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PITTMAN'S EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS 
 ON THE MISSISSIPPI 
 
Gf this -ofork five hundred copies are printed, 
 of which this is j4iw JtCt4..,jrl--c^-#*t,-'f^A^ 
 
THE PRESENT STATE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS ON 
 THE MISSISIPPI 
 
 With a Geographical Description of that River 
 illustrated by Plans and Draughts 
 
 BY 
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP PITTMAN 
 
 An exact reprint of the original edition, London, 1 770 j 
 edited, with Introducdon, Notes, and Index, hy 
 
 FRANK HEYWOOD HODDER 
 
 Professor of American History 
 University of Kansas 
 
 FFitb facsimiles of the original maps and plans 
 
 IW7t 
 
 I'l'y/A CO /*'"«• 
 
 Cleveland 
 
 The Arthur H. Clark Company 
 
 1906 
 
IlIbRARY of CONGRESS 
 Two CoDies Received 
 
 APh 17 1906 
 
 A Copi'right Entry , 
 Vik^'i uL XXc, No, 
 
 COPYRIGHT 1906, BY 
 THE ARTHUR H. CLARK COMPANY 
 
 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Introduction. The Editor . . . , 
 
 Pittman's "European Settlements on the 
 Missisippi" 
 
 on the Missisippi 
 
 Preface 
 
 Of the River Missisippi 
 Of the Post and Settlements 
 New Orleans 
 River Ibbeville 
 Pointe Coupee 
 Tonicas 
 Pelousas 
 Natches 
 
 Post of Arcansas 
 Cascasquias 
 La Praire de Roches 
 Fort Chartres 
 Saint Philippe 
 Kaoquias 
 
 Saint Louis, or Paincourt 
 Sainte Genevieuve, or Misere 
 Of the Country of the Illinois 
 Of the Government of the Country of Illinois 
 Of the Inhabitants , . , . . 
 Arret of the Superior Council of the Province 
 October 29, 1768 .... 
 
 23 
 29 
 
 38 
 
 41 
 62 
 
 72 
 
 75 
 76 
 78 
 82 
 84 
 
 87 
 88 
 
 91 
 92 
 
 94 
 95 
 97 
 
 99 
 102 
 
 105 
 
 Index. The Editor 
 
 163 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 Facsimile of Original Title-Page . . 21 
 
 Folding Maps and Plans . . Al end of volume 
 
 A Draught of the River Missisippi from the Balise 
 up to Fort Chartres (in three parts) 
 
 A Plan of Mobile 
 
 Plan of New Orleans 
 
 Draught of the R. Ibbeville 
 
 Plan of Fort Rosalia 
 
 A Plan of Cascaskies 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 Respecting Philip Pittman, the author of the book 
 that is here reprinted, but few biographical data are 
 obtainable. It appears from the British Army Lists 
 that he was commissioned an ensign July 13, 1760 
 and he is reported as an ensign in the 48th Regi- 
 ment of Foot in the Lists for 1761, 1762, and 1763. 
 By the Peace of Paris England obtained from 
 France all of Louisiana east of the Mississippi River 
 except the Isle of Orleans, and from Spain the prov- 
 ince of Florida. It immediately became necessary 
 to occupy and to organize this newly acquired ter- 
 ritory. August 7, 1763 the 3rd Battery of Royal 
 Artillery from Havana received Pensacola from 
 the Spanish commandant, and October 20 a de- 
 tachment of Highlanders received Mobile from the 
 French. Pittman must have come with the first 
 British troops or soon afterward, since he says that 
 he " resided five years as an engineer in those parts " 
 and it is definitely known that he left them toward 
 the close of 176(8. 
 
 The King's proclamation of October 7 divided 
 the territory acquired from France and Spain on 
 the Gulf of Mexico into the two provinces of East 
 and West Florida by the line of the Appalachicola. 
 The military command of the two provinces was 
 assigned to General Henry Bouquet, the hero of 
 Pontiac's war, but he died soon after his arrival 
 
lo Pittman's Mississippi Settlements 
 
 there and the command devolved upon Colonel Will- 
 iam Taylor. A Scotchman by the name of George 
 Johnstone was appointed governor of West Flor- 
 ida and arrived early in 1764. He proved to be 
 a man of violent temper and the two years of his 
 administration were filled with continuous quarrels 
 with the military authorities. As yet the Illinois 
 villages had not been occupied by the English. For 
 this purpose Major Arthur Loftus was sent from 
 Mobile up the Mississippi with a detachment of the 
 22d regiment. Reaching a point, then known as 
 Davion's heights, a little above the mouth of the 
 Red River, he was attacked by the Tonicas on the 
 twentieth of March, 1764, and driven back with a 
 loss of five men killed and four wounded, as Pitt- 
 man tells us. A few months later Pittman made 
 an attempt to ascend the river. He does not men- 
 tion it himself but Parkman found a record of it in 
 Pittman's correspondence with D'Abbadie in the 
 French archives. From this it appears that Pitt- 
 man "bethought him.self of assuming the disguise 
 of a Frenchman, joining a party of Creole traders, 
 and thus reaching his destination by stealth; but, 
 weighing the risk of detection, he abandoned this 
 design and returned to Mobile." 
 
