil and military purposes, was now divided into nine districts. Alibamons, Mo- bile, Biloxi, New Orleans, Natchez, the Yazous, tbe Illinois and Wabash, Arkansas and Natchitoches. A commandant and judge was directed to be appoint- ed in each. For religious purposes, there were three principal divisions. The first was under the care of the capu- chins, and extended from the mouth of the Mississippi to the lillinois. The barefooted Carmelites attended to the second, which included the civil districts of Biloxi, Mobile and Alibamons. The Wabash and Illinois formed the last, confided to the Jesuits. Churches and chapels were directed to be built at convenient distances. Before this time, in many places, large wooden crosses were raised at conven- ient places, and the people assembled around them, sheltered by trees, to unite in prayer. The Chickasaws continued their hostilities : they attacked a Canadian pirogue, descending the Mis- sissippi, near Fort Prudhomme and killed two of the men. In the month of May, Fouquet brought to Biloxi the portion of the late copper coinage, for the pro- vince. La Renaudierc, an officer, who had been sent at the head of a brigade of miners, by the directors, now led them up the Missouri. Their labour had no ot her effect than to yhew how much the company er cent, and gradually reduced to its ori- ginal rate. Public and private distresses are curable by the same remedies only ; for the former is only the accum- ulation of the latter. A violent medicine often injures the natural, so do violent measures the political, body. Indolence, improvidence and extravagance, at times, occasion private distress, and this the public. Industry, economy arid order alone can relieve the first ; and if the latter be curable by the same means only, it is vain to resort to alterations in the value of money, a paper currency, or tender laws — indeed to any such artificial remedies. Loans are palliatives only, and frequently injurious ones. They may, for a moment, mitigate the etfect of the disease ; but they foment the cause, which should be removed, if a radi- cal cure be intended. If the extravagant, the impro- vident and the idle be indulged, there can be but lit- tle hope of their becoming economical, provident and laborious. The company, with the view of providing tor the spiritual wants of the upper part of the province, in which clergymen were most wanted, entered into ar- rangements with the order of the Jesuits, by which curates and missionaries were obtained. Persons, professing any other religion than the catholic, were not treated with equal charity, and the spirit of into- lerance dictated an edict, in the month of March, by which the exercise of any other religion was prohibi- ted in Louisiana, and je^vs were directed to be ex- pelled from it, as enemies of the christian name. A black code for the government of the slaves was given (o the colojiy this year. 1" October, 6B than ten ghty seven I to its ori- ble by the the accum- ften injures tical, body, igance, at the public, relieve the ame means he value of ,vs — indeed ! palliatives Y may, for a e ; but they »d, ifa radi- , the impro- 1 be but lit- provident Jing lor the province, in red into ar- s, by which Persons, tholic, were )irit of into- * March, by vas prohibi- id to be ex- 1 name. A js was given f26] THE TENTH. 259 Gross infidelities having been committed in the transmission of letters and packets in Louisiana, the king, by an edict of this summer, denounced against persons, intercepting letters and packets in the colony, or opening them and disclosing their con- tents, a fine of five hundred livres, and the offender, if holding the king's commission was to be cashiered, otherwise put in the pillory. The colonists considered the preservation of hor- ses and cattle as an object ofprimaij^^ importance; and the superior council had framed regulations for this purpose, as well as for the propagation of these animals. They had proved inertectual : the inter- position of the royal authority had been solicited, and by an edict of the twenty-second of May, the punish- ment of death was denounced against any person kil- ling or wounding another's horses or cattle. The kil- ling of one's own cow or ewe, or the female young of these animals, was punished by a fine of three hundred livres. This was a most flagrant instance of the abuse of the punishment of death. It is inflicted for the wound- ing of an animal ; neither does the legislator stop to distinguish between the most deadly stroke and the slightest solution of contiguity. in no period, in the annals of T ouisiana, does the province appear to have engrossed so much legisla- tive attention. Louis the fifteenth, had some time in the preceding year, reached his thirteenth, de- clared himself of age, and assumed the govrrnmeiit of his dominions. Happy the country when legisla- tion is never confided to a boy ; happier that, in which it is only trusted to representatives,chosen by the peo- ple, and for a very limited period. Lachaise and Perrault. lately appointed commissi- oners to examine and make a report concerning the 26U CHAPTER [1725 ii ■ « agents and clerks of the company in Louisiana, reach- ed New Orleans in the fall, with two capuchins. La- chaise was a nephew of father Francois de la Chaise, an eminent Jesuit, who, being confessor to Louis the fourteenth, had the firmness to withhold absolution from his royal penitent, till he abandoned or married the celebrated madam de Maintenon. Philip the fifth of Spain gave to the world tlie rare spectacle of a monarch relinquishing and reassumiiig a crown, within one year. A prey tosjiperstition. me- lancholy and suspicion, he imitated Charles the first; abdicated the throne in favour of Louis, his eldest son, and retired into a cloister. The new king dying a few months after, from the small pox, the royal monk threw off the cowl, with the same facility as lie had the diadem, antl leaving in the convent his supersti- tion, suspicions and melancholy, with renovated vigour, successfully directed the destinies of Spain during a second reign. The superior council now held its sessions in New Orleans, presided by Lachaise, who had suc- ceeded Duvergier as ordorniateur. Brusic, Perry, P^a- zende and Fleuriau, had lately been called to seats in that tribunal. Fleuriau had succeeded Cartier de la Baune in the office of attorney general, and Ros- sart was clerk of that tribunal. With the view of providing for a speedy determi- nation of small suits, an edict of the month of Decem- ber, 1725, directed that, independently of the month- ly sessions of the council, particular ones should be bolden, once or twice a week, by two of its members, chosen and removeable by it, to try causes, in which the value of the matter in dispute did not exceed one hundred livres, or about twenty-two dollars. The provision lately made for clergymen having proven insufficient for the wants of the colony, and the 17265 THE TENTH. fUH bishop of Quebec, uilhin wliopc diocese it was find- ing it inconvenient to send the necessary number oi" curates and mihsionaries to the upper district, the company entered into a new treaty with the Jesuits, on the twentieth of February 1726. By this, that of 1721 was annulled. Father Beau- bois, the superior of the missionarie , who had come over in that year, was allowed eighteen hundred li- vres for his services, and a gratification of three thou- aand livres was divided between his associates for their past services. The Jesuits engaged to keep constantly, at least fourteen priests of their order in the colony, viz: a curate and missionary at Kaskaskias; a missionary in the village of the Brochigomas ; a chaplain and mis- sionary, at the tort on the Wabash ; a missionary at the Arkansas ; a chaplain and Missionary at fort St. Peter, among the Yazous ; another missionary there, whose duty it was to endeavour to penetrate into the country of the Chickasaws, to propagate the Catho- lie religion, and promote union between these In- dians and the French; two missionaries at the Ali- bamons, one of whom was to preach the gospel to the Choctaws. These locations were not to be altered without the governor's consent. Father Petit, the superiorof the Jesuits in the pro- vince, was permitted to reside in New Orleans, but not to perform any ecclesiastical functions there, without the license of the superiorof the Capuchins. The company engaged to furnish him with a chape!, vestry room, and a house and lot for his accommoda- tion, that of a missionary, and the temporary use of such priests of his order, as might arrive in New Orleans. ' The order w as to have a grant of land often arpents' 4 36!£ CHAPTER 11720 ill front on the Mississippi, with the ordinary depth, and negroes, on the sjimo terms as the planters. The Jesuits were to be eonveyed to Louisiana, at the expense ofthe company, and a yearly salary of six hundred livres, one hundred and thirty I hree dol- lars and thirty-three eents, was to he paid to cjieh, with an addition of two hundred livres. torty-lour dol- lars and forty-four cents, during (?nch ol the tirsi (ive years ; every missionary was to have an out fit of lour hundred and fifty livres, or one hundred dollars, and a chapel. Money or goods were furnished at each mission for building a church and presbytery. Jesuit lay brothers were to receive their passage, anti a gratification of one hundred and fifty Uvres, thirty-three dollars and thirty-three cents, but no sal. ary. The churches and presbyteries, built at Kaskas. kiasand the village of the Michigourras, were given to tbe order. The treaty received the king's approbation, on the seventeenth of August. Similar arrangements were made with the Capu- chins, those with the Carmelites having been annuK led. All the lower part of the province was put under the ecclesiastical care of the Capuchins. Father Bru. no, their superior in Louisiana, received the appoint ment of vicar-general of the bishop of Quebec. A convent was built for them in New Orleans, on the square, immediately below the church. The superi. or, aided by two monks as his vicars, acted as curate of the parish; a third was chaplain to the milita. ry ^orce in New Orleans, and another at the Balize. Curates were stationed at Mobile and Biloxi, the Ger- man coast and Natchitoches. 1727] TIIK TENTH M»l For llio purpose of providing ibr the rduciUioii of young girls and tlic cure oHIie hospital, the conipa' ny entered into an Jigreeinent vviih sisters Marie Fran* coise Tranehepain St. Augustin and Mary Ann Le Boulanger, St. Angelique, Ursuline nuns oftlie con- vent of Kouon, on the thirteenth of Sept(Mnber, by which these hidies, assisted l>y mother Catherine Bruscoh of St. \mand, undertook to pass over to Louisiana with several other nuns of their order. The company engaged to provide for the wants of the hos- pital, and the subsistence and maintenance of the nuns. The king gave his assent to this arrangement, on the eighteenth of August. During the fall, Perrier, a lieutenant of the king's ships, having Ix'en appointed commandant general of Louisiana, reached New Orleans, and shortly after Bi- cnville sailed for France. We have seen, that in 1698 he came over at the age of eighleeri, with Iberville, his brother; he was then a midshipman; and four years alter, he succeeded SauvoUe, another brother, in the chief command of the province, whicli, with little in- terruption he exercised till this period. George the first, of Great Britain, died on the ele. venth ot June, 1727, in his sixty-seventh year, and was succeeded by George the second, his eldest son. The Jesuits and Ursuline nuns arrived this summer in a company ship. The fathers were placed on a tract of land immediately above the city, which is now the lowest part of the suburb St. Mary. A house and chapel were erected on it for their use. They impro- ved the front of their land by a plantation of the myr- tle wax shrub. The nuns were for the present lodged in town, in a house on the northern corner of Chartres and Bienville streets, but the company soon after laid the foundation of a very large edifice tor a nunnery, in the lowest square on the levee. The ladies remo^ ■^r 2ft4 (JIHAPTER [172^ ' ' t 1 f:m m iii if'fif in y :i!; ved to it in the latter part of 1730, and occupied it until 1824. It was, till the construction of the new convent the largest house in Louisiana. A military hospital was built near it. A government house^was erected immediately be- low the plantation of the Jesuits, and two very long warehouses were built in the two squares below the church, on the levee ; one of them was nearly consu- med by fire in 1818, the other is now occupied by the United States. This building and the old convent are probably the two oldest edifices in the state. Barracks were built on each side of the place d''ar- ines^ the square fronting the cathedral. A house for the sessions of the superior council, and a jail, were built on the square immediately above the church. The land on which the city stands, till protected by a levee, was subject to annual inundations, and 1 perfect quagmire. The waters of the Mississip- pi and those of the lakes met, at a high ridge formed by them, midway bet ween the bayou St. John and New Orleans, called the highland of the lepers. To drain the city, a wide ditch was dug in Bourbon street, the third from and parallel to the river; each lot was sur- rounded by a small one, which was in course of time filled up, except the part fronting the street, so that every square instead of every lot, was ditched in. In tfhis way, a convenient space was drained. In the beginning of the winter, a company ship brought a number of poor girls, shipped by the com- pany. They had not been taken, as those whom it had transported before, in tlie houses of correction of Paris. It had supplied each of them with a small box, «assc^/c, containing a few articles of clothing. From this circumstance, and to distinguish them from those who had preceded tlieai, they were called the girl^ 1728J THE TENTH. 266 de Id cassette. Till they could bo disposed of in mar- ringe, they remained tinder the care of the nuns. To the cuhnre of rice and tobacco, that of indigo was nou a{hl*'d ; the fig tree had been introduced from Provence, and the orange froin Hispaniola. A consider.ihle number of negroes had been introdu- ced, and laiul, wfiieh hitherto had been consider- ed as of but httle value, began to be regarded as oi gi-eif relati\e importance. Much attention had not been piid to securing titles ; much less to a compli- ance vviih the terms on which they had beeii granted. This began to create confusion, and I'onfnsioii litiji;a- tion : for the purpose of stopping this evil, in its be- giiuiing. the king's council published a'l edict on the tentli of August, 17'ifi. All oi'ders of the directors of the company in France, issued to those in Louisiana, before the last of" December, I72.J. not presented to the hitter and followed by possession and the re([uired improve- ment, were annulled. Landholders were recpiired to exhibit their titles, and to make a declaration of the quantity of land claimed and improved by them, to the senior member of the superior council, within a limited time, under the penalty of a fine of two hundred dollars, and in case of continued neglect, to comply with these requi- sites, the land was to be resumed and granted to others. Grants of more than twenty arpents in front, on ei- ther side of the Mississippi, below bayou Manchac, were to be reduced to that front, except in cases, in which the whole tront had been improved ; it was thouglit necessary to have a denser population above and below the city, for its better protection and secu- rity. Lands, therefore granted, were required to be im- ror. I. M 266 GHAPTEli [lV2\i i! i I' '- ii '. I ^ "proveil, by one third of the quantity in front being put ill a state to be plouglied and cullivated ; but the two chief officers ol tlic colony were authorised, on application, to make exceptions in favor of such land- holders who. having large herds of cattle, kept their land in pasture. The depth of every grant was fixed at between twenty and one hundred arpents, according to its si- tuation. The company, as lords of all the land in the prov- ince, were authorised to levy a quit rent of a sous (a cent) on every arpent, cultivated or not. and five li- vres on every negro, to enable it to build churches, glebes and hospitals. Grantees were restrained from aliening their land until they had made the requisite improvements. Hunting and fishing were permitted; provided no damajre was done to plantations and enclosures, and no exclusive right thereto was to be granted. The company were empowered to grant the right of patronage, to persons binding themselves to build and endow churches. At the departure of Bienville, the colony had made very rapid strides, and reached, in coujparison to pre- ceding years, a very high degree of relative prosper- ity. During the short space of eleven years, since it passed under the care of the company, agriculture had engaged the attention of F^uropean capitalists: eighteen liundred negroes had been introduced from Ai'rica, and twenty-five hundrt^d redemptioners brought over; the military force was increased to upwards of eight hm dred men. But the moment was approaching, when Louisiana was to receive a very severe check, which was to cause her to rrtro- gade, as fast as she l>ad advanced. In the concerns of communities, as in those of individuals, the tide oi Diit being ; bill tbe jrised, on uch laiid- Lcpt tbeii- between r to its si- the prov- A sous (a md five li- cburches, their land ments. ovided no jsures, and d. t the right es to build 1728] THE TENTH. 2«7 prosperity does not always flow uninterruptedly ; ad- versity often causes it to ebb, and a change of fortune is often experienced, at the moiuent a reverse appears less to be dreaded. Charlevoix. — Laharpe. — Fergennes. — Dupratz. — Archives] ■nW had made son to pre- c prosper- rs, since ii igriculture :apitalists : need from emptioners creased to \e moment receive a Ri- to rrtro- c concerns the tide oi 2^1^. CHAPTER l)72« •J' CHAPTER XI. Thn Chickasaws mcditnlo. the ovrrtkrniv of ike cnlony — thrif cns^ttij^c oth'^r nnttona in the plot. — The Choi laws discover it. — Pcrricr sends for some of the (hiefs. — 7 hcij deceive him. — He rcpr^srntx the h Ijilcss condition of the province. — His representations are di^r.^irardcd. — 'J he Chickasaws abandon or dclaj/ their plan /// coru/rrt of Chppar., at thcAatchcz. — Fhcy determine on the sUngh- ler of the French, and cna-aii-e the neiohbounni{ t/ib'S in the plot. — j] female discovers and diseases if. — /'oats arrive from, JVew Orleans. — Massacre at Fort Rosalie and Fort St. Peter. — Father Uoittrcjleuu. — i^erricr sends a vessel to I' ranee a)td two vp the Mississijiin. — lie des- patches Courriers to tho Illinns and his Indian allies. — He fortifies Mew-Orleans and collects a snudl force. — ..Apprehension from the narrops. — Lonbois jMisphix. — The .iVtttchcz make, propo.^ifions of peace. — 1 heir hi^h pretentions. — Ijisneur arrirrs with tie Choctaws — They cannot be restrainaL and make a bold charge iciih some success. — The army arrives ; the trenches are open- ed. — Loidjois is compellrd to accept the propositions of the .lyatchcz. — IJc Innlds a Fort and returns. — 7'Ae Chickasaws afford an asylum to the JYatchcz and endea- vour to gain the Illinois — Fidelity of the latter The Chouachas. influenced by the Chickasaws, attempt to rise against the French. — The negroes are employed to des- troy the succour from France. — Pcrrier goes to Mobile. — His call on the Alilitia.—Some of the JYatchcz a oss the Mississippi. — Symptoiiis of insurrection among the negroes. — Perrier goes with a small army to Black nver. — He reaches an Indian fort. — Opening of the trenches. — ,y? Parley. — 7%e Great Sun and two other chief' come out and are detained. — One of them escapes. — Part of in2« 17i28] THF! KLKVENTit. 