 The attempts to reach the Illinois country from 
 the south in 1764 having failed, in the spring of 
 1765 Major George Croghan was sent from Fort 
 Pitt through the western country to propitiate the 
 Indians. He reached Fort Chartres and returned 
 to Detroit, whence he reported the success of his 
 mission. A company of the 42d Highlanders under 
 
Introduction ii 
 
 Captain Thomas Stirling was then sent down the 
 Ohio and arrived at Fort Chartres in time to take 
 possession on October lo. In the spring of 1765 
 Pittman was making the survey of the Iberville and 
 the report to General Gage in regard to it that he 
 includes in his book. While Captain Stirling was 
 floating down the Ohio River, Major Robert Farmer 
 and the 34th Regiment of Foot, with Pittman as 
 engineer, were slowly making their way up the Mis- 
 sissippi. Passing the Iberville in July, they reached 
 the present site of Natchez in August, when Pitt- 
 man says that he made his survey of Fort Rosalie. 
 As they did not reach Fort Chartres until Decem- 
 ber 4, the date upon which Major Farmer super- 
 seded Captain Stirling, they must have been more 
 than five months on the way. Pittman remained in 
 the Illinois villages until the spring of 1767. On 
 the way up the river and during the year that he 
 spent in Illinois, he must have made the surveys 
 and investigations that he reports in his book. 
 
 In March of 1767 General Frederick Haldimand 
 arrived in Pensacola as the successor of General 
 Bouquet in the command of the Southern District 
 of North America. From his papers, which have 
 been copied and calendared by the Canadian gov- 
 ernment, may be gathered the history of the Flor- 
 idas during his administration. The following quo- 
 tations from the calendar show that Pittman was 
 busily engaged during the years 1767 and 1768 in 
 making surveys in different parts of West Florida. 
 April 31, 1767, "Lt. Pitman has arrived from Illi- 
 nois." June 16, "Lt. Pittman gone with a surveyor 
 
12 Pittmans Mississippi Settlements 
 
 employed by the Admiralty to prepare a plan of the 
 Appalaches," which was the post at the head of 
 Mobile Bay. October 30, "Capt. Denny, Com- 
 mandant at Iberville, and Lieut. Pittman, hired a 
 small schooner to come to Pensacola by Lake Pont- 
 chartrain; left on the 8th and no word of her; not 
 uneasy as some vessels have taken 42 days to come." 
 November 28, General Haldimand writes: "Has 
 employed Lt. Pittman in surveying the rivers lead- 
 ing to Tombecbay." Tombecbe was a French out- 
 post on the Tombigbee above the confluence of the 
 Black Warrior. December 16, Stuart writes Hal- 
 dimand: "The expedition of Mr. Pitman will be 
 delayed by bad weather." February 9, 1768, Act- 
 ing Governor Montford Browne "Asks that Mr. 
 Pitman be sent with him as engineer on a visit he 
 proposes to make to different parts of the Province " 
 and later in the month " Regrets that Mr. Pitman, 
 engineer cannot be spared." February 28, General 
 Haldimand notes "Return to Mobile of the garri- 
 son of Tombecbe. Survey of the river by Lieut. 
 Pittman." The winter was one of unusual severity 
 and Haldimand decided to abandon the post. 
 Among the Haldimand papers are five undated re- 
 ports addressed by "Lieut. Pittman, R. E." to Gen- 
 eral Haldimand. Their titles are : 
 
 Description of the Fort at Appalache and the Look- 
 out Tower. 
 Description of the face of the country. 
 Communication from Pensacola to Appalache. 
 Communication from Appalache to St. Augustine. 
 The boundaries of West Florida. 
 
Introduction 13 
 
 Two engineering projects engaged the attention of 
 the EngHsh in the Floridas: first the opening of a 
 passage from the Mississippi to the Gulf by way of 
 the Iberville, in order to reduce the distance and 
 avoid the necessity of going to New Orleans, and 
 second the building of a road connecting Mobile, 
 Pensacola and St. Augustine. To the former Pitt- 
 man had devoted a great deal of time. The latter 
 was the subject of two of the papers just mentioned. 
 It was also at this time that the surveys of Mobile 
 and New Orleans were made. 
 
 Parkman has remarked the propensity of a hand- 
 ful of men in a wilderness to quarrel. The British 
 in West Florida were no exception to the rule and 
 Haldimand noted upon his arrival that party strife 
 was the bane of the province. There were two fac- 
 tions: the military party and the adherents of the 
 governor. With the latter Pittman allied himself. 
 The outcome of the struggle between them was the 
 court-martial of Major Farmer, which was the prin- 
 cipal excitement in West Florida in 1767 and 1768 
 and the constant theme of General Haldimand's let- 
 ters. Charges of embezzlement were made against 
 Major Farmer by Governor Johnstone in Septem- 
 ber 1766. After Governor Johnstone's retirement 
 Pittman took up the charges against Major Farmer 
 and the Haldimand papers contain " Articles of ac- 
 cusation against Major Farmer, given in by Lt. 
 Pittman, as corroborating the charge by Governor 
 Johnstone." Farmer returned from Illinois for 
 trial and made counter charges against Pittman. 
 On account of the difficulty of getting officers to 
 
14 Pittman's Mississippi Settlements 
 
 constitute the court, the trial was delayed until the 
 spring of 1768. March 17 the court-martial "had 
 at last assembled " and by June 26 Haldimand had 
 transmitted its findings, which vindicated Farmer, 
 to the Secretary of War. General Haldimand was 
 unwilling to incur the trouble and expense of an- 
 other court-martial. February 8 General Gage had 
 written from New York that Lieut. Pittman might 
 be sent to Headquarters for trial and April 29 Hal- 
 dimand replied that he intended to send him. A 
 month later, he writes: "Lieut. Pittman and 
 Major Farmer may come to New York, where the 
 former may be tried, if the latter chooses to pros- 
 ecute." August 21 Haldimand writes to Farmer 
 that "a courtmartial might be held at New York 
 without delay, if he desires to prosecute Pittman." 
 Farmer, however, appears to have been satisfied 
 with his vindication and, upon the approval of the 
 findings of the court-martial by the King, retired 
 from the service and settled in Mobile. The details 
 of this controversy seem trivial enough but they are 
 after all merely a different phase of the struggle be- 
 tween military and civil power which in New Eng- 
 land culminated in the Revolution. 
 