268 ; colony — Choifmvs fs. — 7/if^ tion of the led. — 7 he cotu/i'ct of he sl(.r.;g1i- fif iiib>s in if. — iU)(its lit liosalic "j'rirr srjuls '. — I -cucs- ti allies. i// Joyce. — -jMisi)hix. "c. — 'i heir ^hodau'S — haro'e with s are vpcn- tositions of rns. — The and cndca- ttcr. — The nipt to rise cd to des- o jMobile. tchcz cioss nmouif the lack > iver. c trenches. •hie ft come —Tart of the Indians leave iht Fort. — The Wife of the Great Sun com^s to the camp. — Part of the remaininii; Indians sur- render ; thr. rest leave the Fort — they are pursued and some prisoners talccn. — The army returns to JSeiv-Or- leans. — Four hundred prisoners shijtped to Hispaniola — » Surrender of the Company's Charter. — State of the pro- vince. THE Chickasnvvs instiiiatetl. as Frcuch writers urge, by the Eiiglisli of Carolina, now nioditatcd the total ruin ot" Louisiana, and the destruelion of every white individual in it. They h.ad earelull}^ eonceal- ed their desicfu trom the Illinois, the Arkansas and the Tunicas, whose attachment to the French they knew to be unshakeable. All the other tribes had been engaged in the plot. F^ach was to tall on the settlement of the French designated to it, and the at- tacks were to be simultaneous. Even the Choctaws. the most numerous nation in the neighbourhood and that on whom the French placed the greatest reli- ance, had been gained, though partially only. Their villages were divided into two distinct set- tlements. The eastern or the great, and western or the little nation. — The I'ormer had refused to join in the conspiracy; but they kept it secret, till it would have been too late to have warded off the blow, if it had been struck at the time. Perrier was informed that these Indians had some misunderstanding with Diron d'Artaguette (the son of the former commissary ordonnateur) successor, in the command of Fort Conde of Marigny de Mande- ville, who had died during the preceding year, after having received the appointment of i\laj. General of the troops. He theretbre desired the attendance of the headmen of every village of botii nations, at< New Orleans. 8 'i ''«»ii :'7U CHAPTER fi72i; ^i If In this interview, he succee^led in removing all grounds of eom plaint. The head men oflhe west- ern villages lett him determined to hreak the promise they hdd giv(Mi to the Chiekasaws to tall on the settle- ment or!VIohile,hiit equ illy so to deceive him and have the part, that had heen cast ofl'to them in the dire tragedy, peri'ormed hy the Natchez, in the Icjcof reaping a douhle advantage iVom the French, for their assistance; in tfie pillage made on. and the prisoners taken from, the Natchez, whose discomfi- ture, they considered as certain. Perrier had been sensible, from his arrival in the colony, of the necessity of strengthening distant posts. The province had indeed many forts ; but none of any importance, except that of Mobile. The others were heaps of rotten timber, and hard- ly one of them was garrisoned by more than twenty men. He had frequently represented his dangerous situation to the company and solicited a reinforce- ment of two or three hundred men. His fears had been considered as chimerical. It was thought he desired only to increase his command, or sought to embroil the colony in war, in order to display his skill in terminating it. In the meanwhile, the execution of the plan of the Chiekasaws had been abandoned or delayed. Per- haps they had discovered symptoms of defection, in the behaviour of the Choctaws. The indiscretion and ill conduct of Chepar, who commanded at Fort Rosalie in the country of the "^^atchez. induced these Indians to become principals, instead of auxiliaries, in the havock. This officer, coveting a tract of land in the posses- sion of one of the chiefs, had used menaces Jo induce him to surrender it, and unable to intimidate the stur- dy Indian, had resorted to violence. The nation to li;i. [1720 noviiig all ft he wcst- e promise the settle- i and have II the dire he 1 cj cof •ench, for II. and the ! discomfi- ival in the ng distant Liiy forts ; or Mobile. , and hard- lan twenty dangerous , reinforce- fears had houglit he r sought to dispUiy his plan of the ^ed. Per- efection, in ndiscretion led at Fort uced these xiliaries, in the posses- ■i to induce ite the stur- le nation to 1729} THE fU.EVENTH. 71 whom (ho commandant's ronduci had rendered him obnoxious, took part with its injured member — and re\ enge was determined on. The suns sat in council to devise the means ol annoyance, and d"termined not to confine chastisement to the oHlender ; but, having secured tlie co-operation ol' all the tribes, hostile to the f^rencli. to ellect the total overthiovv of the settlement, murder all white men in ii, and reduce the women and ciiildren to slavery. JNlessengers were accordingly sent to all the villages of the Nat(;hez and tlie tribes in their alliance, to induce them to get themsi Ives ready and come on a given day to begin the slaughter. For this purpose, bun- dles of an e(jual number of sticks were prepared and sent to every village, with directions to take ou* a stick every day, alter that of the new moon, and the attack w as to be on that, on w hich the last stick was taken out. This matter was kept a protound secret among the chiefs and the Indians employed by them, and par- ticular care was taken to conceal it from the women. One of the female suns, however, soon discovered that a momentous measure, of which she was not informed, was on foot. Leading one of lier sons to a distant and retired spot, in the woods, she upbraided him with his want of confidence in his mother, and artfully drew from liim the details of the intended at- tack. The bundle of sticks lor her village had been deposited in the temple, and to the keeper of it, the eare had been entrusted of taking out a stick daily. — Having liom her rank access to the fane at all times, she secretly, and at dillerent moments, detached one or two sticks and then threw them into the sacred fire. Unsatisfied with this, she gave notice of the im- pending danger to an olficer of the garrison, in whom she placed confidence. But the information was either disbelieved or disregarded. \- \ '': M'-' [i 378 CHAPTEIl [inti i !p ' An accidental circumstance y the Tennessee and Kentucky rivers, on the other bide. Emissaries went also to the Indian tribes in allianc(> with the French. Fvery house in the city, and the plantations near it, was supplied w ith arms anil ammunition out olthe company's maga/ine. and the two remaining shi[)s were directed to proceed as far as bayou Tunica, for the reception aLid safe- ty of women and children, i?i the last extremity. The city was surrounded by a wide ditch, and guards were put at each corner. There were then small forts al the Tchapitoulas, Cannes brulees, the German Coast. Manshac and Pointe Coupee. Perrier had collected ahout three hundred soWiers: having sent for those at Fort St. Louis and Fort Conde. Three hundred men of the militia had join- ed this force, and he was preparing to march at theii head, when it was discovered that the negroes on the plantations evinced symptoms of an intention of join- ing the Indians against their masters, in the hope ol obtaining their liberty, as some had done at the Natchez. There were then nearly two thousand blacks in tlie colony, a number equal to one half of the French, but the most of them were in or at a short [17130 r7:j6j lllK KLKVKNTH. 211 [> alarm, icy tiooii laiisliac. itlnuled illi room, goiiii^ to cIumI tho :\\y ships tops and , In Kod ' country 'iv(M'S on 10 Indian lioiise in tjiod willi iiaejazinr, » proceed and sal'e- ily. The irds wore 11 lorts at an Coast. soldiers: and Fort had join- li at their es on the >n ol'join- e hope ol e at the thousand e half oi it a shorl distance ahovo the city, where their niimher perhaps preponderated over that of tiie French. '1 he com- pany had a ^anf]f of two hundred and sixly, on their plantation, and there wer«» less, hut yet very conside- rahle, i^ani^rt on some of the [jriiicipal ijriinls. A few j)arties of vagrant Indians were hoverin«^ around the city, and f»reatly excited the alarms of its inludiitants. Perrier, theret()re, gave the comniand of this small army to the chevalier d(j Loul)oiH, and sent onwards an ollicer of the nairje of Mispleix, to procure? infor- mation of the strength and motions of the en(!my. Lesu«'ur, who had gone to the ('hoctaws, (;ollecled seven huiidrcd warriors of that nation and led them across the coinitry. Mispleix landed at the Natchez on the twenty- fourth of January, with fivcMTien. '^I'he Indians had noticed the approach of this small party: they fn-ed on it arid killed three men and made Mispleix and the other two prisoners. Louhois was advancing: his force had been swell- ed at bayou Tunica by the militia of Manshac, Baton Rouge and Pointc Coupee and a few Indians. The Natchez, apprised of this by their runners, des- patched some of their chiefs to meet, and offer peace to Loubois. Their pretentions were high ; they required that Broutin, who had before been in command at Fort Rosalie, and the principal chief of the Tunica Indi- ans should be sent as hostages. They demanded for the ransom of the women and children in their possession, two hundred barrels of powder, two thou- sand flints, four thousand weight of balls, two hundred knives and as many axes, hoes, shirts, coats, pieces of linen and ginghams, twenty coats laced on every seam, and as many laced hats with plumes, twenty barrels of brandy, and as many of wine. Their intention was (^•:.,- ' '"'l ■i. ' 1 7« CHAPTER [1730 u to have miirderecl the men, coming up with these goods. On t!ie clay after the departure of these chiefs, they burnt Mespleix and his two companions. Lesueur, with his ('hoclaw iorce. which on the way had been increased to Iwelve fiundred, arrived on the twenty-ei,';hth, in the evening. Runners, whom he had seiit ahead, met him with the information, that the Natchez were not at all aware of his approach, quite out of their guard, and spending their time in dancing and carousing. The intelligence soon spreading in Loubois' camp, he was absolutely unable to retain his Indians, as he was ordered to do, until he was join- ed by F^oubois, with the army from New Orleans. At day break, on the twenty-ninth, the Choctaws. in spite of their leader's entreaties, fell on the Natch- ez, and after a conflict of about three hours, brought away sixty scalps, and eighteen prisoners — they liber- ated the carpenter and tailor, with fifty-one women and children, and one imndred and six negroes. They had only two men killed, and eight wounded. After the battle, they encamped en St. Catherine's creek. The issue of this attack inspired the Natchez with terror. They upbraided the Choctaws for their per- fidy and treachery; attesting their solemn promise to join in the conspiracy and afford their aid, in the to- tal destruction of the French. Loubois came up on the eighth of February. The six hundred men of the regular force and militia, he had taken at New Orleans, had been joined on the way to bayou Tunica by one hundred others, and had found there two hundred French : and three hundred * Indians of the Oumas, Chetimachas and Tunicas had joined the army on its march to the Natchez, so that it consisted of upwards of fourteen hundred men. [1730 th these efs, they the way 'd on the ^' ho 111 he . that the ch, quite 1 dancing wading in to retain was jou;- leans. hoctaws. le Natch- , broughl liey hber- e women negroes, ivounded. itherine's hez with heir per- romise to n the to- 1730J •llli: hlLEVENTtl. 27;» d ry. The litia, he on the and had hundred licas had i;, so tha( ed men. mostly white. The impatience arul indocihty of the frienois, on the seventh day after the open- ing of the trenches, to listen to the proposals of the besiegt'd, who threatened, if he persisted, to burn the white women and children still in th(^ir possessi- on, and ollered to surrender them, if the eleven field pieces he had were withdrawn. There were not in the whole army one man that could manage them, and the only hope entertained of them was, that they might scare the Indians. (Jn the twenty-fifth, the terms were accepted ; and all the prisoners being sent to Loubois' camp, the ar- my mov(Hl to the bluliand erected a small fort to keep the Indians in awe, and protect the navigation of the river. Loubois deemed it necessary, betore the departure of the army, to make an example of three of the ne. groes, who had been the most active and forward in inducing the rest to join the Natchez. They were ac- cordingly delivered to the Choctaws, who burnt them with a cruelty that inspired the others with the great- est horror for the Indians, and the resort to which certaiidy found an apology in the circumstances of the case. The inhabitants of New Orleans received with open arms, in the bosom of their families, the widows and children of their frieiids, who had fallen under ihe tomahawk of the Natchez. Benevolence reliev- ed their wants, and tenderness ministered those suc- cours, which protracted captivity and suftbrings called for The nnns opened their cloister to the i8u (JlIAl'TKll [I'/.iO I '•••I if 11 orphans of their sex : those of the other were divided into the lainihes of tlie easy and atHuent, and many a matron hstened to solicitations to put an early end to her widowhood. The Chickasaws had offered an asylum in their na- tion to the Natchez; it had heen accepted by a num- ber of them. Having tlius aided the enemies of the French, they sought to increase their number, and sent emissaries to the lUinois to induce them to join in the common cause. These hidians rephed they would assist their white friends on the Mississippi with all their might, and they sent a deputation to "errier to assure him of the dependence he could put in their nation, of their sorrow at the catastrophe at the i\atcb<'z. and their readiness to lose their lives in the (leiV'iice of his countrymen. Tliey returned in the latter part of .Tune to join the Arkansas, in order to tall on the Yazous and Coroas. A party of -he latter, going to the Chickasaws, were nif t by one of the Tchaoumas and Choctaws, who kil- led eighteen of them, and released some B^rench wo- men and children, they were carrying away. A few days after, a mnnber of Arkansas lell on a party '^f the Yazous. scalped lour men, and took four women, whom they led into captivity. Returning homewards they met several Canadian lamilies going to New Or- leans ; they bewailed with them the disaster of their countrymen, and particularly the death of tather Pois- son, who had been their missionary bel'ore he moved to the V azous : they vowed that, as long as an Arkan- sas lived, the Natchez would have an enemy. While the northernmost tribes remained thus attach- ed to the French, the smallest ones near the sea, recei- ved emissaries from the CUiickasaws, and sullered themselves to be deluded, so far as to achnit among themselves parties of wandering Indians, m ho much {iT.iO 1.730] THE ELEVENTH. Mi divided manv a y end to their na- y a nuni- (Bs ot" the iber. and 1 to join ied they ississippi italion to couhl put Lroph(^ at ir lives in o join the d Coroas. iws, >vere ^, who kil- ench wo- A few rtv t^( the r women, inewards New Or- r of their ther Pois- he moved an Arkan- lus attach- lea, recci- \\ sullered lit among ■vho much distressed the planters, and «jreatly alarmed the inha- bitants of the city. The Chouacfias, a very small trihe, who originally occupied the margin of lake Bar- ataria, had renoved to that of the Alississippi, a lit- tle below the city, near the English turn, and had pro- ved themselves useful to the French, when they be- gan to occupy the ground on which New Orleans now stands. Tln^y were suspected of being under the in- fluence of tlie Chickasaws, and had become obnox- ious to the colonists. Their annihilation was judged Indipsensable to the tranquillity of the country, and was determined on. The slaves of the neighbouring plantations were incautiously employed in this ser vice, under the idea that the warfare would sow be- tween them and the Indians, the seeds of such mutu- al hatred, as would ever prevent a coalition between the red and black people. The negroes acquitted themselves with great fury; indiscriminately massa- creing the young and the old, the male and tlie ten- derer sex. On the tenth of August, the people of New^ Orlean? received the pleasant int«dligence oi the arrival at the Balize a lew days before, of a company's ship with troops jind succour, under the ordiMs of Perrier de Salvert, a brother of the commandant general. Much of their joy however was abated when it be- came known that there were but three companies of marines on board, each otsixty men. The company k<»pt in the province six hundred and fifty men of French troops, and two hundred of tli(^ Swiss. VVith this reiniorcement. the total barely ('\(!eeded one thousand nien — a relatively powerful body, if there had been but one settlement to pro- tect: but a very insullicient one, while the establisli. m«'nts weie sprinkled over a wide extended territory. Chagrined at this disappointment, the commandanf Loif. I. 36 r I i 1^82 CHAPTER [17cH» St general made an excursion to Mobile to seek aid among the friendly tribes near Fort Conde. On his return, he issued a proclamation conjuring every able bodied man, not already under arms, to bnwkle a knapsack on his back, put a musket on his shoulder and join the army. Hut little could be ex- pected from this appeal ; the \\ hole mililia from the Alibamons to the Cadodquious and from the Balize to the Wabash, not exceedingeight hundred men. Most ofthe Natchez Indians, who had not gone over to the Chickasavvs, had crossed the Mississippi, and marched through the country of the Washi- tas to the neighbourhood ofthe JNatchitoches, and on Black river. The departure ofthe army was delayed by a most distressing event. The negroes who liad been em- ployed in destroying the Chouachas, in returning to their labours, began to feel more sensibly the \> eight and the success of the ferocity they had oi their chain exercised against the Indians, gave a hope that liberty might be the result of a similar at* tempt upon the French. But, their views were dis- covered, arul the arrest and execution of their lea- ders warded lor a while the impending blow. The Arkansas had promised to come down and join Perrier's force. He now^ sent a Canadian ol the name of Coulange to meet them, and di- rected Beaulieu to proceed to Red river and obtain information of the spot to which the enemy had re- tired, his force and intended movements. Perrier de Salvert, with the van-guard ofthe army, embarked on the thirteenth of November. It con- sisted of the three companies of the marines, a few volunteers and Indians ; in all about two hundred and fifty. The commandant general sat off two days af ler with the main body, not larger than the van, com seek aid > ■ conjuring pr arms, to iket on his luld be cx- a from thff he Balize 3d men. I not gone Mississippi, he Washi- lies, and on d by a most d been em- i\ returning .ensibly the hey had ol ans, gave a I similar at- kvs were dis- )i' their lea- ow. e down and Canadian ol ?m, and di- r and obiain lemy had ro- of the army, her. It con arines, a few hundred and two days at' he van. com 173i] THE ELEVFNTII. 2\io >ed of regulars and volunteers. Benac, who com- manded the militia, led the rear, which did not ex- ceed one hundred and fifty. The late alarm render- ed it necessary that the forts should continue to be well garrisoned, to insure tranquillity and awe the slaves. The army stopped on the right side of the Missis- sippi, opposite to Bayou Manshac, where a Cola pissa chief led forty warriore. It now consisted of about seven hundred men. Lesueur was sent forward and ordered to ascend Red river. On his way, he receivec' the painful in- telligence of the Natchez having surj^rised Coulange and Beaulieu, killed the former and wounded the latter. Of the twenty-five men who accompanied them, sixteen had been killed or wounded. The Arkansas had come down, according to their promise; but not hearing of the army, grew impatient and return- ed. He immediately communicated the intelligence to his chief. Perrier, having ordered the army to proceed to the mouth of Red river, stopped at Bayou I'unica, to join the Indians, who had [»''en directed to rendezvous there ; one hundred and fifty warriors oidy met him. He joined the army with these on the fourth of Jan- uary. His whole force now consisted of about one thou- sand men. He ascended Red and Black rivers, and on the twentieth came in sight of one of the enemy's forts, on the banks of the latter. The trenches were immediately opened, and the artillery landed on the following day. On the next, the enemy made a sally, wounded an otficer, and killed a soldier and a negro. On the twenty-fifth, a white flag was hoisted on the fort and a similar one displayed on the trenches j 5oon after, an Indian came out with a calumet, suing for 284 CHAPTER [I73J ;':' peace and ofTtTing 1o surrender every negro in the Ibrt. IVrrier told him he would receive the negroes, and if the Indians wished for peace, they should send the chiefs to speak with him The messenger rephed the chiei's would not come out; hut if Perrier would come fortli to the head of the trenches, tlie duels would meet him there. He was directed to go and fetch the negroes, and an answer would he given on his return. H;ilfan hour after, he hrought eighteen negro men and one woman, and said the chieis would not come out — that peace was wanted, and if the army would return, hostilities would cease. Perrier replied no proposal wouM be listened to, until the chiefs came to speak with him. and if they did not. the attack would be resumed, and quarters given to uo one. The messenger went back, and returning soon after, said the warriors insisted on the chieis not coming out, and except on this head, were ready to accede to any proposition. Perrier told him the cannon were ready, and he still insisted on the chiefs coming out — that if they compelled him lo fire, he would not stop till the fort was blown to atoms, and no one would be spared. On the mairs return, a Natchez Indian, of the naujc of St. Come, a son to the head lemale sun, and as such heir to the sunship. wlio had always been on a Iriend- ly footing wilfi tlu^ French, came to Perrier's camp: he told liimtliat now as peace was made, the French army should return — that he grieved much at the conduct of his nation, but every thing ought to be forgotten; especially, as fhe prime mover of all the mischief had fallen in the attack of the Choctaws. Perrier told him he was glad to see him, but he de- sired to see the great sun also, but would not be play- ed with, and he hoped no Natchez Indian uould ap- ■•4 TO HI the ■ negroes, ?y should lesseiiger il Perrier iclies, tlie :tecl to go be given 1731] rHE ELEVENTH. 285 egro mm not come ly would ppHed no iel's came he attack one. liing soon :hiets not ' ready to him the the chiefs o fire, he toms, and the name d as such a Iriend- •*s camp : e French :h at the ght to be ol" all the hoctaws, t he de- L be play- ould ap- proacli him, except in the company ol the hitter, as he would order any one to he fired on, who would come with any other proposal. St. Come took leave, and halt an hoin* after return- ed with the head sun, and another chiel. called the chief of the flour, who was the prime mover ol all the mischief; St. Come having sought to screen him. The Great Sun assured Perrier. he had had no hand in the massacre of the French, and was very much pleased at the opportunity of treating with him; St Come, exculpated him. The chief of the Hour said he was sorry for what had happened. As they were exposed to the rain, which was now increasing. Perrier, pointing to a cabin near (he n, bid them to take shelter in it : on their doing s( , he ordered lour men to guard the door, and directed Lesueur and two oflicers, attentively to watch them. Lesueur, speaking their language, went in, and at- tempted to get into a conversation with them; but they kept a stubborn silence and lay down to sleep. The other two officers did the same on their rising, Lesueur went to rest towards mid-night. — Ahout three hours after, he was awakened by a sudden noise, and saw the Great Sun and St. Come, endeavouring to es- cape from the sentry — the officers and th<* two other soldiers had gone in pursuit of the chief of the flour, who. having eluded their vigilance, had fled ; Lesueur pointing his pistol at the two captives, they refrained from any (urther attempt to escape. At day break, an Indian came irom the fort to visit the Great Sun : being conducted to the cabin, he told him the chief of the flo*:.^ having reached the fort had called apart ter warriors, antl assured them, Perrier was determined on burning them all ; that for his part he had made up his mind, nolotJger to remain exposed 'n fall into his hands, and advised them to look ibr I vi 'iUti CHAPTER [1731 their own safety, with him. Accordinsfly they had followed him, with their women and children, while the rest lost in deliberation, the tavourahle moments, and at day break found their flight was no lon{t!;or pos- sible. The Great Sun observed this chiel was an usurper. Perripr bid his prisoner, towards the evening, to send word to his people to come out with t!\eir wo- men and children, and he would spare ih'ir lives, and prevent his Indians from hurling ihern. This was done, by the messenger of the morning; hut compliance was refused. In the morning, the Great faun's wife and some oiler members of his family visited him. IVrri* r receivf'd them well, because they had afforded proucliou to the French prisoners. Sixty-five men and about two hundred women came in towards noon. Word was sent to those in the tort, that, if they did not leave it, the cannon would be fired and no one spared. The Indians replied the fire nnghl hc^gin, and they did not iipar death. They were restrained by tlie fear of falling into the han«ls of Perrier's Indians, if they went out in small parties, or of being discovered by the French, if they went out together. The cannonade now began : a heavy rain was fal- ling, and it blew very hard. The besieged fl ittered themselves with the idea the inclemency of the wea- ther would prevent the passes being strictly guarded; they were not deceived. At dusk, the cannon was stopped : towards eight at night, an officer reported that the enemy was flying; the cannonade was now re- sumed, but it was too late — a part oi the arm} went after the toe and brought in upwards of one hundred ; Perrier vainly tried to induce his Indians to give the chase, they answered tliose should do so, who had suffered the Natchez to escape. The fort was now 1732 J THE ELEVENTH. iti entered and no one found in it but a decrepit old man, and a woman who had just hiin in. There remaining now no enemy to fight, the pri- soners to the number of (bur hundred and twenty-se- ven, were secured and embarked. Tlie army sat off* on the twenty-seventh and readied New Orleans on the fiflh of February. The Great vSun, and the other pri:^oner3 were sent immediately to Hispanolia, where they were sold as slaves. The war was not, however, at an end. Lesueur had ascertained that the Natchez were not all in the fort Perries had besieged. They had yet upwards of two hundred warriors, including the Yazous and Co- roas, and an equal number of young lads capable of bearing arms. A chief had lately gone to the Chick- asaws witli forty warriors and many women : another was with seventy warriors, and upwards of one hun- dred women and many children on lake Catahoulou, to the westward of Black river. There were twenty warriors, ten women and six children on the Washi- ta : the strength of the party who had gone towards the Natchitoches was not known. In the mean while, the company finding tbemselves much diappoinled in the hope they had entertained of the profits of their commerce, and the advantages they had imagined would result from their charter; alarmed at the great loss they had sustained at the Natchez, and the great expense necessary to be in- curred in the protection and defence of the province, if they retained the possessioti of it, solicited on the twenty-second of January, 1732, the king's leave to iurrender the country and their charter. By an arrest of the council of the following day, and letters patent, which issued thereon, on the tenth of April, the retro- ression mwde by tlie company of the property, lord: f h W i ^bb CHAPTKR [\r3i ship and jurisdiction olHio province of Louisiana and its d<^p(Mi(l(Mic'irs. toj^rlhtM'wilh (lio roiintr)^^ ol'tlit Il- linois, and ihecxclusivecomnuMceto those places, v is accepted. The arrest declares the commerce of'the ret receded countries tree, for the future, t(» all the kin«;'s suhjects. Thus Glided the j^overnment ofthe western compa- ny. It lasteil during ahoul t'ourtem years — nesniy one halt'ot" the tune elapsed since Iberville had laid the foundation of a French colony on the gulf ofMex- ico. When the company received its charter, tin settle- ments it) the wide extended country ceded to it. were confined to a very narrow space at the Biloxi, Mobile river, Ship and Dauphine islands. '1 wo very small fortifications had been erected on the Mississippi — the one near the sea, the other at the Natchez, and one at the Natchitoches on Hed river. Agriculture had hardly reared its head, though rice was sewed in the swamps. Horticulture supplied the tables of a few with vegetables, and enabled some of the rest to procure a little money by supplying the Spaniards at Pensacola. Now all the original settlements had considerably extended their limits, a new one had been formed at the Alibamons. On the Mississippi^ the foundation oi New Orleans was laid : although there was no planta- tion below it, a considerable one with a gang of up- wards of one hundred slaves had been formed oppo- site the city, and there were many smaller but still con. siderable ones at Tchapitoulas and Cannes brulees. A vast immber of handsome cottages, lined both sides of the river at the German Coast; grantees of wide tracts had transported a white population, and sent negioesto Manshac, Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee, i^nd we have seen a smart settlement had risen at inat [132] THE Ei.EVKNTir 281) Natchoz. iho rival of Now OvU n laUMoz. ino rival ol >p\v uricans. Higher up, sma I'.olonirs liacl ^onc to the Va/ous afid Arkansas; while olliors liad (Irscriidcd from Canada to the Wabash and (he llHnois. To the cnlliire of rice, that of indigo and tobacco had been aihled ; the forests yielded limber lor vari- ous uses and exportation ; wheat and llour came alrea- dy down from the Illinois; a smart trade was carried on with the Indians at Natehitoches, Mobile, Aliba- mons and the Cadadocpiious, far beyond the western- most limits of the present state. Provision had been made for the regular adminisl ration ofjustice; church- es and chapels had been built at convenient distan- ces, and without perhaps any exception, every settle- ment had its clergyman, under the superintendence of a vicar-general of the bishopof Quebec, of whose diocese Louisiana made a p.irt. A c<»nkent had been built, the nuns of which attended to the rebel of the sick of the garrison, and to the education of the young persons of their sex. The Jesuits had a house in New Orleans; a kind of entrepot of their order, from which their priests were located among the neighbou ing tribes of Indians, or sent, as occasional emissaries, to the most distant; and those men attended to the edu- cation of youth. The monopoly which the company and Crozat had enjoyed and strictly enforced, had checked, and it may be said destroyed, the incipient trade the colony had before the peace of Utrecht; but the produce of the tilled land and the forest, the hides, skins, furs and peltries, which were obtained from the Indians, for goods, which were easily procured in the company warehouses at the Biloxi, New Orleans, the Natchez and the Illinois, and which were disposed of at an enormous advance, enabled the company to dispose of considerable quantities of merchandize. Lov. r. 37 1 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // 4r ////7 / » ^J%i V] <^ /a ^/) y /^ 1.0 2.2 • 56 112 I.I IIII2.0 1.8 1.25 1 1.4 1.6 < 6" ► Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. M580 (716) 872-4503 4^ A^ ■^^""^i MP. :9o CHAPTEll |173'r ■ wl The sums, spent by the company in the colony, sut- ficed to fiiniish the inhabitants with a circulating medium. It had a commandant sjeneral, two king's lieutenants, a commissary ordonnateur, six hundred and fifty men of French, and two hundred of Swiss troops, in its pay. Besides a number of directors, agents and clerks, it supported upwards of thirty clergymen. According to the system of all commercial compa- nies, the supreme authority in the province resided in the directors and agents of the corporation ; and the mihtary, incessantly controlled by men whose pursuit was wealth, not glory, lost their activi- ty and zeal. A conflict of powers necessarily crea- ted dissentions and animosities, latal to the interest of the company and the province. It cannot, however, be denied, that while Louisiana was part of the dominions of France, it never pros- pered, but during the fourteen years of the compa- ny's privilege. The white population was raised from seven hun- dred to upwards of five thousand, and the black from twenty to two thousand. Charlevoix. -^Laharpe. — Vergennes. — Dupratz. JMtres cd I /{antes. -ArcJdves. I'v ■4 I T32j rUE TWELFTH tiou gia CHAPTER XII. Salmon taken possession of the province for the king. Property ofthn compnmj purchased.— Redcmpiioners and muskets. — Superior council re-organized. — The JVatchez re ryrulsed at JVatchitoches. — JVegro plot. — Excmp- on from duties. — Military peace establishment. — Geor- gia settled. — War in Europe. — Bienville re-appointed governor. — Troops. — Furloughs and grants of land. — Scarcity of provisions. — Card money. — Irruption of the .JVatchez. — Bienville prepares to inarch against them. — Conspiracy among the soldiers at Tombeckbee. — Bien- vHle''s unsuccessful attack on a fort of the L hiclcasaivs. — The Chevalier d''Jirtaguette. — Sprmish hostilities against the British in the West Indies. — The French cabinet ap- proves the plan of a new expedition against the Chicka- saws. — Peace in Europe. — The garrison of St. ,/lugus' tine reinforced. — Bienville at thehead of the colonialforce ascends the Mississippi. — Detaf'hments from Canada and the Illinois. — Injudicious delay. — Disease. — Fam- ine. — Celeron marches against the westernmost fort of the Chickasaws. — They sue for peace. Bienville des- troys his forts and the army returns. — Death of Charles VI. — Maria Theresa. — War in Europe. SALMON, who on the death of Lachaise, had suc- ceeded him in the office of Commissary Ordonna- teur, having been appointed the king's commissioner, received possession of Louisiana in his name, from the company. The crown had purchased all the property of the corporation in the province. It was not considerable, and the appraised inventory of it. amounted only to iij i , 1 'jc <>qi.) ^m a ft* CHAPTER [l73Si two hundred and sixty tliree thousand livres ; not equal in vahie lo sixty-tliou.sand dollars. It consisted of" some gooils in the warehouses, a plantation oppo- site the city, which was partly improved as a brick yard, on wliich were two hundred and sixty neajroes, fourteen horses and eight thousand barrels of rice. . The negroes were valued at an average of seven hundred livres or one hundred and sixty three dollars and a third : the horses at tifty-seven livres or twelve and a half dollars, and the rice three livres or sixty-six cents and a third, the hundred weight. At these prices, nineteen hundred weight of rice were given for a horse ; at the present value of rice, four cents a pound, the animal was worth seventy-six dollars, and the negro nearly one thousand. The company had contracted a considerable debt, with the planters, and obtained on the fou-teenth of February, an arrest of the king's council, inhibiting creditors in Louisiana from suing in France. Brusle and Bru. two members of the superior council, were appointed commissioners to receive claims against it, in the province. In order to facilitate the commerce of the colony, the king, by an ordinance of the fourth of August, dis- pensed the vesselsof his subjects, trading thither, with the obligation of transportin«j; redemptioners and mus- kets, which was imposed on those trading to his other American colonies. The late change in the government of the pro- vince requiring one in the organization otthe superior council, this was effected by the king's letter patent of the seventh of Mav. The members of this tribu- nal were declared to be the Governor General of ISew-France, of which Louisiana continued to con- stitute a part, the Governor and the Commissary of Louisiana, the king's lieutenants and the town major [173i; •es ; not oiisistcd 1 oppo- i H brick ncfijroes, it" rice. ji' seven c dollars IV res or livres or rht. At •ice were ^ice, four venty-six ible debt, teenth ol inhibiting Hrusle icil, were against it, le colony, ugust, dis- her, with and mus- his other the pro- e superior ter patent his tribu- enrrai ot pd to eon- missary ol iwn major J7J2] THE TWELFTH. '^9;; of New Orleans, six councillors, an attorney gene- ral and clerk. Th rie members of the council, at this time, were Perri- er. Commandant Gerieral; Salmon,Commissary Ordon- nateur ; Loubois and d'Artaguette, the king's two lieu- tenants ; Benac, town major of New Orleans; Fazende. Brusle, Bru. Lafreniere, Prat and Raguet, Council- lors ; Hcuriau, Attorney General, and Rossart, clerk. The Natchez Indians continued to wage war, with the western parts of the province. The chief of the flour, who had effected his escape from Perrier's camp, on Black river, and who had afterwards left the fort with some warriors, their women and child- ren, had been joined by those whom he had left there, and had not fallen into the hands of the French. Ail ter wandering a while among the Washitas,this party, increased by other individuals of their nation, pro- ceeded to the Natchitoches. St. Denys, who com- manded there, having early information of the ap- proach of the Natchez, and finding his garrison weak, dispatched messengers to New Orleans, the Cadod- aquious and Assinais, to solicit succour. According- ly Loubois left New Orleans with sixty men of the gar- rison ; but as he entered Red river, accompanied by one hundred Indians, whom he had taken at the Tu- nicas, he was met a little below Black river, early in November by Fontaine, who was sent by St. Denys to Perrier. From him, Loubois learned the Natchez had attacked the fort, being about two hundred ; but they had been repulsed. The Natchitoches had made a show of resistance ; but having but forty warriors, they had been compel- led to desist, after having lost four men. The Natch- ez took possession of their village : St. Denys had been reinforced by his allies, on Red river and the Opelousas. With his garrison, a few Spainards and .»