 Pittman left West Florida at the close of 1768, 
 doubtless discomfited if not discredited by the out- 
 come of Major Farmer's trial. He next appears as 
 Captain Pittman, the author of The Present State 
 of the Eitropean Settlements on the Missisippi, pub- 
 lished by J. Nourse in London in 1770. He says 
 that the book " was originally wrote at the request 
 and for the perusal onty, of the secretary of state 
 
Introduction 15 
 
 for the colonies." Arriving in London it would be 
 natural for Pittman to appeal to ex-Governor John- 
 stone, whose cause he had taken up in West Florida, 
 and Johnstone, now a member of Parliament and a 
 man of some influence, may have recommended 
 Pittman to the favor of the ministry. As no fur- 
 ther record of him has been found, it seems probable 
 that he retired from the service upon his return to 
 England and was brevetted a captain upon his re- 
 tirement. 
 
 There were several contemporary notices of Pitt- 
 man's book. The London Magazine announced its 
 publication "price 6 s." with the remark that it was 
 "An article of importance executed with consid- 
 erable judgment and fidelity." The Gentleman's 
 Magazine printed a series of extracts. The 
 Monthly Reviezv and Literary Journal transcribed 
 "for the entertainment of our readers" the ac- 
 count of the country of the Illinois and of the gov- 
 ernment of the country, when belonging to the 
 French, and gave the book an extended notice, com- 
 mending its subject matter, reflecting mildly upon 
 its style, but giving no information about the author 
 not derivable from the book itself. Pittman's book 
 was the first English book to describe the West. 
 It was followed in course of time by the Topograph- 
 ical Descriptions of Governor Pownall, Thomas 
 Hutchins, and Captain Imlay. It was the author's 
 evident object to impress the English people with 
 the advantage of the possession of the Floridas and 
 the Mississippi. He printed the Arret of the Su- 
 perior Council of October 29, 1768 in full for the 
 
1 6 Pittman's Mississippi Settlements 
 
 purpose of emphasizing the extent of French dis- 
 content with Spanish rule and inspiring the Enghsh 
 conquest of New Orleans. He might possibly have 
 accomplished something in this direction had not 
 the outbreak of the American Revolution diverted 
 attention from the territory in question and changed 
 the course of events. 
 
 Later historians have found the book an impor- 
 tant historical source. It was particularly com- 
 mended by Air. William F. Poole, who was one of 
 the earliest of American scholars to appreciate the 
 full significance of the West. Mr. Joseph Wallace 
 reprints a large part of the text in his Illinois and 
 Louisiana under French rule. The plans of Mo- 
 bile, New Orleans, Fort Rosalie and Kaskaskia 
 have been frequently reproduced. In a note in the 
 first volume of the Collections of the Illinois State 
 Historical Library, Mr. H. W. Beckwith claimed 
 that the plan of Kaskaskia was drawn by Thomas 
 Hutchins but gave no proof of the statement. It 
 is not to be supposed that Pittman himself made all 
 the surveys upon which his maps were based. There 
 was published in London in 1772 a map of the 
 Course of the Mississipi, from the Balise to fort 
 Chartres; taken on an expedition to the Illinois, in 
 the latter end of the year 176^. By lieut. Ross of 
 the ^4th regiment: improved from the surveys of 
 that river made by the French. This map was re- 
 issued in 1775 for Jeft'erys's American Atlas and 
 parts of it are reproduced in Winsor's Mississippi 
 Basin. It was based upon the surveys made by the 
 expedition that Pittman accompanied and from its 
 
Introduction 17 
 
 title it appears that there were earher French sur- 
 veys of the river. Pittman merely used all the 
 available material for the drawings from which 
 Thomas Kitchin engraved the maps and plans in 
 his book. 
 
 From the time of La Salle to the American Civil 
 War the possession of the Mississippi has been a 
 controlling motive in American history, though its 
 full importance was not always recognized. Even 
 Burke, if he was the author of the Account of the 
 European Settlements in America, thought that 
 Mobile was more important than New Orleans not 
 only for the control of the Gulf but of the inland 
 trade as well, and Great Britain refused both banks 
 of the Mississippi in 1763 and insisted upon the 
 cession of Florida. Pittman's presence upon the 
 scene and his " acquaintance with the principal in- 
 habitants " just at this time enabled him to describe 
 the Mississippi settlements as they were at the end 
 of an era, the era of French possession. He saw 
 the Illinois villages before they were deserted by 
 the French and before the coming of the Americans. 
 He was in close touch with the French at New Or- 
 leans at the time of the insurrection against Ulloa 
 and just before the coming of " Cruel O'Reilly." 
 His picture has therefore the advantage of having 
 been taken at an important historical moment. 
 