( 'VJ'l CHAPTER \n6i: II these Tihlians, he sfillied out, forced an intrenchment, Uie Natchez hiuJ made around their camp, and killed ninety-two of them, among whom were all their chiefs. The rest lied into the woodi, and St. Denys' Indians were in pursuit of them, when Fontaine left the fort. \V ilh liir less means than the commandant general on Black river, St. Denys had effected in much less time a more hrilliant and useful exploit. It put an end to the war of" the Natchez. The survivors of th(^ nation sought an asylum among the Chickasaws, with whom they became incorporated. These In- dians had hitherto pretended to remain neutral ; but now excited by a number of English traders, who had settled among them, avowed themselves the open enemies of the Fref»ch. There were at the Natchez, on the plantations of the French, a considerable number of negroes; near- ly all of whom had joined the murderers of their mas- ters, in order to gain their freedom, and had follow- ed their new friends among the Chickasaws. This circumstance, and their consequent emancipation, was known to their former companions, who had been recaptured or surrendered, and presented to them the evidence of the possibility of their own release from bondage; they became restless, indocile, and fit subjects to be wrought upon, by persuasion. In the hope of exciting, through them, the other slaves in the colony, to finish the work begun at the Natchez, several of the most artful negroes, among the Chicka- saws, were sent to Mobile, New Orleans and along the coast, to sow the seeds of rebellion among the peo- ple of their colour, in those places. These emissa- ries, being unable to shew themselves opeidy, had no success on the plantations, where the gangs being small, the slaves wer^ fearful. It w as in vain urged upon them, the moment was arrived to rid themselves; 1173!;: hment, I killed chiefs. Indians Q I'olt. general jch less put an vors ol kasaws, lese In- al ; but rs, who he open aliens ol" »s; near- leir mas- d follow- s. This cipation, ad been to them 1 release cile, and rsuasion. er slaves atchez, Chicka- id along the peo- emissa- , had no gs being in urged lemselves 1732] THE TWELFTH. S90 of their masters, and secure their own freedom, by removing to the Chickasaws, or the English in Carolina. On the plantation opposite the city, lately tlie property of the company, but now of tfie king, there were upwards of two hundred and fifty hands. Seve- ral of these were seduced, and the contagion spread with considerable rapidity up the coast, where in the vicinity of the city, there were some estates with gangs of from thirty to forty slaves. Meetings were held without the notice of the French; the blacks improving the opportunity, unsus- pectingly furnished them by their owners, to assemble in nightly parties for dancing and recreation. At last, a night was fixed on, in which, on pretexts hke these, the blacks of the upper plantations were to collect on those near the city, at one time, but on various points, and entering it from all sides, they were to destroy all white men, and securing and con- fining the women and children in the church, expect- ing to possess themselves of the king's arms and maga- zine, and thus have the means of resisting the plajiters when they came down, and carrying on conflagration and slaughter, on the coast. They hoped to induce or compel, by a shew of strength, the timorous of their colour, who had resisted the temptation to swell their number, and with them join parties oi the Chicka- saws, who they were assured w ould advance to re- ceive and protect them. Fortunately, the motions of an incautious fellow were noticed by a negro woman, belonging to a Dr. Brasset; she gave such information to her master as led to the discovery of the plot. Four men and a woman, who were the principal agents in it, were detected and seized. The men were broken on the wheel and their heads stuck on posts, at the upper and lower end of the city, the 1: '■■:■ f'''?il l4 390 CHAPTER [nae m mi Tchapitoulas and the king's plantation: the woman was liung. This timely severity prevented the mis- chief. The king extended further encouragement to the trade of the province, by an arrest of his council of the thirteenth of September, exempting frouj all duties of exportation, all merchandise, shipped by his sub- jects to Louisiana, and all duties of importation the merchandise of its growth, produce or commerce. Shortly alter, provision was made for its protection and defence, and an arrest of the thirtieth of Novem- ber ordered a military force to be kept theie, consist- ing of eight hundred men ; six hundred and fifty of whom were to be detached from the regiment of Karrer. The year 1732 is remarkable as the period of the settlement of the last of the British provinces in Ameri- ca, which now constitute the United States. Charity devised the plan and furnished the means for its exe- cution. A society, formed in London, selected a large unoccupied tract of land between the rivers Sa- vannah and Alatamaha, a kind of neutral ground, which separated the provinces of South Carolina and Florida, as a spot on which the suffering poor might find an easy and quiet existence. The abolition of the company's exclusive right to the trade of Louisiana, and ihe encouragement lately given to its commerce, excited the industry of the mer- chants in several of the sea ports of France and her colonies ; and several vessels from St. Maloes, Bor- deaux, Marseilles and Cape Francois, came to New Orleans, in the course ot the follovvi.*g year. The death of Augustus, kirig of Poland, in 1733, for a while disturoed the tranquillity of Europe. Louis XV. supported the claim to the crown of Stanislaus, whose daughter he had married in i725, and was as- 1734 J THE TWELFTH. 2dl •iistod by Spain, but was opposed by tho emperor, who upheld the pretensions of the elector of .Saxony. l>ien\ ille was this year re-appointed <^overnor of Louisiana. He did not however reach the province until I Ik- following year. The colonists hailed the re- turn ot their former chief, who had devoted the prime of his life to the service of their country. Perrier, on his arrival, retur-ied to France. A frigate brought troops to complete the peace es- tablishment of the province, according to the arrest of the king's council of the month of November. For the tlouble purpose of promoting the king's service, and the extension of agriculture in Louisiana, itwas provided by an arrest ofthe king's council of the month of August 1731, that there should be armually granted to two soldiers, in each ofthe companies of French troops ser\ ing there, a furlough and a tract of land, subject to a yearly quit rent of a sous for every four acres. It was stipulated that the grantees should, within tliree years, clear such a part of the land as the governor should designate, and during that peri- od, their pay and rations were continued to them. The Swiss soldiers were likewise entitled to such a grant, at the expiration of the time for which they had been enlisted. We have seen the king kept six hundred and fifty soldiers in the province. They were divided into tliir- teen companies of fifty men each, which gave annual- ly twenty-six new farmers. The Swiss ^mpanies gave four, in the same period. In the French troops, the selection was made by the governor, from the soldiers who conducted them- selves the best. This proved a valuable measure, promoting good order among the men, and extending agriculture. Those, who thus quitted the sword for the plough, became in time the heads of orderly fami- r.oTi. I. 38 •■*, ' jl. 4 t; ' »! J r 1 ' ■ i 1 '• 39B CHAPTER |l !,■>.> lies, and muny of their rernolo (lesccMidanl^ are now persons oCueiiUli and r(?spe(;tal)ility. The Trenc^h and Spanish arms had iliis year <;jreat suecPsH in Italy; Don Carlos, the youn<;e«t son oi Phi- lip the fifth, who afterwards wasf'harles the third of Spain, entered the kingdom of Naples, at ihe head of thirty thonsand men, and made himself master of it. Althoufjjh lar<^e (juantities of eoin were anrnially sent over fop the pay and maintenanee of the; troops, and the expenses of the colonial government, the means of remittance which at^riculture supplied hcing comparatively (lew and small, the merchants hoarded up for exportation all the coin they received. The province found itself drained of its circulating medi- um, to the great injury of its agricultuie and internal trade. By an edict of the king, which hears date the nine- teenth of Septemher, 17:}.'3, an emission of card mo- ney to the amount of two hundred thousand livres, a little m )re than forty thousand dollars, was ordered to be struck, and declared receivable in the king's ware- houses for ammunition or any thing sold there, or in exchange, annually, for drafts on the treasury of the marine in France. This measure had been solicited by the colonists ; cards were accordingly struck of the value of twenty, fifteen, ten and five livres; fifty, twenty-five, twelve and a half, and six and a quarter sous — answering to the emissions of the British provinces of four, three, two and one dollar, halves, quarters and eighths of a dollar. They bore the king's arms, and were all signed by the comptroller of the marine, at NewOrleans. Those of fifty sous and more were also signed by the gover- nor and ordonnateur — the others had the paruphe oi' nourish of these two officers only. ;iro now cur hi(!kasaws, now resumed their predato- ry war, on the distant settlements of the colony, and greatly obstructed its communication hy the Missis- sippi, to the Illinois, the Wabash and Canada. A num- ber of Chickasaws generally accompanied these ma- rauding parties. As the province could enjoy no tran- quillity while such outrages were not suppressed, Bi- envilh? sent an otlicer, to the principal village of tfie Chickasaws to insist on the surrender of the Natchez. He was informed these Indians could not be given up, as they had been received by, and incorporated with, the Chickasaw nation. He determined to go and take them, and ordered immediate preparations lor an expedition. For this purpose, he directed the Chevalier d'Ar- taguette, who was now in command at Fort Chartres of the Illinois, to collect as many French and Indians as he could, and march them down to the country of the Chickasaws, in order to join the troops from New Orleans and Mobile, about the tenth of May. Leblanc, who was the bearer of these orders to the chevalier, was sent up with five boats laden wilh pro- visions and ammunition for Fort Chartres. He suc- cesstully resisted the attack of a party of the enemy near the Yazou river. He reached that of the Ar- kansas, where he landed part of the loading of his boats, which had been too heavily laden. On his reaching Fort Chartres, one of the boats was sent for the provisions left at the Arkansas ; but the Indians, who had attacked him on his way up, fell on this boat and killed every man on board, except a lieutenant called Dutisne, who commanded the party, and a half breed of the name of Rosaly. 1 1 If] .JUU CIIAPTKR 17,nr, Ill the meanvvhilp, anotlier ort'icer had pfono amoni; the Choclavvs, lor the purpose of in(liicin}j; some ol the cliiefs, in the sevenil villages of that nation, to meet f^ienville at F^ort Coiide. At this nieetinj:;, the Frcucli rhief purchased the aid of his red alhes, for a led. A sufficient number of the militia was left in the forts, and two companies marched with the rec^ulars and some negroes, whom it was not thought impru- dent to trust with arms. This force was embarked on the bajDU St. John in thirty boats, and as many h\rge pirogues. Bienville reached Fort Conde with it on the tenth of March. He had belbre sent a strong detachment, under the orders of Lusser, to throw up a small work on the bank of tlie river, at the distance of two hundred and fifty miles above Fort Conde, and on the same side of the stream, in order to have a safe place of de- posit for the provisions, arms and ammunition that had been sent up for the use of the Choctaws. Here some ofLusser'^s men, instigated by a sergeant of the name of Mont fort formed the design of availing them- selves of the facility, presented by theirgreat distance from the settlements of the French, to release them- selves from subjection, by murdering their officers, and seeking retiige among the Chickasaws, whom they were sent to combat, or among the English in Carolina, through the desert. The plot was luckily discovered, at the moment on which it was to have, been executed. The sergeant and five men were . I LH.V, rt36] THE rVVKLiTH. :i01 no amonij; soino ol mtion, lo uisrd \\iv , a p:irt o( V (Irlivcr- to rolU'd cm to ihr 'turned to ce he had oft in tho Q iTCjulars rhi iinpru- rm barked 1 as many jude with ?nt, under I work on ) hundred the same lace oi'de- ition that fcws. Here ant of the ing them- distancp ase them- ofFicers, vs, whom nglish in as luckily LS to have [Tien were I arrested, hut f Jipser postponed their trial till the arri- val of his (thief. TIk- army hiid h'ft Fort Conde on the fourth of April. ;uid reached Tomheckhee on the twentieth: a C( urt martial immediately sat on th«' |)risoners, and they were shot. A few days aller, the Choctaws, who h; «l heen eii«»;;iged as auxiliaries, joined Hienvill(\ and liedcjivered to them the balance of the j^oods he had promised. Incessant rains and inclement weather prevented the army from leavinir Tomheckhee before the fourth ol May, and thice weeks elapsed belore it reached the spot on which it was intended to land. Some time w as now spent in erecting a shed for the re(:eption and protection of a part of the provisions and Marlike stores, and a few huts for the accommodation of the sick. Here another party of the Choctaws joined the army : the immber ol these a?ixiliaries was now twelve hundred. The nearest village of the Chickasaws was at the distance of twenty-seven miles to the north east. A sulficient force being left to protect the sick and stores, the army marched, in tw ocolumns, onthetwenty-lifth: the Choctaws w ere on the Hanks. A halt was made for the night at the distance of seventeen miles ; at day break, the troops started in perfect order and silence and came in sight of the village towards noon: a strong fort had been erected before it. 7'he Choc- taws yelling ran forward, in the hope of surprising some of the Chickasaws, but without success. Bienville, at half past one, formed his army into a regular square : as it approached the fort in this order, he ordered it to halt, and directed the major part of the regulars and militia to form strong detach- ments and march to the attack. The British flag was flyingover the fort, and a few Individuals of thatnation .iOl' CHAPTER L1736 II were perceived in it. Fire hail been set to a few ca- bins near the fort, from whicli the Frencli might be annoyed ; they advanced ten deep, shouting vice / / r/y, but were much distressed by the smt)ke from the ca- bins, which the wind blew in their face^. T' e fort now began a galling fire ; a lieutenant, a sergeant and two men were killed, and Renaud d'Auterive, an oili- cer of the militia, was severely wounded. The Chuk- asaws were In a strong fort, surrounded uiih a ' i: k palissado full of loop holes, from which they poured forth an incessant shower of balls; strong and tliick planks, covered with earth, ibrmed over the palissa- do, a covering impenetrable to the grenade. The French were unprotected and fell back. I'liey roon advanced again ; but the fire from the fort made a great havock, while thoy tired in vain against the pvd- issado. At five o'clock, Bienville seeing Noy;i it, Lusser. Jussau, and Girondel,four of his best oflicefs, and many others disabled, and the ammurntion of his men nearly exhausted, without the hope of success, ordered a retreat, and sent a strong detachment to support it. Jt was made in good order. 1 he loss was thirty-two killed and sixty-one wounded. The force employed joined the rest, without being able to bring away the bodies of their dead. The evening was employed in throwing up a small entrenchment around the camp. In the morning, the French saw the bodies of their countrymen, who fell in the battle, cut into quarters and stuck up on the pickets of the palissado around the fort. During this day, the Choctaws had several skirmish- es with the Chickasaws. On the twenty-ninth, the army began to retrogade, and encamped within three miles only of the field of battle, an'd on the next day, within the same distance from tbeir place of landing, which they reached on f!. [1736 a few ca- mig'il be ncc I roij^ ) I lie ca- T> e iort earit ai'.d e, an olli- leCli'tk- ha 'ik y poured M\i\ tliiek o palissa- Je. The 'hey :>oon t inai'it;iM in llie \\ est hulia seas. 'J lieir ^narda costas sci/cd a liundjcr ol" vessels of that n;«lion, >\h!e!i ihey earrit^d into the ports of the main, the island ol Cuha and insj)aniola, lor eondeinnatioii, under the pietenee tlvft they were engajred in a contrahand trade, with the colonies of v^pain. Bienville, on his return from the unsueeessful ex- pe(!i'ion ai^ainst the Chitkasiiws, planned a new one, in which he proposed to re;)chtiieir country, by the Mississippi. lie conununicated his ^iews to the mi lister, who sulnnitted them lo the chevalier de Beauhansctis (the liither of the first husband of iIk^" Empress Josephine) then Governor General of New France. Louis XV. was not successful, in the war he had undertaken, to place his father in-law, on the throne of Poland. Tranquillity was momentarily restored to Europe by the peace of 173{{, which left the Elector of Saxony in possession of the crown, and Don Car- los, kinj^ of Naples. Stanislaus, however, was per- mitted to retain the title of king, and l>ecaine Grand Dukeof Lorrain and Bar. While the war that had been waged between the emperor and the kings of France and Spain, was thus brouglit to a close, the latter sovereign, began preparations lor hostilities against Great Britain, and the garrison of St. /Vugus- tine received a very considerabh^ reinlbrcemenl. Mi'l l : I-. ' l.oi;. I. 39 u 300 CHAPTER [173^ with the viow of an attack on the contiguous new British province ofGeorgia, which Philip V. consider- ed as an encroachment on the dominions of his crown, while (ieoroje II. sent six hundred men there, under the orders oi* General Oglethorpe. As soon as Bienville was informed that the minister approved his plan of an attack on the Chickasaws, with a force, which was to ascend the Mississippi from New Orleans, and come down from Canada and the Il- linois, he began his preparations. It is not easy to dis- cover, on what ground better success was promised, in this way, than by an a p]' roach of the enemy's coun- try up the river Mobile: the greatest fort of the country of the Indians, was to the west of that river — and an army, landed on the bank of Mississippi, would have to cross the country of the Chocl.iws, in its whole w idth. It is true, the latter were friendly Indians — but, though this added much to the security of the forces, it increased equally the trouble, fatigue and expense. By the Mobile, the French landed at once in the centre of the enemy's country. In the execution of his plans, Bienville ordered ;i very strong detachment to the river St. Francis, in the present territory of Arkansas, to be immediately ciiiployed in building sheds for the reception of the troops, their provisions, arms and ammunition, and a tort tor their protection ; this spot appearing the most convenient as a place of deposit and a rendez- vous, for the forces that might come down from Canada and the Illinois. In the month of May, of the following year, three of the king's ships, under the command of the chevalier de Kerlerec, landed at New Orleans a few companies of the marines who were commanded by the cheva- lier de iNoailles. Every thing having been previously arranged, the 1739] THE TWELFTH. 307 chevalier de Noyant, sat off with the van guard a few days after the arrival of (he reiufbrcemeiits. The main body successively followed in large detachments, and Bienville brought up the rear. The army reach- ed the river St. Francis, on the last of June, and with- out the loss of much time, crossed the stream to the river Margoi, on the opposite side, near the spot on which the present town of Memphis, in the state of Tennessee, stands. The army was first employed in providing the means of conveyance, for the provisions, arms, am- munition and baggage, and in building a fort, which being completed on the fifteenth of August, the day on which the Catholic church celebrates the festival of the Assumption of the Virgin, was called the fort of the Assumption. Labuissoniere. who had succeeded the unfortunate chevalier d'Artaguette, in the command of Fort Chartres, arrived a few days after, with his garrison, a part of the militia of the Illinois, and about two hundred Indians. He was followed, the next week, by Celeron and St. Laurent, his lieutenant, who com- manded a company of Cadets, from Quebec and Mon- treal, and a number of Canada Indians. The force from New Orleans, consisted of the Loui- siana regulars and militia, the companies of marines, lately landed from France, and upwards of sixteen hundred Indians. So that Bienville found himself at the head of upwards of twelve hundred white, and double that number of Indian and black troops. This comparatively very large army, unaccounta- bly spent six months in making preparations for its march. In the mean while, the troops lately arrived from France became unhealthy, and many died — the climate had an almost equally deleterious influence on those from Canada. The provisions were now .,!•';■ 'fr' I' '! i', „l I t' I i Mm CMAl'TEU (171U exhausted, and such was the dearth ol" them, tliat horses were slaui^lilered for food. Karly th<; next year.therei^ulars and militia of (-anada and Liouisiana, who had escaped the autumnal disease were prostra- ted hy famine and fitii^tie, aiid t!ie chief was eomp d- led to eonfi.ie his call for servie(% to iiis red and black men. They weie his only ellectual Ibice. On the tiftecnth of March. C'leron marched the remainder olMiis Canadian Cadets, to whom about a hundred other white soldiers were added, this small body, vvilli th(; n("«^roes and Indians, be^an t!»e mareli towards the village of the Chickasaws, and Celeron was instructed to promise peace to tiiese indiaiis, if it was a;Ived. The en(Mny liad been apprised of the ari'iv il of Bienville, v. i(h a\ei'y Itu^e ami}/; and wiieMlh'y perceived tiir colours of CoUmou's coinp;iey. a lew white men and an immenst; body of ludiaiis. on each llauk, liiey IkuI no uoui)t tliat the wliole force of Bienville Avas ther(\ In the terror, which this deiu- bion excited, mosi of the warriors came out of the lort, and approaclu'ii^ Celeron in an hundde post!]re, bc;^- ged him to give them peace and vouchsale to be llieir intercessor with Bienville : assuring him lliey would be the inseparable friends of the Frcmch ; swearing they had been excitinl to hostilities by the English from Carolina, wlio !iad come to their \illages; and pix){e.>ting tbcy had entirely renounced any future connection with them. They said they had lately made two individuals of tliat nation prisoners and detained them in the lort ; they pressed Celeron to serul one of his oUicers to the fort that he might be satisfied of the truth of what they told him: St. Lau- rent was accordingly sent. As he entered, the squaws began to yell and -scream loudly, and demanded his head. On this, he 1710) THr: Twi:i;i'"r]f, :H)[.' was seized and coiifinrd in a hut, while the men were deliheraliiiij;" on tlie (hMiiand of tlie women: at last, the party who deemed it danp;erous to j^rant it. |:re- vailed, and St. L lurent was taken out, and shewn tlie white prisoiiers. Pleased at the hnppy turn the atFiirh had taken, he promised peace to the Indians, in the name ol' Celeron. They all I'ollowed him to tlie camp, wliere the eaptaiji ratilied his lieutenant's promise. A deputation of the Chiekasaws. joiniuii; the {"n^nc'h on their retroj^rade mareh, Celeron led hack his force to the Mississippi, where the calumet was pn, *en(ed. by the Chickasavvs, to Bienville. They renewed to him the protestation of their thnotion, to the inte- rest o( the French, and presented him the two E!iii;lishmen. Tlie calumet was accepted, and the deputi(^s were permitted to return. The fort of the Assinnplion was razed and fjabuis- sonniere and Celeron ascended the river with those ol tlH'ir men, who:n disease and lamine liad spared. The iorce Irom New Orleans stopped at the river St. Francis to dismantle the fort, and then floated down to the city. Thus ended the Chickasaw war, undertaken by J3ienviJIe to compel these Indians, to surrender the Natchez, who had found an asylum among the former. Peace was made on the promise of the Indians of one of the villages of the enemy, to be in future the de- voted friends of the French — purchased at the price of many valuable lives, at a vast expense besides, and with great distress and toil. The French chief acquired no military glory from the war. While tranquillity appeared thus restored to Louisi- ana, that of Europe was disturbed, at the death of the Emperor Charles the sixth, on the twentieth of September, 1740, without male issue. According to ■.M^ I'.' . MM n JID CHAPTMR tnio the pragmatic sanction, by vvliich in 171.*{ it had been provided, that his eldest daughter Ghoukl succeed him, Maria Theresa ascended his throne. Louis the fifteenth united with Prussia and Poland, in support, of the pretentions of the Duke of Bavaria, to the im- perial sceptre, and the dogs of war were let loose. The chevalier de Beauharnois, Governor Gene- ral of New France, was succeeded by the count de la Galiissoniere. Charlevoix. — Laharpe. — Vergennes. — Dupraiz. — Archives. 1741 THE THIRTEENTH ;Hl ,'■( CHAPTER XIH. / he JVIarffms dc. VanffreuU. — Superior Council. — Georgia. -J\ ova-Scotia— iVar.— Irruption from Canada. — Paper .securities — The Island of Cape Breton taken. — lyj^n- viUe's jUet. — Ferdinand., VI. — Hurricane Dearth Relief from the Illinois. — Overseer of the high ways Survei/or General.-Olivicr Duvezin. -Civil Regulations. —Peace of,/lix-la-chapelle.—Redemptioners and muskets. — Larouvilliere. — Ohio Company. — Complaint of the Governor General, of JVew- France. — Quota of troops in Louisiana. — The culture of tobacco encouraged. — Rrii- ish tradei s among the Twigtwees arrested.— Exemption of duty. — Recruits from France. — Sugar Cane.-— Myrtle Wax. — Irruption of the Chickasaws Vaudreuil marches into their country. — ./I fort built on French creek — Gover- nor Dinwiddle. — Major Washington. — Kerlerec. — Des- closeaux. — Jumonville. — Villiers.-Fort JS'ecessity.— Mur- der of the Commandant on Cat Island. — Beausejour. — The Acadian Coast. — General Braddock. — Fort Du- ffuesne. — Crown Point and JSiagara. — Declaration of War. — The Earl of Loudoun. — The Marquis die Montcalm. — Fort Oswego and William Henry taken by the French^ and the Islands of Cape Breton and St. John by the British. — Fort Frontefiac. — General Forbes, — Fort Duquesne. — Fort Massac. — Barracks in JVev) Orleans. — Rochemore.-Diaz Arria. — Bdot.-Marigny de Mandevillc. — Lahoupe. — Ticonderoga. — Crown Point., JYiagara and Quebec taken. — Charles III. — George III. — Attakapas, Opclousas and ./Ivoyelles. — Depreciated paper. — Unsuccessful negotiation between Great Britain and France. — The family compact. — Martinico, St. Lucie., Qrenada and Havana taken. — Treaty between France and Spain. — Peace of Paris. ■ ! yi f Jiy ('iiai»ti:k [1711 THK Manjuisdc VaiulrniiK a son ofllic lulo Gov- ernor (Jcncriil olNcvv rnnicr. was in IT 1 1. .i|)|toiii. t('(l(i jo\<'rnoror lionisiaiia, am I I' H'ii\ ill<' sai i(d I >a<' to Kriiucr, Hindi if^i^r'ttod \>y tli<" <'oloni>(s. 'The ial(< vv was tlu' )'oniiumi\iII( t I (ic i: n a i;oiill('inan of* QucIki', wIk» Ii:mI scxcn sons i tlio svrvic(M)f his sovcrcijiii. Bi('ii\ illc. the cMcst, f(;ll in l>nt(le in Canada. Il»<'r\ illc. Scriirny. ^ auvollc, (■lial>"!iMi;iir and St. lleU'in', Imvc all iicen tinMi- tionf'd in lliis work. — 'I he yonniicst. to whom the nain(M)ri!io eldest li*'.d l>e«>ii !:ive:i. t'anie, as we haNO said, to Loiiisia'ia. with iherville. in MiiM}. lie >\as then twenty tuo ve;us oiajre, and a nruishipiiian. in the royal na\ v. lie remained in th<' proxiiu-e eon- tinnally. e\eej)l din-in^ the administration ot"l'erri(T, and was the ehiel" in coininand, dnriii<; mo.-t ot'thc time. I!e was called the liilher oi the country, and deserved the appellation. 'rh le commerce oi Lonisiana. released Irom tne restraints ol'the (exclusive privilei;e ol'tlie co.npany, now heojaii to thrive. lndiji;o was cnllivated to a considcral)l<» ext«Mit, and with much success, and with rice and tohacco, allbrded easy means ol" remit- tance to h^urope, while lumher found a market in the West India island; The ("hickasaws were less tur- bulent : a circumstance attributed to the employ- ment which war gave to the people ol" South (Jaro- lina and Georgia. The increase of trade caused litigation, and it was deemed necessary to create new ofHcers, in the superior council. Accordingly, the governor and the commissary ordonnateur were, l)y the king's let- ters patent ol'the month olAugust, 1712, diiected to appoint tour assessors, to serve for a period of four years in that tribunal. They \vere to sit and rank after the councillors : but their votes were received ft,; P •i 1742] THE THIRTEENTH. tjia Iroin tiie only, in cases in w hicli the record was referred to them to report on when- they were called upon to complete a cjuorum, or in case of an e(juality ol' votes. The choice of the Iwo administratois, for the first time, fell on Delachaise. a s^on of the late commissary ordoimateur, Delalande d'Aspremont, Amelot and Massy. The Spanianis this year made an unsuccessful at- tempt on the province of Georgia. With a view ol having that of Nova-Scotia, (which had been restored to Great Britain ai the peace of Utrecht) occupied by national subjects, the former French inhabitants had t een mostly driven away ; three thousand families were brought over, at a great expense defrayed by government, and three regi- ments were stationed there to protect these people, against the F'rench of Canada and the Indians. George the second having taken arms, in support of the claim of Maria Theresa to the throne of her father, and having in person gained the famous battle of Dettingen against the allied tbrces, war was kindled between France and Great Britain. Hostilities began in America, * by frequent irrup- tions of the French from Canada into JNova-Scotia. A small land and naval force from the island of Cape Breton, afterwards possessed itself of the town of Canceaux, and made its garrison and some ol the in- habitants prisoners. A less successful attack was made on Annapolis — the French being driven back by the garrison, which had been reintbrced by a strong detachment from Massachusetts. The con- quest of Nova-Scotia being a favorite object with the people of Canada, Duvivier was sent to France, to solicit the minister to send out a suiiicient force for this purpose. Louisiana suffered a great deal from the want J^ou. 1. 40 ;'ii ■t * » '' '' '4i ^ ■ J\i CHAPTEU [174S. of a circulating inrdiiim. Card money liatl cauf^od tluMlis;»pp<.'araiico of the gold and silver, < irculaling in llie cidony Ijclorc its cinisssion, and its snbso- cjutMit depreciation had induced tlie coniinissnry ordorniateur to liave recourse to an issue of oyY/o//r//ircv, a kind of bills of credit, uhicli although not a legal tender, from the want ofa inetallie currency, soon he- carnc an object ofconnnerce. They were Iblloued by treasiu'y ilotes, which being receivable in the dis- cliarge ot'all claims of the treasury, soon got into cir- culation, This cumulation ol public securities in the market, within a short time threw them all into dis- credit, and gave rise to an agiotage,, highly injurious to commerce arul agriculture. While Duvivier was gone to France to induce the minister to furnish means tor the re-capture of Nova- Scotia, Governor Shirley of Massachusetts had despatcheil captain Ryall, an oiTicer of the garrison captured at Canceaux, to represent the danger, in which the province of Nova-Scotia stood, to the lords of the admiralty, and press them tor some naval assis- tance. The captain was also charged to present a plan, which Governor Shirley had formed for the sur- prise and capture of the island of Cape Bretori, the possession of which, in the neighbourhood of New- Foundland, enabled the French to annoy the fishe- ries and commerce ofGreat Britain. Although near- ly eight millions of dollars had been spent by France on the fortifications of that island, the smallness of the garrison, and the vicinity of the British provinces, induced Shirley to conclude it might easily be taken by surprise: the idea had not originated with him, but had been suggested by Vaughan, a merchant of New-Hampshire. Ry all's mission had no other effect than a direction to the commander of the squadron, in the West In- 1746] THE TirinTKHNTH. .51 r. dies, to prorord to the nortli in tlw spring, to sifl'ord Rroti'ctioii to the commerce aiul fitslieries of the ew-Kiighuul provinceis. and distress those oftfie Fr(?nch : and the governors were instructed to aid him with transports, nteii tiff'' }»rovisions. In the m(?anwhile, V auglmn's plfui had been suhmit- tcd to tlie legislature ot the provinces, and those of New-Hampshire, MaM>*aefiusetts and Connecticut, had raised about four thoii^nnd men, and 'he gover- nors of the two first colonies, had taken upon ihem- 8elves,onthis occasion, to disregard their instrurlions, and to give their assent to bills for the euiission of paper monej. The colonial forces assembled at Canceaux, to- wards the middle of April, and were put under the order of Vaughan, and soon after the West India fleet arrived. A landing on the island was effected a i'ew days af- ter, and while the fleet was cruising off Ijouisbourg, it fell in with a sixty-four gun ship from France, with five hundred and sixty men, destined for the garri- son and an ample supply of provisions and military stores: she was captured, and the land forces soon after compelled the garrison to surrender. In the mean while, the succour Duvivier had been sent to solicit, had been obtained ; seven ships of war, w ith a considerable la^id force, sailed from France, in the month of July. They were ordered to stop at Louisbourg, where they were to be joined by a num- ber of volunteers from Canada, for the attack of Nova- Scotia. Information reached the fleet, soon after its departure, of the fall of Louisbourg, and of a British fleet cruizing in its vicinity ; the plan was aban- doned and the fleet returned into port. Great preparations were made by both nations, in the following year. The British determined on ' It 11(5 CHAPTER tl74t simultaneous attacks on Canada, from sea and the lakes, and a very considerable Ibrcc was collected for this purpose. The French equipped a large fleet under the Duke d'Anville, for the re-capture of the island of Cape Breton and Nova-Scotia; but like the Spanish armada, this fleet was, if not destroyed, dis- persed by the winds and the waves: most of the ships were disabled. The appreliension which its approach excited, induced the British to turn to- wards the protection of their own territories the forces they had assembled for the reduction of Canada. Philip the fifth of Spain ended his second reign and liis life, in the sixty-third year of his age, on the ninth of July, nml >vn.s succeeded by his second son, Ferdinand the sixth, having himself, been succeeded by, and succeeded, his first. Louisiana was this year visited by a destructive hurricane, which laid the plantations waste, and total- ly destroyed the rice crop. This article was used in most families, as a substitute for bread. The conse- quent distress was greatly encreased by the capture of several vf ssels, that had sailed from France, with provisions. The province was, however, relieved by large supplies of llour, from the district of the Illinois, amounting it is said to four thousand sacks. This part of the province was already, at this period, of considerable importance, in a letter to the minister, V^audreuil wrote, "we receive from the Illinois flour, corn, bacon hams, both of bear and hog, corned pork and wild beef, myrtle and bees wax. cotton, tal- low, leather, tobacco, lead, copper, buflfalo. wool, venison, poultry, bear's grease, oil, skins, ibwls, and hides. Their boats come down annually, in the latter part of December and return in February. " War drew oflfthe attention of the people of South • '!•■ ..h 1748J THE THIRTEENTH. 31t Carolina and Georgia ; and the Indians, left to them- selves, did not annoy the distant settlements of the French, and that in the neighbourhood of Fort Char* ires was in a very flourishing condition. The extension of agriculture and commerce drew the attention of government to the roads in the colo- ny, and regulations were made for their construction and repairs. The otBce of overseer of the high-ways was created and given to Olivier Duvezin. who was also appointed the king's surveyer general in the pro- vince. His commission bears date the month of Oc- tober 1747. The incapacity of many of the persons who had been appointed, principally in the distant posts, to make inventories of estates of the deceased and similar acts, joined to the impossibility often of finding any person to be appointed, had caused, in many in- stances, the omission of the formalities required by law ; great inconvenience had resulted from the ne- cessity imposed on the superior council, of declaring some of these acts absolutely imll. On the representa- tions of the colonists, a remedy for this evil was sought, and a declaration of the king's council of the thirteenth of March, 1748, provided tliat any invento- ry or other instrument, made in any of the posts of the province, in which there was no public olficer, and even in those in which there was such an olficer as in New Orleans, Mobile and the Illinois, where the legal formalities were omitted, should be valid, provided there was no fraud ; and such inventory or other public instrument should, within the year after the publication of the declaration, be presented to the superior council, and on the motion of the attor- ney general, recorded, in order to prevent litiga- tion, and promote the peace of families. New Orleans, Mobile and the Illinois being the ;'■* m ■ 1 ;'«!►:!; "■in m m ■ IK: .1 I 1 « , VH8 CHAPTER [1748 only places in the province, ^here public ofliccrs re- sided, it was directcxl that elsewhere, inventcrie's^and other public acts might in luture be made by two no- table inhabitants, attended by an equal number of witnesses, and within the year transmitted for regis- try to the superior council in New Orleans, or the in- ferior tribunals in Mobile, or the Illinois. The winter was this year so severe, that all the orange trees 'were destroyed — a misfortune of which this is the first instance on record. The peace of iVix laChapelle, on the eigliteenth day of October, settled the dissentions of Europe and put an end to the warfare between Canada and New England. Maria Theresa was recognised as Em- press, and Don Carlos, the third son of Philip, re- tained the crown of the two Sicilies. Louis XV. and George 11. agreed that all conquests made during the war should be restored, and the French re-possessed the island of Cape Breton. The provision made by the treaty of Utrecht for defining the boundary between Canada and Acadia, had not been carried into effect. The cabinet of Versailles urged that by the cession of Acadia, noth- ing had been yielded, but the peninsula formed by the bay of Fundy, the Atlantic and the gulf of St. Law- rence — that of St. James claimed all the land to the south of the river St. Lawrence. Unfortunately, measures were not taken, at the pacification of Aix la Chapelle, to remove this source of controversy. On the twenty-fifth of November, the king prolong- ed for six years, the exemption he had granted to ves- sels trading to Louisiana, from carrying thither the number of redemptioners and muskegs, which were re- quired to be taken to his other American colonies. Larouvilliere, succeeded Salmon as Commissary Ordonnateur, in the latter part of the following year. [1748 1750] THE THIRTEENTH. Sl^ '.;4iri icors re- ! tuo no- umber of or regis- 3r the iii- at all the of which ghteenth irope and and New d as Em- *hilip, re- , XV. and luring the possessed trecht for I Acadia, ?.abinet of lia, noth- led by the St. Law- ,nd to the rtunately, 3n of Aix jversy. ; prolong- ed to ves- ither the 1 were re- )lonies. mmissary ing year. fv: I"; >.- i Several individuals in England and Virginia had associated themselves, under the style of the Ohio company for the purpose of carrying on the Indian trade, and effectiiig a settlement on the land border- ing on that stream. They obtained from the crown a grant of six hundred thousand acres of land, on the western side of the Alleghany mountains. Their surveyors and traders soon crossed the ridge, and erected block houses and stores among the Indians. — The Marquis de la Jonquiere, who had succeeded the Count de laGallissoniere in the government of New- France, considering the country thus occupied as part of the dominions of his severeign, complained to governor Colden, of New York and governor Hamilton of Pennsylvania, of what he viewed as an encroachment, and assured them that, if this notice was disregarded, he should deem it his indispensa- ble duty to arrest the surveyors and traders, and to seize the goods of the latter. The French had then a large force at Presquisle on Lake Erie, and small detachments on French creek and the Alleghany river, and were making preparations for building a considerable fort, at the confluence of the latter stream and the Monongahela, the spot on which now stands the town of Pittsburg. This fort, with those on lake Ontario, at Niagara^ the Illinois, the Chickasaw bluffs, the Yazous, Natch- ez, Pointe Coupee and New Orleans, was intended to form a connecting line, between the gulfs of St. Law- rence and Mexico. The quota of troops for the service of the pro- vince, on the peace establishment, was fixed by an arrest of the king's council dated the 30th of Septem- ber n-OO, at eight hundred and fifty men, divided into seventeen companies. The agriculture 9f the province was favoured by ■i 1 1 ■ • i ' . .1 ■ W' 1';" IB .!; •■. 