 F. H. H. 
 
PITTMAN'S EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS 
 ON THE MISSISSIPPI 
 
THE 
 
 PRESENT STATE 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS 
 
 O N T H E 
 
 M I S S I S I P P Ij 
 
 WITH 
 
 A GEgGRAPHicAL Descriptiont of that River, 
 
 ILLUSTRATED BY 
 
 PLANS AND DRAUGHTS. 
 
 By Captain PHILIP PITTMAN. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed for J. N o u R s e, Bookfeller to His M A J E S T Y. 
 MDCCLXX. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 The European settlements on the river Missisippi 
 comprehend Louisiana, part of West Florida, and 
 the country of Illinois. Five years residence as an 
 engineer in those countries, during which time I was 
 chiefly employed in surveying and exploring their 
 interior parts, and an acquaintance with the princi- 
 pal inhabitants, enables me to speak with at least as 
 much authority as any author who has hitherto 
 wrote on the same subject. 
 
 Louisiana is no longer the same as in the time of 
 Pere Hennepin,^ and all other authors that I have 
 read on this subject rather abound with Indian sto- 
 ries and talks, than with useful information. 
 
 Father Charlevoix^ made so rapid a progress 
 through those countries, that the greatest part of 
 what he advances must be from the doubtful infor- 
 mation of others, and not from his own personal 
 knowledge. Neither is the reader recompensed by 
 the small quantity of pure ore he can extract from 
 that mass of dross, in the elaborate accounts of Le 
 Page du Pratz.^ 
 
 ^ A New Discovery of a Vast Country in America (London, 1698)'. 
 
 ^Journal of a Voyage to North America (London, 1761), and 
 Letters to the Duchess of Lesdiguieres (London, 1763). These 
 are different translations of the third volume of Charlevoix's 
 Nouvelle France (Paris, 1744). Appearing toward the close of the 
 Seven Years' War, they are said to have impressed the ministry 
 with the importance of acquiring Canada. The Histoire had not 
 at this time been translated into English. 
 
 "Histoire de la Louisiane (Paris, 1758; English translation, 
 London, 1763). 
 
 23 
 
24 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 It may be thought extraordinary that I have con- 
 fined my accounts to the banks of the Missisippi, 
 and not touched on the other parts of West Florida, 
 which may be supposed equally interesting. 
 
 This work was originally wrote at the request, 
 and for the perusal only, of the secretary of state 
 for the colonies; [vi] and I imagined that he must 
 have received every information necessary to form 
 a perfect knowledge of that province, from persons 
 who have commanded in it. Besides, my ingenious 
 friend governor Johnstone^ has told me, that he in- 
 tends soon to publish a book on this subject; by 
 which means the deficiency in mine will be amply 
 made up, and the publick will have the advantage 
 of receiving instruction and entertainment from a 
 much more pleasing and abler pen. 
 
 I am surprised that nobody has yet attempted to 
 wipe off the unfavourable impressions that have 
 taken place in the minds of many people, from the 
 unjust reports made of the climate of West Florida, 
 and which still retards the settling of that fine coun- 
 try. A regard for truth, and a desire to render 
 service to that valuable province, the welfare of 
 which has been obstructed by ignorance and mis- 
 representation, makes me take this occasion to shew 
 the true causes of its supposed unhealthiness. 
 
 Pensacola and Mobile have both proved fatal to 
 our troops; the former from mismanagement, the 
 
 ^George Johnstone was Governor of West Florida from 1763 to 
 1766, and was later a member of Parliament and commodore in 
 the navy. The projected book was "a description of the province 
 for the purpose of attracting settlers." 
 
Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 25 
 
 latter from its situation. When we took possession 
 of Pensacola, in the latter end of the year 1763, it 
 consisted of a fort and a few straggling houses; 
 the fort was constructed of high stockades, enclos- 
 ing in a very small space a house for the governor, 
 and several miserable huts, built with pieces of 
 bark, covered with the same materials, and most of 
 them without floors; so that in the summer they 
 were as hot as stoves, and the land engendered all 
 sorts of vermin: in these wretched habitations the 
 officers and soldiers dwelt. 
 
 [vii] After we had possession some time, the 
 commandant, with a view of making the fortifica- 
 tion more respectable, surrounded the fort with a 
 ditch; which, in fact, could answer no other pur- 
 pose, than holding a quantity of stagnated water to 
 empoison the little air that could find its way into 
 the garrison. The thirty-first regiment of foot, 
 which suffered remarkably from sickness and mor- 
 tality in this place, was sent to it in the hottest part 
 of the summer of 1765, unprovided with every thing 
 necessary to preserve health in such a sudden 
 change of climate. Brigadier-general Haldimand,^ 
 in the beginning of 1767, immediately after his ar- 
 rival here, caused the enceinte of the fort to be con- 
 siderably extended, widened the streets, removed 
 every thing that could obstruct a free circulation of 
 air, and laid the place open to the sea, to give ad- 
 mission to the breezes. The ensuing summer was 
 
 ^General, afterward Sir Frederick Haldimand was commander- 
 in-chief of the military forces in the Floridas from 1766 to 1773. 
 
26 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 excessive hot, the thermometer having rose to one 
 hundred and fourteen degrees ; yet, by the salutary 
 precautions the general had taken, the troops were 
 remarkably healthy, few fell sick, and scarce any 
 died; although their lodgings, which of themselves 
 may be supposed sufficient to destroy a good consti- 
 tution, were little improved : from hence I presume 
 that Pensacola is as healthy as any English settle- 
 ment in the southern provinces of North America. 
 