320 liHAPTER (1751 an arrangement with the farmers general of the king- dom, who agreed to purchase all the tohacco, raised in Louisiana, at thirty livres the hundred, equal to six dollars and two thirds. The remonstrances of the Marquis de la Jonquiere to the goverrjors of New York and Pennsylvaina hav- ing been disregarded, he put his threats into execu- tion, by the seizure of the persons and goods of seve- ral British traders among the Twigtwees. The king had ftivoured in 1731, the commerce of his subjects to Louisiana, b} exempting all merchan- dize sent to, or brought from the province, from duty, during a period often yf^ars, and the exemption had in 1741, been extended for a like period. It was by an arrest of the king's council, dated the last of Sep- tember, farther prolonged during a third period of the same duratijon: but with regard to foreign mer- chandize sent there, it was restricted to salt beef, butter, tallow and spices. Two hundred recruits arrived from France on the seventeenth of April, for the completion of the quota of troops allotted to the province. The king's ships, in which they were embarked, touched at the cape, in the island of Hispaniola, where, with a view of try- ing with what success the sugar cane could be culti- vated on the banks of the Mississippi, the Jesuits of that island were permitted to ship to their brethren in Louisiana, a quantity of it. A number of negroes, •acquainted with tfie culture and manufacture of sugar, came in the fleet. The canes were planted on the lard of the fathers immediately above the city, in the lower part of the spot now known as the suburb St. Mary. Belbre this time, the front of the planta- tion had been improved in the raising of the myrtle wax shrub ; the rest was sown with indigo. The myrtle wax shrub is very common in Louisi- [1751 1 kinp;- raised qual to iquiere ia hav- execu- if seve- erce oi rrchan- in duty, ion had was by of Sep- ?riod of gn mer- ilt beef, e on the e quota 's ships, e cape, \ oftry- e culti- suits of thren in negroes, cture of nted on the city, suburb planta- myrtle Louisi* 1751] THE THIRTEfENTH. a2l ana, Florida, Georgia, the Caiolinas and Virginia, and not rare in the more northern states on the Atlan- tic. It bears grapes of very diminutive bluish ber- ries, the seeds of which are included in a hard, oblong nucleus, covered by an unctuous and far- inaceous substance, easily reducible into wax. In November and December, the berries, being perfect- ly ripe, are boiled in water, and the wax detaches itself and floats on the surface. It is then skimmed off and suffered to cool. It becomes hard atid its colour a dirty green: after a second boiling, the colour be- comes clearer. The candles made of this wax ex- hale, in burning, a very pleasant odour. Unsuc- cessful attempts have been made to bleach it. It ie apt to crack, and is rendered tenacious, by being mixed with tallow or soft wax. The ships landed also sixty poor girls, who were brought over at the king's expense. They were the last succour of this kind, which the mother country supplied. They were given in marriage to such sol- diers whose good conduct entitled them to a discharge. Land was allotted to each couple with a cow and calf, a cock and five hens ; a gun, axe and hoe. Dur- ing the three first years, rations were allowed them, with a small quantity of powder, shot and grain for seed. Macarty, on the twentieth of August, went with a small detachment to take command of Fort Chartree of the Illinois, left vacant by the death of the unfortu- nate chevalier d'Artaguette. This district had, at this period, six villages ; Kaskaskias, Fort Chartres, Caokias, Prairie des rochers, St. Philip and St. Gene- vieve. Tranquillity being now restored to the British pro- vince, traders from the southernmost, poured in their goods, and erected stores and block houses, in the LOU, r. 41 ^} >* f ■ ;■ ■*' ■ ffl'! at 1lt 322 CHAPTER [176t; villages of the Indians, on theirback settlements; and those of the French on Mobile and Alibamon rivers b<"gan to be distressed by the renewed irruptions of the Chickasavvs. In consequence thereof, the Mar- quis de Vaudreuil marched into their country at the head of a body of seven hundred men of the regular forces and militia, and a large number of Indians. He was not very successful : the enemy had been taught hy the British to fortify their villages. Each had a strong block house, surrounded by a wide and deep ditch. The colony was badly supplied with field artillery and soldiers skilled in the management of the pieces. The Marquis lost little time in lay- ing sieges, but wandered through the country, laying the plantations waste. He enlarged the fort of Tom- beckbee, left a strong garrison in it and returned to New Orleans. The settlements along tlie Mississippi, above the city and below, as far as the English turn, were now in high cultivation. The Marquis, in a letter to the minister of this year, observed it was almost an im- possibility to have plantations near the river, on ac- count of the immense expense, attending the levees, necessary to protect the fields from the inundation of sea and land iloods. He recommended that the idea of settling the part of the country below the English turn should be abandoned, till the land was raised by the accession of the soil. He observed there had been an increase of three feet in height, during the last fifteen years. A detachment from the troops in Canada had been sent under the orders of Legardeur de St. Pierre, a knight of St. Louis, to erect a fort on the western branch of French creek, which falls into the Ohio. This orficer, on the twelfth of December, 1753, re- v'eived by the hands of major Washington of Virginia its; and 1 rivers tions of tie Mar- •y at the ; regular Indians, id been Each \ide and ied with jagemenl le in lay- ly, laving t of Tom- turned to ibove the were now iter to the ost an im- er, on ac- le levees, ndalion of it the idea le English vas raised there had Juring the had been Pierre, a le western the Ohio. , 1753, re- of Virginia )763) THE THIRTEENTH. 323 !^ ; (a man whose name willlong attract the admiration of the world and forever that of his country) a letter from governor Dinwiddie, summoning him to withdraw, with the men under his command, from the dominions of the British king. He wrote to the governor, he had been sent to take possession of the country, by his superior officer, then in Canada, to whom he would transmit the message, and whose order he would implicitly obey. In a quarrel between a Choctaw and aColapissa, the former told the latter, his countrymen were the dogs of the French — meaning their slaves. The Co- lapissa, having a loaded musket in his hands, dischar- ged its contents at the Choctaw, and tied to New Or- leans. The relations of the deceased came to the Marquis de Vaudreuil to demand his surrender: he had in the mean while gone to the German coast. The Marquis, having vainly tried to appease them, sent orders to Renaud, the commandant of that post io have the murderer arrested; but he eluded the pur- suit. His father went to the Choctaws and offered himself a willing victim : the relations of the deceased persisted in their refusal to accept any compensation in presents. They at last consented to allow the old man to atone, by the loss of his own life, for the crime of his son. He stretched himself on the trunk of an old tree and a Choctaw severed his head from the body, at the first stroke. This instance of paternal aflfection was made the subject of a tragedy, by Le- blanc de Villeneuve, an officer of the troops lately arrived from France. This performance is the only dramatic work, which the republic of letters owes to Louisiana. The Marquis de Vaudreuil was this year promoted, and succeeded Duquesne, in the government of New^ France, and was succeeded, in that of Louisiana by ml nM ri24 Chapter I mi Kerlerec, a captain in the royal navy; — anfl Auber- ville was, on the death of La Rouvilliere, appointed commissiary ordonnateur. On the return of major Washington, the legislature of Virginia, directed a regiment to be raised, ot which he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel. He was then in his twenty-second year. Washington advanced with two companies of his regiment, in the middle of April, 175 1, and surprised a party of the French, under the orders of Jumoiu ille, a few miles west of a place then called the Great meadows, in the present county of Fivyette, in the state of Pennsylvania, and on the first fire this genUe- man fell He was the only man killed, but the whole party surrendered. The rest of the reginiont came up soon after. Colonel Fry, its commander, having died on the way, Washington found himself at the head of it, and was soon after reinforced by detach- inents from New York and South Carolina. There was then at Fort Chartres of the Illinois, an officer named Villiers, brother of Jumonville, who hearing of his death, solicited from Macarty, who had succeeded La Buissonniere, in the command of Fort Chartres, to be allowed to go and avenge his brother's death, with the fev/ soldiers that could be spared and a large number of Indians. Villiers des- cended the Mississippi and ascended the Ohio — Washington, having erected a small fort as a place of deposit to which he gave the name of Fort Necessity, the traces of which are still visible near Union, the chief town of the county of Fayette, was marching towards the confluence of the Monongahela and the Aleghany, wliere the French were building the fort t<> which they gave the name of Duquesne. He heard of th^ approach of Villiers, from the Indians, \viic> said, that his followers wer^ as numerous as the 1 Auber- )poinlcd ^islature Qt which wan lUen [•R of his urprined uoii\illo, lie Great e, m the IS getitle- lie whole piit came r, having elf at the Y detach- e Illinois, ille, who rty, who imaiid of 'eiige his could be iers des- Ohio — place of lecessity, nion, the marching L and the g the fort ne. He Indians, ns as the 1754J THE TinUTKKNTll. .atb '■ 1 pigeons in the woods, and was advised by his offi- cers to march back to Fort Necessity, which was at the distance of thirteen miles; he yielded to their sug- gestion. The party had hardly enteied the fort, when Villiers approached it, and immediately began a brisk fire, and an engagement now commenced which lasted from ten o'clock till dark, when the assailants ofK'red terms of capitulation, which were rejected : during the night, however, articles were agreed upon. By these Washington having obtained that his men should be allowed to return home with their arms and baggage, surrendered the fort. This was on the now most venerated day, in the American calendar, the fourth of July. During the summer, some soldiers of the garrison of Cat Island, rose upoo and killed Roux, who comman- ded there. They were exasperated at his avarice and cruelty. He employed them in burning coal, of which he made a traffic, and for trifling delinquencies had exposed several of them, naked and tied to trees in a swamp, during whole nights, to the stings of mus- quetoes. Joining some EngHsh traders in the neigh- bourhood of Mobile, they started in the hope of reaching Georgia, through the Indian country. A party of the Choctaws, then about the fort, was sent af- ter and overtook them. One destroyed himself; the rest were brought to New Orleans, where two were broken on the wheel — the other, belonging to the Swiss regiment ofKarrer, was, according to the law of his nation, followed by the officers of the Swiss troops in the service of France, sawed in two parts. He was placed alive in a kind of coffin, to the middle of which two sergeants appliM a whip saw. It was not thought prudent to make any allowance for the provocation thes - men had received. The Indians seldom losing the opportunity of claiming remunera- !;; n ^ JisJG. CHAPTER [176.1 tion, the Alibamons made a demand from Kerlerec, for the pollution of their land by the self destruction of a soldier, who had avoided, in this manner, the dire fate that awaited him. He accordingly made them a present. In the latter part of this year, Favrot was sent to the Illinois, with four companies of fifty men eacli, and a large supply of provisions and ammunition. The Marquis de Vaudreuil, on his arrival at Que- bec, had received instructions to occupy and estab- lish forts in the country to the south of the river St. Lawrence. In the spring, as he was preparing to carry these instructions into etiect the British regular forces in Boston, with two provincial regiments, joined the gar- rison kept in Nova Scotia, — and landing on the main, marched against Beausejour, which war. surren- dered on the fifth day ; and in the summer possession was taken of all the posts of the French, In the dis- puted territory, and every part of Nova Scotia, as claimed by Great Britain, was conquered. In the cession of Acadia, Louis the fourteenth had stipulated that his subjects there should be allowed to retain their land on swearing i I'egiance to Queen Anne. They had declined doing so unqualifiedly, and insisted on such a modification of the formula pre- sented to them, as would dispense them from the obligation of turning their arms against their country- men, in the defence of the rights of Great Britain to the country. No oath had been imposed on them. Although this indulgence had been complained of in England, no order had been sent either to require an absolute oath of allegiance or to expel those who had refused to take it ; so the Acadians considered themselves as neutrals. The vicinity of a country, with the inhabitants of 1764] TlIK TMiaTKKNTH t?i7 n-hich, lliese people weic bo iiitirna((;ly coritu* ted by the ties ot'iialure, fiilogiaiiee and national character, who spoke the same languaj^e and professed the same religion, prevented them from considering them- selves, as of a different country, or as sub- jects of a dillerent crown. They saw in the neigh- bouring Canadians a band of brotliers, on whose as- sistance, in tin emergency, they might rely, and con- sidered, themselves as equally bound to yield theirs in returrj. They had, on every occasion, enlisted theirs feelings their passions and their forces, with these neighbours, and in the late attack against Beause- jour, a considerable number of them were found arrayed against the conquerors, under the banner of France. Nova Scotia is a rocky, barren country. The win- ter lasts seven months and is of dreadful severity; it keeps the people almost as lifeless and torped state as their vegetables. The summer comes suddenly (for there is no spring) and the heat is greater than is ever felt in England. Perpetual logs render the country equally unwholesome and unpleasant. It pre- sented so few advantages to new comers that the re- moval to it of such a number of British subject's, as would give them a preponderance over its former in- habitants, could not soon be effected. The transpor- tation and maintenance of such a body of regular troops, as might keep the latter in awe, was a measure that must necessarily be attended with an expense totally unproportioned to the benefits, which Great Britain could expect from the possession of the coun- try. It appeared equally dangerous to permit them to depart or stay. For it seemed certain that, if they were left at liberty to chuse the place of their re- •moval. they would §et down, a* nearly as they coujd , , f, j, Sfrlll >fiQ Cll.VrTliK |l76i to (ho couDlry llicy should leave, that might could be read)' to follow any troops, the governmcut of Canada might send to retake it. In this dilemma, it was deemed the safest expedi- ent to remove these people, in such a manner as to lessen or destroy, by their division, the danger that might be apprehended from them. They were ac- cordingly, at different periods, shipped oH' in small numbers to the British provinces to the south of New Jersey. This act of severity, which the circum- stances were thought to justify, was not the oidy one that was exercised against them ; their land and goods were taken from them and they were permit- ted to carry nothing away, but their household furni- ture and money ; ol the last article few, very few in- deed, had any. It was determined to take from them all means of travelling back; and to deprive them, even of the least hope, as respects this, their fields were laid waste and their dwellings and fences consumed by fire. Thus beggared, these people were, in small num- bers and at difTerent periods, cast on the sandy shores of the southern provinces, among a people of whose language they were ignorant and who knew not theirs, whose manners and education were different from their own, whose religion they abhorred and who were rendered odious to them, as the friends and countrymen of those who had so cruelly treated them, and whom they corisidered as a less savage foe, than he who wields the tomahaw k and the scalping knife. It is due to the descendants of the British colonists, to say that their sires received with humanity, kind ness and hospitality those who so severely smarted under the calamities of war. In every province, the humane example of the legislature of Pennsylvania, was followed, and the colonial treasury was opened I 1 J 1756] THE THIRTEENTH. 819 to rolievo the suflTorers ; and private charity was not ouldoric by the public. Yet, but alew accepted (be prot'cred rebef and sat down on the land tbat wafi ollered tl.«»m. Tbe otbei'H (led westerly, from wbat appeared to tbiMn i bostile sboro — wandering till tbey I'ouiid tbeinsf'lv s out of sigbt ofany wbo spoke tbe Englinh Janguac;* Tbey crossed tbe migbty spuie and winter- ed among tbe Indians. Tbe scattered parties, tbrown off on ifie coast of every colony from Per)nsylvania to Geori>;ia, united, and trusting tbemselves to tbe wes* tern waters, sougbt tbe land on vvbicb tbe spotless ban- ner waved, and tbe waves of tbe Mississippi brougbt tlieni to New Orleans. Tbe U^voe and square of tbat city presented, on their arrival, a spectacle not unlike that tbey ollered, about a quarter of a century before, on tbe landing of tbe women and children snatched from the bands of tbe Natchez. Like these, tbe Acadians were greet- ed with tenderness and hospitality ; every bouse in tbe city afforded a shelter to some of these unfortu- nate people. Charity burst open the door of tbe clois- ter, and tbe nuns ministered with profusion and cheer- fulness to the wants of tbe unprotected of their sex. Kerlerec and AubervilJe allotted a tract of land to each family : tbey were supplied with farming uten- sils at the king's expense, and during tbe first year tlie same rations were distributed to them out of tbe king's stores, as to tbe troops. Ihey settled above tbe Ger- man coast, on both sides of the Mississippi, and in course of time their plantations connected the latter settlement with that of Baton Rouge and Pointe Cou- pee. It is, at this day, known by the appellation of the Acadian coast. In the meanwhile, the British, under general Brad- dock, made on fort Duquesne an untmccessfui attack, r.oiJ. r. 42 330 CHAPTER [n5t d] fei' in which the commandor lost his Hie. Oov€(rnor Shir- ley of Mnssichusetts failed also in an attack against Ihv. fort of the French at Nia<^ara, and in his advance to lake Ontario. Colonel Johnson of New York made likewise a vain attempt against Crown point on lake Champlain. Althoiifjjh there had been no actual declaration of war between France and Great Britain, both fi^overn- mejits had granted letters of marque, and sent consi- derable forces to North America. The Baron de Dieskau, at the head of a small force marched against the British post at Oswego, but wag overpowered and defeated. At last, on the seventeenth of May, George the first publishi'd his drclaiation of war. This doeunuMit sets forth, that the injurious pro- ceedings of the French, in the Weal Indies and North America since the peace of Aix la Chapelle, and their usurpations and encroachments in the Western he- mispliere, had been so frequent and notorious, that they manifested a settled design, and undeviating re- solution of invariably piosecuting the most eilicacious measures for the advancement of their ambitious views, without any regard for the most solemn en- <£airements and treaties. The King urges that his frequent and serious re- presenlations to the cabinet of Versailles, on these n^iterated acts of violence, and his endeavours to ob- tain sftisfaction and reparation for the injuries sus- tained 'oy his subjects, and to guard against the re- currence of similar causes of complaint, have produ- ced nothing but assurances that every thing should be settled accordiiig to existing treaties, and particular ly that the evacuation of the four neutral inlands should be effected, as had been expressly promised to the British ambassador. Yet, the execution of [175V rnor Shir- ;k against 5 advance cw York [1 point on laration of 111 i^overn- ient consi- niall force 0, but was ge the first irious pro- a)Kl North ;, and their '^estern he- )rious, that jviatinff re- ellicacious ambitious iolemn en- serious re- 5, on these ours to ob- njuries sus- jnst the re lave produ- o; should be particular :ral isHands [y promised icecution ol i. 176«} THE IllIRTEENTH. :y^i this promise and the clause of the treaty on which it was grounded had been eluded, on the most frivolous pretences; and the illicit practices of the French go- vernment and its officers had been carried to such a degree, that in April 1754, they broke out into open hostilities; and in a moment of profourid peace, with, out any previous remonstrance, a body of French troops openly attacked and captured a British fort on one of the branches of the Ohio. Hostilities on the Ohio, as we have seen, had been commenced, by the attack of major Washirjgton on the party commanded by Jumonville, in wliich the latter fell, and the march of Villiers against Fort Ne- cessity was only a matter of retahation. It is said, in the manifesto, that notwithstanding this act of hostility, which could only be considered as a signal for war, so sincere was the desire of the king to remain at peace, and so sanguine his hope that the French monarch would disown this act of violence and injustice, that he contented himseli with sending over to America such forces only as were necessary to the immediate defence of his subjects, and their protection against new insults or attacks. But, in the mean while, a great naval armament was made in France, and a consie razed, and told the Indians, his views were not hostile to them — became into the country for their protection: he wished no strong house to keep them in awe : his nation desired only to live in peace, trade with them and protect them against their enemies, who were those of the French. The marquis met with an equal success in the at- tack of Fort William Henry on lakeChamplain, which surrendered in the beginning of August. This year, Auberville died and was succeeded in the oiTice of commissary ordonnateur of Louisiana by Bo be Descloseaux. The tide of events turned against France in the following year. The British took the islands of Cape Breton and St. John, and razed Fort Frontenac on lake Ontario, during the summer, fn the lall gene- ral l^orbes marched against Fort Duquesne; the French commander, finding himself unable to defend it, embarked his artillery and ammunition, sat fire to the buildings and evacuated it. h\ the latter part of November, the garrison floated down the Ohio and Mississippi to Ndw Orleans. In their way, they stopped and built a fort, on the right bank of the former stream, not far from the place at which it falls into the latter. It was called Fort Massac, after the officer, who was left to attend to i(S erection and to command it. On the arrival oi'the forces from Fort Duquesne at New Orleans, new buiUlings were required for the accommodation of the troops, and Kerlerec began Ihe barracks in the lower part of the city. Although the essay, which the Jesuits had made f( 11 "SS-i CIHAPTER. [175P in 1751, to naturalise the sugar cane in Louisi- ana, had been successful, the culture of* it, on a. hrire scale, was not attempted till this year, when Duhrciil erected a mill for the manufac'ture of su^av. on his plantation, immediately adjoining the lower part of New Orleans — the spot now covered by the subui b Marigny. Kerlerec, liaving been directed to have the pari of the province, around lake Barataria and alon*/- he sea shore, west of the Mississippi, explored. Ai.jr .', y de Mandeville, a son of the late commandant of ■ urt Conde of Mobile, made an accurate map o* the soniU- westernpart of the province. Overtures towards negociation were made by 'he cabinet of Versailles, to that of St. James, tfnoiigh the channel of the Danish anihassodor in Lou'lon. Rochemore, wfio had beesi ippoluif^d commissary ordonnateur, arrived early in the following year. Soon after his landing, an unfortunate misunderstaTuJipg, between him andKerlerec, disturbed greatly the tra«»- quillity of the colony. It was then the practice of government to send large quantities of goods, for the Indian trade : they were entrusted to the officers sent in command to the distant posts, to whom they furnished the means of considerably increasing their fortunes. The ordonnateur, who had the disposal of these, found in it an opportunity of attaching those officers to his party, which the governor complain- ed, he did not neglect. Each of these chiefs imagin- ed he had grounds of recrimination against the other; a considerable degree of irritation was excited, and a circumstance of no great moment brought matters to a crisis. Diaz Anna, a Jew from Jamaica, came to New Or- leans, on a trading voyage. We have seen that by an edict of the month of March 1724, that of Louie I Louisi- n 0. Iru-y-e Dulire'jil IV. (>\] his V part of e subiM'b 1759] THE THIRTEENTH. 33S nr I of lie IP p iloii^'" M ;., had been extended to Louisiana. The latter edict declared that Jews, as enemies of the christian name, should not be allowed to reside in Louisiana ; and, if they staid in spite of the edict, their bodies and goods should be confiscated: Rochemore had the vessel of the Israelite and her cargo seized. Kerlerec sent soKliers to drive away the guard put on board the vessel, and had her restored to the Jew. Imagining he had gone too far to stop there, he had Belot, Rocheaiore's secretary, and Marigny de Mandeville, de Lahoupe, Bossu and some other officers, whom he suspected to have joined the ordonnateur's party, ar- rested, and a few days after shipped them for France. He entrusted Grandmaison, an officer who having obtained a furlough had taken his passage in the ves- sel, on board of w hich these persons were placed, with his despatches for the minister, containing the reasons which, in his opinion, justified this violent measure. As tlie vessel approached the coast of France, she was driven by a storm on that of Spain and entered the port of St. Sebastian. Grandmaison, according to Kerlerec's instructions, went to deposit the des- patches in the hands of the consul of France. Belot and his companions in misfortune accompanied the messenger to the consulate. The despatches being delivered were placed on a table, from which it is Bupposed they were purloined by one of the consul's visitors, while he was attending on the others, whose attention had been drawn to some fine engravings on the walls of the apartment. On their arrival in Paris, Belot and his associates filled the court with their complaints of Kerlerec's ar- bitrary proceedings. He was universally blamed. During the summer, the most rapid success atteri- 336 CHAPTER [176* d^d the British forces in Canada. They possessed themselves of Ticonderoga on the 22d of July, of Crown point, in the beginning of August, of Niagara on the 24th, and ol Quebec on the eighteenth of Sep- tember. In the following year, they found themselves mas- ters of all Canada, by the reduction of Montreal. On the eleventh of August, Ferdinand the sixth of Spain died, in the fifty-sixth year of his age, witfiout issue. He was succeeded by Charles the third, his brother, then king of Naples, the third son of Philip the fifth, who wielded the Spanish sceptre. George the second of Great Britain ended his life, at the advanced age of seventy-seven years ; on the twenty-fifth of October ; he was succeeded by George the third, his grandson. On the fall of Canada, a number ot the colonists, unwilling to live under their conquerors, sought the vtrarm clime over which the spotless banner still waved ; most ot them settled in the neighbourhood of the Acadians. Others of a more roving disposition crossed the lakes that separate the right bank of the Mississippi from the western prairies and began the settlements of Attakapas, Opelousas and Avo- yelles. The province was at this time inundated by a tlood of paper money. The administration, for several years past, had paid in due bills all the supplies they had obtained, and they had been suffered to accu- malate to an immense amount. A consequent depre- ciation had left them almost without any value. This had been occasioned, in a great degree, by a belief that the officers who had put these securities afloat, had. at times, atterded more to their own. than to the public interest, and that the French government, on the discevery of this, would not perhaps be found rea~ July, of Niagara I ol Sep- r^es mas- eal. sixth of without bird, his »f Philip I his life, on the r George •olonists, •ught the iiier still irliood of ^position k of the il began nd Avo- y a Hood several les they o accu- it depre- ue. This a belief afloat, an to the uent, on und rea- 1*760] THE THIRTEENTH. •337 dy to i?)demnify the hohlers against the misconduct of its agf'nts. With a vieu, Itowever, lo prepare the AV'.iy for the redemption of ihe paper, (he colonial tn'asurer was directed lo receive all that might he prescntefl, and to give in its stead certificates, in order that the extent of the evil being known, the remedy iDight be applied. The disastrous situation of the marine of France precluding the itope of recovering any part ol her lost territory, in America, the Duke of (hoiseuil. who, without the title, exercised (he functions of prime minister, made an attoiupt at ne^ociation with Great B>'itain. The coiit"orenc«^s began on the tweiity.eiglith of March, but were closed soon after without success. Disappointed in this quarter, he foiincd (he plan of joining the marine of Spain to that of France, and tliis was the end of the family compact, which was signed at l^aris, on the fifteenth of August. The avowed ohject of this arrangenient was to give permanence and inviolability to the obligations result- ing from the friendship and consanguinity of the sover- eigns of France and Spain, and to rear up a solemn monument ofthe reciprocal interest which was the ob- ject of their wishes, arid insure the continuance of the prosperity of their royal family. They agree to consider, in future, any power at war with either of them, as acomni »n enemy, they recip- rocally guarantee to each other his respective domin- ions, in every part of the -orld ; but, it is expressly stated that this guarantee is to have no other object, than the respective dominions of each crown, as they may exist at the first period of peace, with the other powers. A like guarantee is to be extended to the King of the two Sicilies and the Duke of Faniia, on their res- pective accession to the compact. LOU. I. 43 1 ij I ^.1 3S8 CHAPTER 1.1701 Although the mutual guarantee Is to be supported within tho Ibrcesof th«' parties, they stipulate that the first succour to be t'urnished is to consist of a given number of ships, fiorse and foot. The wars, which the French king may be engaged in, in consequence of his engagements, at the treaty of Westphaha, or his alliances with German princes, are exempted from the compact, unless a maritime power takes part in them, or his dominions are at- tacked. The stipulated succour is to be considered as the minimum of what the required parly is bound to do ; and it is the understanding of the parties, that on a declaration of war against either, it is to be considered as common to the other. They shall jointly exert all their means : and mranocments will be made relative to a common plan and the respec- tive efforts of the parties, according to circum- stances. No proposition of peace from the common enemy shall be listened to, without the joint consent ol each party, who in peace and in war, shall consider the interest of the other as his own : all losses and ad- vantages are to be compensated and the two parties are to act, as if they tbrmed but one. The king of Spain stipulates for that of the two Sicilies and engages to procure his accession to the compact. The droit ctaubaine is abolished, in favour of the subjects of the parties, and they are to enjoy the ad- vantages and inmuuiities of national subjects. The powers, with whom either party may make a treaty, shall be inlbrmed that these advantages and immunities are not to be extended to others. At the close of the year, Rochmore went over to France. His conduct was approved by the minister, 17C3J THE TIIIRTKENTII 33;t and orders were sent to Kerlerec, on the following year, to return and give an account of his : F'oucault was sent to succeed Rochmore. Early the next year, the sovereigns of Great Britain and Spain published formal declarations of war against each other. The success of the British arms, in the West Indies, were as rapid and brilliant, as they had been in Canada, in 1759. Martinico, Gren- ada, St. Lucia and all the other Caribee islands were conquered from France, and the city of Havana from Spain. On the third of November, a secret treaty was signed at Paris, between the F'rench and Spanish king, by which the former ceded to the latter the part of the province of Louisiana, which lies on the western side oi' the Mississippi, with the city of New Orleans and the island on which it stands. The war between Great Britain, France and Spain was terminated by the treaty of Paris, on the sixteenth of February of the following year. Marshal, Fergennes, Bossu, Archives, Gmettes. I'rrf I'll! r:ri; ■MO ciiaptp:r \no{i CHAPTER XfV. Trcnlif of f*aris. — East am/ fTrvf llorkla. — (jlnvcrnoy Johnston. — Prnsacola. — Afohi/r. and Fort '/'oulousc. — Indian allies of ihc French. — d\ Ibadin. — Major Loftns. — Raton fiouiio;o, heingyielded loGreat Britain, and dial ot St. Lucia to France. Clement the tliirteenth having expelled the Jesuits from the dominions ot'the kings ol" I*' ranee, Spi>in and Naples these monks were now driven from ' ouisia- na, and in the month ol.Iuly their property, near New Orleans, was taken iulo the king's liands and sold, un- der a decree of the superior council. It produced ahout one hundred and eighty ihouKjuid dollars. On the seventh of October, I70.'j, the king of Great Britain divided his acquisitions in North America in- to three distinct governments; those of Quebec, and East and West Florida. All the coast from the river St. John to Hudson''s streights, with the islands of Anticosti and Madeleine, and all other small islands on that coast, were pui un- der the care and inspection of the government of New Foundland. The islands of St. John, Cape Breton, with the les- ser ones adjacent thereto, were annexed to the pro- vince of Nova Scotia. The land between the rivers St. Mary and Alta- maha was annexed to the province of Georgia. The part of the territory acquired from Spain, ad- joining Louisiana, was erected into a separate pro. vince, called West Florida : it was bounded on the south by the gulf of Mexico, including all islands within six leagues of the sea coast from the river Apa- I inch oi 1 FVance •i(«s wrrt' I Hrltain. I, bill not T()l»;iiIo, , Lucia \o \v Ji'siiitsj 5|)ij'm and I I ouisia- nein- New ] ^oltl, uu- produced liars. g of G real merica in- lebec, and Hudson's ladcleiiie, re put u li- niment of th the les- o tlie pro- aiid Alta- r'- A bpam, ad- arate pro. Rd on the ill islands :iver Apa- »7«4| THK I'OdRTKEiNTil J4v lacliicola to lake ('onlcliartrain — on the ucst by thai hikr, lake iMaincpas and the river MissiuHippi — on the north, b} a line drawn due ejisl Croni a point in the middle ol thai river, in the thirty-lirst ile^ree of northern latitude to the river Apalaehieola or ('ata- hon(!he, and to the east by that riv<'r. In the mean while, (Jeor Manshac. The Avantsot'the colony induced its chietto overlook and tolerate the illegal trallic — extremely advantageous to the colonists, whose honesty and good faith render- ed it e(|ually so to their visitors. The colofiists hegan now to be distressed by ru- mours from France of their approaching passage un- der the yoke of Spain. These tears were realized early inOctober, whenoflicia lintelligenceofthecession was received by d'Abadio, in a letter of his sovereign, bearing date the tirst of April precedii'g. In this document, the king, after announcing the cession to the ilircctor general (copies of the treaty and ifs acceptance being iiulosed) manifests his in- tention, that, on the receipt of the letter and its in- closures, whether it be delivered him by any Spanish officer, or brought by any French vessel, immediate possession should be delivered to the governor, or any other officer of the Catholic king, of the city of New Orleans and the rest of the ceded territory ; it being the object of the cession that the country should in future balong to the latter sovereign, and be ruled and administered by his governor or chief otiicer, as being his, in full property and without re- serve. D'Abadie is accordingly instructed, on the arrival of the Spanisii otlicers and troops, after liaving yield- ed possession, to withdraw with all the otfrers, sol- diers and other persons, in the service of France, who may not be desirous of remaining, and alTord them a passage to son»e of the king's dominions m Europe or the West Indies. I7»M] THE FOURTEENTH. 347 He is (lircctcd, immodiatolv after the evacuation? to collect all papers, relative to the finances, and the administration of the province, and to return and give an account of his proceedini^s; delivering how- ever, to the governor or other o/Iicer of the Spanish king, such papers, as may especially relate to the af- fairs of ♦he colony, in regard to the land, the ditle- rent posts and Indian affairs; taking receipts for his discharge. It is recommended to him to adbrd such information, relative to the concerns of the colony, as may enable the olficers of Spain to administer its affairs to the satisfaction of both nations. Duplicate invetitories are ordered to be made by the director general, and a Spanish commissary, ol all the artillery, goods, magazines, hospitals and ves- sels of the province; so that, after delivery, an ap- praisement may be made of such articles as may be kept l)y the Spanish king. The hope is expressed and the king declares he expects it tVom the friendship of the monarch of Spain, that, for the advantage and tratiquillity of the inhabi- tants, orders will be given to the governor and other officers, employed in Louisiana, that the regular and secular clergy, acting as curates or missionaries, may be allowed to continue the exercise of their functions and enjoy the rights, privileges and exemptions, gran, ted to them by the royal charters, and that the infe- rior judges, as well as those of the superior council, may be allowed to continue to administer justice, ac- 'lording to the present laws, forms, and usages of the colony, that the inhabitants may be confirmed in their estates according to the grants of the former gover- nors and commissaries ordonnateurs, and that such grants may be confirmed by tlie Catholic king, even, when they were not so by him. Finally, the king hopes the new sovereign will give to his subjects in i I- I'. M9 CHAPTER [17Cu Louisiana such marks othis protection arul favour, as they have heretofore experienced turn the former, of which, nothi.ig but the disasters of tiie w .i\ «'(.