 Mobile is situated on the banks of the river of 
 that name, just at the place where the fresh and salt 
 waters mix; when the tide goes out it leaves an 
 abundance of small fishes on the marshes which lie 
 opposite the town, and the heat of the sun in sum- 
 mer kills the fish; and the stench of them, of the 
 stagnated water in the neighbouring swamps, and 
 the slimy mud, render the air putrid. To [viii] this 
 may be added, that the water of the wells is brack- 
 ish, and there is none to be found wholsome within 
 less than one mile and a half of the place. The 
 twenty-first regiment of foot was sent to Mobile 
 at the same time that the thirty-Hrst regiment gar- 
 risoned Pensacola, and being equally unprovided 
 with things necessary for troops newly arrived from 
 Europe, and unseasoned to such a climate, suffered 
 almost as much. I shall only add on this subject, 
 which is a little distant from the true intent of my 
 preface, that West Florida possesses the greatest 
 advantage, as to its situation for commerce, and the 
 communications to the different parts are rendered 
 easy by fine navigable rivers, the banks of which 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 27 
 
 are covered by a fresh luxuriant soil, capable of 
 producing every thing natural to these climates. 
 
 I have endeavoured to be as concise as possible; 
 indeed the purpose it was wrote for seemed to de- 
 mand it: I could with ease have been much more 
 diffuse on subjects in which so much matter is con- 
 tained. 
 
 It is with fear and diffidence that I presume to ap- 
 pear as an author; but a desire of communicating 
 what I have been assured by friends would be of 
 use to the publick, has been my only inducement; 
 and if they have judged right, my utmost wishes 
 will be amply gratified. 
 
THE PRESENT STATE OF THE EURO- 
 PEAN SETTLEMENTS ON 
 THE MISSISIPPI 
 
 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI 
 
 The river Missisippi has been known by a vari- 
 ety of names; the first discoverers from Canada 
 gave it the name of Colbert, in honour to that great 
 minister, who was then in power. The famous ad- 
 venturer. Monsieur de Salle, when he discovered the 
 mouth, called it the river Saint Louis, by which 
 name it has ever been distinguished in all publick 
 acts, respecting the province of Louissianna: But 
 its present general appellation of Missisippi^ is a 
 corruption of Metchasippi; by which name it is still 
 known to the Northern Savages, that word signify- 
 ing, in their language, the Father of Rivers. 
 
 Nothing can, with propriety, be asserted with re- 
 spect to the source of this river, tho' there are people 
 still existing, who pretend to have been there. The 
 accounts, which I think should be paid most atten- 
 tion to, are those which have been given by the 
 Sioux, a [2] very numerous itinerant nation of In- 
 dians, who generally reside in the countries North 
 of the Missisippi: A few of them have sometimes 
 
 'There is great variation among early writers in the spelling 
 of Mississippi. The original of the modern form, Misisipi, has 
 been gradually altered by doubling the consonants. It is still 
 spelled with one "p" in French. 
 
 29 
 
30 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 come to the French post, on the River IlHnois, to 
 barter skins and furrs; but in general they dislike 
 the Europeans, and have little inclination to be much 
 acquainted with them. Their account is as follows : 
 The river Missisippi rises from a very extensive 
 swamp, and its waters are encreased by several 
 rivers (some of them not inconsiderable) emptying 
 themselves into it in its course to the fall of St. An- 
 thony, which, by their accounts, is not less than 
 seven hundred leagues from the great swamps: 
 This is formed by a rock running a-cross the river, 
 and falls about twelve feet perpendicular ; and this 
 place is known to be eight hundred leagues from the 
 sea. So that it is most probable that the Missisippi 
 runs, at least, four thousand five hundred miles. 
 
 The principal rivers which fall into the Missisippi, 
 below the fall of St. Anthony, are, the river St. 
 Pierre,^ which comes from the West; Saint Croix, 
 from the East; Moingona,^ which is two hundred 
 and fifty leagues below the fall, comes from the 
 West, and is said to run one hundred and fifty 
 leagues; and the river Illinois, the source of which 
 is near the lake Michigan, East of the Missisippi 
 two hundred leagues. 
 
 The source of the river Missoury is unknown; 
 the French traders go betwixt three and four hun- 
 dred leagues up, to trafiic with the Indians who in- 
 habit near its banks, and this branch of commerce 
 is very considerable ; it employs annually eight thou- 
 
 ^ Minnesota River. 
 ^ Des Moines River. 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 31 
 
 sand pounds worth of European goods, including a 
 small quantity of rum, of all which the freight 
 amounts to about one hundred per ,cent. Their re- 
 turns are, at least, at the rate of three hundred 
 per cent, so that they are certain of two hundred 
 per cent profit. The mouth of this great river 
 is five leagues below the river Illinois, and 
 is generally called five hundred from the sea, 
 tho' in fact it is not more than four hundred 
 and fifty. From its confliuence to its source 
 is supposed to be [3] eight hundred leagues, 
 running from the north-west to the south-east. The 
 muddy waters of the Missoury prevail over those of 
 the Missisippi, running with violent rapidity to the 
 ocean. The Missisippi glides with a gentle and 
 clear stream, 'till it meets with this interruption. 
 The next river of note, is the Ohio or Belle Riviere ; 
 it empties itself about seventy leagues below the 
 Missoury: its source is near the lake Erie, running 
 from the north-east to the south-west, upwards of 
 four hundred leagues. 
 
 Ninety leagues further down is the river Saint 
 Francis, on the west side of the Missisippi : this is 
 a very small river, and is remarkable for nothing 
 but being the general rendez-vous of the hunters 
 from New Orleans, who winter there, and make a 
 provision of salted meats, suet, and bears oil, for 
 the supply of that city. The river Arkansas is 
 thirty-five leagues lower down, and two hundred 
 from New Orleans ; it is so called from a nation of 
 Indians of the same name; its source is said to be 
 
32 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 in the same latitude as Santa Fe in New Mexico, 
 and holds its course near three hundred leagues. 
 
 The river Yazous comes from the north-east, and 
 discharges itself into the Missisippi, sixty leagues 
 from the Arkansas : formerly a nation of Indians of 
 the same name had their villages on it, and there 
 was a French post and settlement. The nation is 
 entirely extinct, and there is not the least trace of 
 any settlement. 
 
 It is near sixty leagues from this little river to the 
 river Rouge, which is so called from its waters, 
 being of a reddish colour, and they tinge those of 
 the Missisippi at the time of the floods; its source 
 is in New Mexico, and it runs about two hundred 
 leagues : the river Noir empties itself into this river 
 about ten leagues from its confluence. The famous 
 Ferdinand Soto ended his discoveries at the en- 
 trance of the river Rouge, and was buried there. 
 
 [4] Near seventy leagues up this river is a very 
 considerable post, belonging to the French;^ it is a 
 frontier on the Spanish settlements, being twenty 
 miles from the Fort of Adaies.^ The French fort 
 is garrisoned by a captain, two subalterns, and 
 about fifty men : there are forty families, consisting 
 mostly of discharged soldiers, and some merchants 
 who trade with the Spaniards. A great quantity of 
 tobacco is cultivated at this port, and sells for a 
 good price at New Orleans, being held in great 
 
 ^ Natchitoches. 
 
 2 Adaes was on the Sabine River. The name was that of an 
 Indian tribe among whom the Spaniards had a mission. 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 33 
 
 esteem: they send also some peltry, which they re- 
 ceive in trade from the neighbouring Indians. 
 
 From the river Rouge to the sea, there are only 
 some small brooks, of no account. The Bayouk of 
 Pelousas, which is about three miles from the river 
 Rouge and the river Ibberville, are described in the 
 account hereafter given of the settlements on the 
 river Missisippi. 
 
 It is peculiar to the river Missisippi, that no part 
 of the waters which overflow its banks, ever return 
 to their former channel: this is a circumstance, 
 which I believe is not to be met with in any other 
 river in the world. All the lands from the river 
 Ibbeville to the sea, have been formed in the suc- 
 cession of ages, by the vast quantities of slimy mud, 
 trees, dead wood, and leaves which the river brings 
 down at its annual floods, which begin in the month 
 of March, by the melting of the snow and ice in the 
 northern parts. This innundation continues three 
 months. The muddy lands produce long grass, 
 canes, and reeds in great abundance: at the over- 
 flowings of the river, the grass, canes, and reeds 
 stop great quantities of the mud and rubbish that 
 descend with the current. The long grass, &c. near- 
 est the river, must receive a greater quantity of this 
 rubbish than that which is more distant, and this 
 causes the bank of the Missisippi to be higher than 
 the interior land, and accounts for the waters never 
 returning to the river ; and we may reasonably sup- 
 pose, that the lakes on each side are parts of the sea, 
 not yet filled up. Thus the land is annually raised, 
 
34 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 and continually [5] gains on the sea. The Balize, 
 a small fort, erected by the French on a little island, 
 was, in the year 1734, at the mouth of the river; 
 it is now two miles up. In the year 1767, Don An- 
 tonio D'Ulloa erected some barracks on a small 
 island (to which he gave the name of Saint Carlos) 
 for the convenience of pilots, and other purposes, 
 being near the south-east entrance of the river, and 
 a more dry and higher situation than any there- 
 abouts. There was not the least appearance of this 
 island twenty years ago. 
 
 Before I quit this subject, I must observe, that on 
 digging ten or twelve feet in the lands I have above 
 described, large bodies of trees have been frequently 
 found. The craw-fish abound in this country; they 
 are in every part of the earth, and when the inhab- 
 itants chuse a dish of them, they send to their gar- 
 dens, where they have a small pond dug for that 
 purpose, and are sure of getting as many as they 
 have occasion for. A dish of shrimps is as easily 
 procured by hanging a small canvas bag with a bit 
 of meat in it, to the bank of the river, and letting 
 it drop a little below the surface of the water ; in a 
 few hours a sufficient quantity will have got into the 
 bag. Shrimps are found in the Missisippi as far 
 as Natches, which is near one hundred and thirty 
 leagues from the sea. 
 
 I have before mentioned, that the river-water is 
 remarkably muddy : I have filled a half-pint tumbler 
 with it, and have found a sediment of two inches of 
 slime. It is, notwithstanding, extremely wholesome 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 35 
 
 and well tasted, and very cool in the hottest seasons 
 of the year ; and the rowers, who are then employed, 
 drink of it when they are in the strongest perspira- 
 tion, and never receive any bad effects from it. The 
 inhabitants of New Orleans use no other water than 
 that of the river, which, by keeping in a jar, be- 
 comes perfectly clear. 
 