-iiii ave prevented them Irom enjoyiufi' the ilill ( tllcl The director general is eiijoiiud to ciiuso die royal letter to be transcribed on the miiiuies of ij.c superior council, that every one in the pro\i cv iir.y become actfuaiiited >vilh its contents, and recur thereto, in case of need. This intelligence plunged the inhabitants in great consternation. They bewailed before their eslrange- niCiil from their kindred and friends in the enstt rn p;irt of y2 CIlAPTliU [176e cing the apprehension it n\ight fall a victim to disease, it was removed beyond Nalchez. While' the peopk^ of Louisiana were thus distres- sed by the thought of being severed from ttie domin- ions of France, those dissentions prevniled in the l^ri- tish provinces on the Atlantic, wliich about tenyenrs after, broke asunder the political ties which united them to the mother country. On the twenty-tin h of October, commissioners from the assemblies ol iViiMs- sachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, N»'vv York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and South Carolina, met in the city of New York. They published a declaration of .he rights and grievances of the colonists — asserted their exclusive riglit to tax themselves, and to the trial by jury, une(|ui vocally expressing the attachment of the colonists to the mo- ther country. They recommended to tlje several co- lonies to appoint special agents, with insiructioiis to unite their utmost endeavours, in soliciting a redress of grievances. The fall was extremely sickly. D'Abadie died, and the supreme command of the province devolved to Aubry, the senior military officer. The West India seas were at this time greatly in- fested by pirates ; and on the eleventh of March 1766, the sensibility of the inhabitants of New Orleans was much excited on the arrival of the sloop Fortune, of that port, which on her return picked up, near the is- land of Cuba, a small boat, in which madam Desnoy- ers, a lady of St, Domingo, had been committed to the mercy of the waves, with a child, a sucking babe, and a negro woman, by a pirate, who had captured a vessel (in which she was going from the Spanish to the French part of St. Domingo,) and had murdered her husband. They had been seven days ii> the boat when they were taken up% She was received, with >«*' m 17661 THE FOURTEENTH. 3&;) great cordiality, and after she liad spent a lew moiitlis in New Orleans, the means were lurnislied her oi" re- turning to her friends. Ahlioijgh Jean Milhet had informed his countrymen of the ill success of his mission, they still flattered themselves with the delusive hope that the cession miglit he rescinded Upwards of two years had now elapsed, since the king had directed d'Ahadie to surrender the province to any olRcer who sho "J come to take possession of it for the king of Spain, and that monarch did not appear to have taken any measure to obtain it. These fond hopes vanished, in the sum- mer, by intelligence from Havana, that Don Antonio de Ulloa, the olficer appointed by Charles the third to the government of Louisiana, had arrived in tiiat city : from whence, on the tenth of July, he addressed a letter to the superior council of the province, ap- prising them, that having been honored with the king's command to receive possession of the colony, he would soon be with them for this purpose, and ex- pressing his hope that his mission might afford him a favourable opportunity, of rendering them and the other inhabitants any service the} might require. Don Antonio was known in the republic of letters, as an able mathematician, who had accompanied La Condamine, Bourguet and Godin, for the purpose of determining the figure of the earth, under the equator. He landed at New Orleans, in the fall, with two companies of infantry, under the orders of Piernas. He was received with dumb respect, and declined exhibiting his powers, intimating he wished to delay receiving possession of the country, until such imm- ber of the Spanish forces arrived, as would authorise the departure of those of France. In December, the British re-occupied the post at bayou Manshac. A small stockade fort was built by LOU. I. 45 '^1 (! .}6'1 CIIAPTElt [17tJt> a party oi'ilio twenty-first rroriment ; it was callotl Fort Bute. The trade, carried on in this iiei^lil)oiirhood^ at Baton Rouge and Natchez, increased considera- bly ; the French supplied tluMHselves with goods at those places, and British vessels were almost contin- ually anchored, or (astened to the trees, a litlle above New Orleans. Guinea negroes were now introduced by these vessels, or brought Irom Pensacola through lakes Pontcihartrain to bayou Manshac and Baton Rouge. The t'acilify, thus aflfbrded to French plant- ers to supply themselves with slaves, was the origin of the fortunes of many of them. Ulloa visited the several posts of the province, and spent a considerable time in Natchitoches. According to a census of the inhabitants of the pro- vince which was taken tbis year, it nppears it had one thousand eight hundred and ninety-three men, lit to be^ar arms ; one thousand and fbrty-ibiir marriagea- ble women ; one thousand three hundred and seventy five boys, and one thousand two hundred and tbrty four girls; in all, five thousand live hundred and filty- six white individuals. The blacks were nearly as numerous. This year, tbe province was visited by a disease, not dissimilar (o that now known as the yellow fever. It was severely felt in West Florida, where a number of emigrants had lately arrived. Sixteen families of French protestants, transported at the expense of the British government on the river F^scambia, consistmg of sixty- tour jiersons, were almost entirely swept away by the dc!c terious sickness. Ullo.t, in the following year, went to the Balize to await the arrival of a Peruvian lady, the marchioness of Abrado, who landed and who.m he married, soon af- ter. He was then in the filty-first year of his age. Soon after Ids return to New Orleans, he received i mi\ TlfE FOURTEENTH. 3blt a considerable roiiiforcement of troops from tlip Ha- vana, and although again pressed to publish his coin- mit>sion and take formal possession of the country, he persisted in delaying this. He sent two companies to build a lort, on the left bank of the Mississippi, below bayou Manshac, with- in four hundred yarils of Fort Bute; two other com- panies were sent on the same service, on the opposite side, a little below Natchez, and two others on the left side of Red river, on an eminence between Black river and the Mississippi. A stronger detachment was sent to the Illinois : but its commanding officer was instructed not to interfere with the civil concerns of the inhabitants, who continued under the orders of St. Ange, the British commandant having died. General Phineas Lyman, contemplating a large es- tablishment on the Ohio, applied to parliament, for an extensive grant of land. He enforced the propri- ety of the measure by the argument that there could be but little danger of the colonies becoming indepei> dent, if confined to agricultural pursuits, and the in- habitants dispersed over the country. "A period" said he, "will no doubt arrive, when North America will no longer acknowledge a dependence on any part of Europe ; but it seems to be so remote, as not to be at present an object of rational policy or human preven- tion, and it will be made still more so, by open- ing new schemes of agriculture, and widening the space which the colonists must first occupy. Jean Milhet now returned from France ; his pro- tracted absence had kept the hopes of his country- men alive, and when his presence among them, put an end to every expectatation from his mission, they became exasperated, and began to manifest their ill disposition towards Ulloa, who, although he continu- ed to decline an official recognition, had gained a ;! ili $d^ ClIAPTKIl [176ft poworfiil inllnrrK e over Anl>i'y, wliirh was exercised to the injury ol some of tin? coIoiuhIh. On the sevenU'enth niul eifijhteenlh of January, 1708, the mo^t intense cold, of which there is any ic- meuilM'ance, was felt in Louisiiina. The river was frozen helore New Orleans for several yards, on holli sides. The orange trees were destroyed throuj2;hout the province. Partial meetings were had in the city and at the German coast, hi the latter place, a perlect uaaniin- ity prevailed. Father BarnidW;, a capuchin mission- ary, who wa> curate of Ihat parish, took an active part Avith the most intluential of his llock. At last, I he peo- ple of the province were invited to a geiieral meet- ing at New Orleans, to which every parish sent its woalthietjt plunUiH. Lafreniere was again the principal speaker, and was «uj>poitccl hy Jean Mil- het, Joseph Milhct, his brother, and Doncet, a lawyer, lately arrived from France. The proceed- ings terminated by the subscription of a petition to the superior council to order Ulloa and the principal officers of the Spanish troops away. It was ciculated through the provint!e, and received five hundred and fiity res}>ectable signatures. The printing of it was authorised by the ordonnateur, and it was circulated in every parish. The French, as well as the few Spaniards w ho had come to the province, blamed the obs€Hjuiousncss of Aubry towards Ulloa. They believed that the ibr- raer's instructions might be, occasionally lo consult the latter, but they thought that nothing could autho- rise the subserviency of the French chief to a Span- ish olKcer, Avho refused to avow the authority with which he w as clothed. Lafreniere having introduced the petition of the inhabitants to the council, this tribunal which was I*. I nan] w rilE FOURTEENTH Jo; of the 1 W.IP greatly under the inniirnce of Foucanlt, thoordoimn- t(Mir. tlirratt'iu'd Ulloii with a prosrcntion, as a dis- tiirhcr oflhc pracc of the province. He alle^efl thai Aul»ry had p;i\en him privately possession of the comilrv, at the liali/e. As none helieved that a clan- destine aet, even, if it took place, could authorise any assumption ofpowers, his declaration was considered as a p;i'oss artifice Auhry, who corrohorated UlloaV assertion, was also dishelieved. lie fell into contempt, and I lloa's opposers were emboldened. The colonists, mistaking their wishes for their be- lief, iiKlul;i;ed the hope that, as the taking possession, by the olficers of Sp.iio was thus protracted, the ca- tholic king must have renounced the a( ipiisition of the province. Others viewed the cession, as a measure feigneil for state purposes. Yielding to these delusi- ons, they viewed UlJoa with a jealous eye, as a pcr- sonagf^. who abused the reasons of state, which they supposed to be the cause of his coming among them. Conjectures drawn from the British prints and from conversation with individuals of that nation, who had come to New (3rlcans, on their way to Manshac, Ba- ton Rouge and Natchez, strengthened their beliel". The public agitation for a while subsided, but was at last roused, by a rumour, that a Spanish armament, destined for Louisiana, had arrived at the Havana. Frantic and distracted by these alternate impressi- ons of hope and tiear, some of the popular leaders flat- tered themselves, with the possibility of resistance, and despatched a messenger to Governor Elliot, who had succeeded Johnson at Pensacola, to ascertain whetlier the support of the government of West Flori- da could be obtained. The governor declared him- self unwilling to aid his neighbours, in an opposition to a king in amity with his own. It was said he trans- mitted the message he had received to Aubry. who .15C CHAPTER. [17GP W: delivered it to Ulloa, and that the latter carried it to Madrid. Disappointed at this attempt, the leaders pressed the consideration of the petition of the inhabitants, which the council had delayed to act upon. It had been subscribed by five hundred and sixty of the most respectable inhabitants. Lafreniere sup- ported it by .an eloqiient speech, in which he adverted to the successful opposition of the British American provinces to the stamp act, and drew the attention of the council to the noble conduct of the people ol lUir- gundy, in 1526, when summoned by Launoy, iht' vice roy of Naples, to recognize as their sovereign, the emperor Charles the fitih, to w hom Francis the se- cond hful ceded that province, by the treaty of Ma- drid. The states and courts of justice, being conve- ned to deliberate on the emperor'a message, unani- mously answered that the province was a part of the French monarchy, and the king had not the power of alienating it. The nobles resolutely declared, that if the king abandoned them, they would resort to arms, and the last drop of their blood would be spilt in de- fence of their country. At last, on the 29th of October, it was taken up, and after some debate, the council (notwithstanding the opposition and protest of Aubry) ordered Ulloa to produce his powers from the king of Spain, if he had any, that they might be recorded on its minutes, and published through the province, or depart therefrom, within one month. To give weight to the requisition of the council, about six hundred of the inhabitants of the city and German coast embodied themselves. Ulloa took the last of the alternatives proposed to him, and was soon ready to depart ; a vessel of the king of Spain, that had lately arrived afforded him aiji opportunity, which he improved. ied it to pressed bitants, nd sixty ?re sup- dverteJ merican sntion of poi }-'iir- ih'.' vice .io-n. the s th*^ se- y of Ma- ig conve- ;e, unani- irt oi the power of ed, that if t to arms, pilt in de- n up, and iding the UUoa to f he had utes, and herefrom, quisition jitants of ves. Dposed to sel of the ed him an 17ei8J f^^ THE FOURTEENTH. :i:>\' On the evening of one of the first days of Novem- ber, he went on board of the king's vessel, intending to sail early in the morning. The torch of hymen had been Hghted in the house of a wealthy merchant in the city ; the dance was protracted till the morning : a number of the planters, who had come to the city, had joined the festive banquet. Wine had been sent to others, whose admission the great number of the guests in the house had prevented from attending. At dawn, all parties united, and elated by the nightly or- gie, marched to the levee, hallooing and singing. Boats were procured: no apprehei^ion being enter- tained on bond, the vessel was approached, and her cables cut asunder. It does not appear any attempt was made to punish the instilt- The a essel was at the moment ot departure and floated away. A i'ew dayri a/icr, a general meeting off-ieputies from every parish, was convened at New Orleans, in which it was determined to make a second application, to avert, if possible, the execution of the treaty of cessi- on. This service was confided to St. Lette, a mer- chant of Natchitoches, and Lesassier, a member of the superior council. UUoa proceeded to Havana, where he immediate- ly embarked for Cadiz, and landed after a passage liage of forty days. The Chevalier Dessales, who sailed with him from New Orleans, saw at Havana Urissa, the former consul of Spjiin at Bourdeaux, who having been ap- pointed Intendant of Louisiana, was on his way with eight hundred soldiers. He had stopped at Ha- vana, to take in one million of dollars for the king's service, in his new acquisition : hearing of Ulloa's ill success, he returned to Europe. In December, the British evacvated and demolish *»d Fort Bute. JUO CHAPTER [1769 The passage of the deputies of the people of Loui- siana was not so expeditious as that of Ulloa Tfiey were three months on the wate". The complaint of the king of Spain had reached the court, lotig before their arrival at Paris. Bienville, on whose aid and services they much relied, was now dead, and the Duke of Choiseuil still in power. St. Lette had been a schoolmate of his. The Duke received his former play fellow with open arms, but frowned on the deputy and his colleague. He told them their ap- plication was too tardy, as the king of Spain had di- rected such a force to be sent to New Orleans, as would put down any opposition that could be made. He gave St. Lette a very lucrative office in the East Indies, and Lcsassier returned home. The deputies had been iuotnirted to renew the re- presentation, which Milhet had made in regard to the depreciatedpaper currency, which inundated the pro- vince. They obtained an arrest of the king's coun- cil of the twenty-third of March, which is believed to be the last act of the French government concerning Louisiana. It provided that the bills, emitted by the colonial government, or the receipts for so much of them, as according to a former order had been left with the treasurer, should be reduced to three-fifths of their nominal value. The holders of these bills or receipts were direct- ed to bring them, before the first of September fol- lowing, to Marignier, who was authorised to give there- for, (after a deduction of twe-fifths) a certificate bearing interest at five per cent. Provision was made for cases, in which there had been a judicial deposit. Shortly after the return of Lesassier, the distress, which the accounts he brought excited, was relieved [1769 ITftSJ THE FOURTEENTH. 361 pleofLoui- lloa Tfiey omplaint of long before lose aid and ad, and the Lette had eceived his frowned on Bin their ap- lain had di- Orleans, as d be made. in the East 'new the re- cgard to the ited the pro- sing's coun- 1 believed to concerning the colonial of them, as eft with the iths of their vere direct- tember fol- ) give there- certificate h there had he distress, as relieved by letters from Bordeaux, intimating that theprovince was to continue a colony of Prance. But on the twenty third of July,intelligence reached New Orle-iMS of the arrival at the B-ihzeof a Spanish frigate, with twenty-eight transports, having four thou- sand five hundred soMiers on board, and a large sup- ply of arms and ammu lilion. This threw the town into great consternation ; resistance was spoken of, and messengers were despatched up the coast. On the next day, an express, with a message to Aubry, from Don Alexander O'lleilly, the command- er of the Spanish forces, landed on the levee. The inhabitants of the city, on the invitation of Au- bry, met him in the church, and he read to them the message. They thus learned that the general was sent by his sovereign to tako possession of the colo- ny ; but not to distress the inhabitants; that, as soon as he had obtairied possessioii, he would publish the re- maining part of the orders of his royal master; but, should any attempt be made to oppose his landing, he was determined not to depart, till he had put his majesty's commands in complete execution. The inhabitants immediately came to a resolution to chuse three gentlemen, to wait i[i their behalf on the general, and irjjbrm him that the people of Loui. siana were determined to abandon the colony, and had no other favour to ask from him, but that he would allow them two years, to remove themselves and their effects. The choice of the meeting fell on Grandmaison, the town major, Lafreniere, the attorney general, and Mazent, formerly a captain in the colonial troops, now a planter of considerable wealth. O'Reilly received them with great politeness, and assured them he would cheerfully comply with any reasonable request of the colonists; that he had their LOU. h 46 362 CHAPTER [176G interest, much at lieart, and nothing on his part should be wanting to promote it. He added all past traos- actions would be buried in oblivion, and all who had offended should be forgiven, and said every thing, which he imagined would Hatter the minds of the peo- ple. In the mean while, the planters of the German, and some of the Acadian, coast had taken arms, and a considerable number of them, headed by Villere, marched down to the city. The deputation reached New Orleans on the first of August, and made public the kind reception O'Keilly had given them, and the tair promises he had made. This considerably quieted the minds of the inhabitants, and many, who had determined on an im mediate removal from the province, now resolved to reiurn and gather their crops. A fortnight elapsed before the armament reached tiie city. It cast anchor before it, on the sixteenth; the inhabitants flocked to the levee on the foJlovAii.g day. but the landing did not take place till the eigh- leenth. At three o'clock, in the afternoon of that day, the Spaniards disembarked, and O'Reilly led his men to the public square, belore the church, in the middle of the city, where Aubry, at the head of the troops of France received him ; the white banner flying at the top of a high mast, in the middle of the square. It was now slowly lowered, while that of Spain was hoisted, and as they met at half mast, they were salu- ted by a fev-(le-joie from the troops of both nations. The Fren<*h flag beinpr lowered and the Spanish fly- ing on the top of the mast, O'Reilly, attended by Au- bry and Ibllowed by the officers of both nations, wfio were not un