 The navigation of the Missisippi is confined to 
 vessels not drawing above seventeen feet water, 
 there being little more in the deepest [6] channel 
 on the bar, which is subject to shift very often; so 
 that a pilot is constantly employed in sounding. On 
 every part of the bar there is nine feet water, 
 and small vessels go over it without fear: frigates 
 of thirty-six guns have often gone through the 
 channel, after taking their guns out. When once 
 a vessel has crossed the bar, the remainder of the 
 navigation is very safe, keeping clear of the great 
 trees, which float down with the current. When 
 winds are contrary, vessels make fast to the trees 
 on the banks of the river, and haul close, there being 
 sufficient depth of water for any ship whatever. It 
 is impossible to anchor without being exposed to 
 the danger of the great trees which come down with 
 the current almost continually, but more especially 
 at the time of the floods, which if any of them should 
 come athwart hawse, would most probably drive in 
 the bows of the vessel; and there is a certainty of 
 loosing the anchors, as the bottom of the river is 
 very soft mud, covered with sunk logs, and is in 
 general at least sixty fathoms deep, and this sort 
 
36 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 of bottom and depth continues almost as far as the 
 Natches ; and all vessels that enter the river, can go 
 up within three miles of that post. 
 
 The merchandize necessary for the commerce to 
 Natchitoches, Missoury, and in general the upper 
 posts on or near the Missisippi, is carried by Bat- 
 teaus, which are rowed by eighteen or twenty men, 
 and contain about forty tons burthen ; they are com- 
 monly three months going from New Orleans to 
 the Illinois. They always go in convoys from New 
 Orleans, and before they set out appoint an officer 
 from amongst themselves to command them; or 
 apply for a king's officer for that purpose; and 
 whenever they put on shore to eat their meals, or 
 encamp for the night, they have a regular guard 
 mounted : they use these precautions for fear of any 
 attack from the Indians. The Chicashaws formerly 
 were very troublesome to them. Two of these con- 
 voys, consisting of from [7] seven to twelve Bat- 
 teaus, go from New Orleans twice a year, viz. in 
 the spring and autumn. 
 
 In the spring the Missisippi is very high ; and tho' 
 the current is so strong that nothing can make head 
 against it in the middle of the river, they have an 
 advantage by an eddy or counter-current, which 
 runs in the bends, and close to the banks of the 
 river, and greatly facilitates their voyage. The cur- 
 rent, at this season, runs at the rate of six or seven 
 miles an hour : in autumn, when the waters are low, 
 it in general does not run above two miles an hour, 
 except in some parts of the river, above the Arkan- 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 37 
 
 sas, where there are a great many islands, shoals, 
 and sand-banks of some miles circumference, which 
 make the voyage more dangerous, longer, and less 
 expeditious, than in the spring; and this makes it 
 further necessary, that boats should go in convoys, 
 that they may assist each other in case of meeting 
 with any of the accidents they are so evidently ex- 
 posed to. Great pieces of coal are constantly found 
 on the sand-banks, from whence it may be con- 
 cluded, that there are coal-mines on the upper parts 
 of the Missisippi. 
 
OF THE POST AND SETTLEMENTS 
 ON THE MISSISIPPI 
 
 To proceed with order and facility in describing 
 the posts which are on the Missisippi, and those 
 which communicate with that river, I shall begin 
 with the Balize, and so go on, ascending the river. 
 The island of Saint Carlos, of which I have be- 
 fore spoke, is near the entrance of the Missisippi, 
 and lies in twenty-nine degrees north latitude, and 
 in eighty-nine degrees ten minutes longitude from 
 the meridian of Tondon: there are houses for the 
 residence of an officer, twenty soldiers, a pilot, and 
 a chaplain. The reason of establishing this post, 
 is that assistance may be given to vessels coming 
 into the river, and to forward intelligence or dis- 
 patches to New Orleans : This is called the Balize^ 
 as well as the French post, which lies two miles east 
 of the entrance of the river, and was originally built 
 with the same design, and as a defence for the 
 mouth of the river : its situation (which is very low 
 and swampy) would never admit of any strong for- 
 tification ; but what there was, is now gone to ruin : 
 nothing remains but the soldiers barracks, and three 
 or four guns en barbette. From this place nothing 
 is to be seen but low marshes, continually over- 
 flowed, till we get within a few leagues of the De- 
 
 _ ^ Balize is located on the maps of the Mississippi River Commis- 
 sion five miles from the mouth of South East pass. 
 
 38 
 
Pittm art's Missisippi Settlements 39 
 
 tour de L'Anglois, where there are some few plan- 
 tations, most of which are but very late establish- 
 ments, and are, as yet, but of very little consequence. 
 At the Detour the river forms almost a circle; so 
 that vessels cannot pass it with the same wind that 
 conducted them to it, and are obliged to wait for a 
 shift of wind. This gave the idea to the French, of 
 [9] building two forts at this Pass, one on each side 
 of the river, to prevent the enterprises of any ene- 
 mies; for although the forts are only enclosures of 
 stockades and a defence against small arms, the 
 batteries on each side, which are of ten twelve- 
 pounders, are more than sufficient to stop the prog- 
 ress of any vessel, as there is no possibility of moor- 
 ing nor of making a vessel fast on shore : the impos- 
 sibility of mooring has been before accounted for 
 by the description given of the bed of the river. The 
 going on shore is equally impossible, as the forts are 
 on points of land, which are bounded by the river 
 on one side and by swamps on the other, so that 
 any attacks against them must prove unsuccessful. 
 Such is the situation of these forts, which might be- 
 sides receive continual reinforcements from the in- 
 habitants in their neighbourhood, and from New 
 Orleans, which is but seventeen miles distant. The 
 authors who have wrote concerning Louisiana have 
 given many different reasons for this place being 
 called the Detour des Anglois; I shall give that 
 which appears the most probable. 
 
 The officers who had been sent to reconoitre the 
 Missisippi, and to report the properest place to build 
 
40 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 the capital of Louisiana on, in their return to Mo- 
 bile, going down the river, saw an English brig 
 made fast to the shore, which curiosity had induced 
 to go thus far up, and was waiting for a fair wind 
 to proceed on further discoveries. The plantations 
 and the well-built houses on each side the river af- 
 ford a very pleasing and agreeable prospect, which 
 continues till we arrive at New Orleans; and this, 
 with a tolerable fair wind, is an affair of about four 
 hours. 
 
NEW ORLEANS 
 
 New Orleans stands on the east side of the river, 
 and in 30°. north latitude; its situation is extremely 
 well chosen, as it has a very easy communication 
 with the northern parts of Louisiana (now West 
 Florida) by means of the Bayouk of St. John, a 
 little creek, which is navigable for small vessels 
 drawing less than six feet water, six miles up from 
 the lake Ponchartrain, where there is a landing- 
 place, at which the vessels load and unload ; and this 
 is about two miles from the city. The entrance of 
 the Bayouk of St. John is defended by a battery of 
 six guns and a Serjeant's guard. The vessels which 
 come up the Missisippi haul close along-side the 
 bank next to New Orleans, to which they make fast, 
 and take in or discharge their cargoes with the same 
 facility as from a wharf. The town is secured 
 from the inundations of the river by a raised bank, 
 generally called the Levee; and this extends from 
 the Detour des Anglois, to the upper settlement of 
 the Germans, which is a distance of more than fifty 
 miles, and a good coach-road all the way. The 
 Levee before the town is repaired at the public ex- 
 pence, and each inhabitant keeps that part in repair 
 which is opposite to his own plantation. Having 
 described the situation of the city of New Orleans, I 
 will proceed to its plan of construction. 
 
 41 
 
42 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 The parade is a large square, in the middle of 
 that part of the town which fronts the river ; in the 
 back part of the square is the church dedicated to 
 St. Louis, a very poor building, framed with wood; 
 it is in so ruinous a condition that divine service 
 has not been performed in it since the year 1766, 
 one of the king's store-houses being at present used 
 for that purpose. The capuchins are the curates of 
 New Orleans; on the left hand side of the church 
 [11] they had a very handsome and commodious 
 brick house, which is totally deserted and gone to 
 ruin; they now live on their plantation, and in a 
 hired house in town. On the right hand side of the 
 church is the prison and guard-house, which are 
 very strong and good buildings. The two sides of 
 the square were formerly occupied by barracks for 
 the troops, which are entirely destroyed. The 
 square is open to the river, and on that side are 
 twenty-one pieces of ordnance, en barbette, which 
 are fired on public rejoicings. All the streets are 
 perfectly straight, and cross each other at right 
 angles, and these divide the town into sixty-six 
 squares, eleven in length by the river's side, and six 
 in depth ; the sides of these squares are one hundred 
 yards each, and are divided into twelve lotts, for the 
 establishment of the inhabitants. The intendant's 
 house and gardens take up the right side of the 
 parade, the left side is occupied by the king's store- 
 houses and an artillery-yard. There is at present 
 no building set on part for the governor ; his gen- 
 eral residence is in a large house, which was for- 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 43 
 
 merly the property of the company who were the 
 proprietors of Louisiana, known by the name of la 
 compagnie d'occident. The agent of the company 
 is now owner of the house. The convent of the 
 UrsuHnes and general hospital, which is attended 
 by the nuns, occupy the two left hand squares facing 
 the river : these buildings are strong and plain, well 
 answering the purposes for which they were de- 
 signed. The general plan of building in the town, 
 is with timber frames filled up with brick ; and most 
 of the houses are but of one floor, raised about eight 
 feet from the ground, with large galleries round 
 them, and the cellars under the floors level with the 
 ground; it is impossible to have any subterraneous 
 buildings, as they would be constantly full of water. 
 I imagine that there are betwixt seven and eight 
 hundred houses in the town, most of which have 
 gardens. The squares at the back and sides of the 
 town are mostly laid out in gardens; the orange- 
 trees, with which they are planted, are not unpleas- 
 ant objects, and in the spring afford an agreeable 
 smell. 
 
 [12] There are, exclusive of the slaves, about 
 seven thousand inhabitants in town, of all ages 
 and sexes. The fortifications are only an enceinte 
 of stockades, with a banquette within and a very 
 trifling ditch without ; these can answer no end but 
 against Indians, or negroes, in case of an insurrec- 
 tion, and keep the slaves of the town and country 
 from having any communication in the night. 
 There are about four hundred soldiers kept for the 
 
44 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 police of the town and country; these belong to the 
 detached companies of the marines: there are also 
 ten companies of militia, four chosen from the in- 
 habitants of the town, the planters and their serv- 
 ants form the remainder. 
 
 The government of Louisiana is composed of a 
 governor, an intendant, and a royal council. The 
 governor is invested with a great deal of power, 
 which, however, on the side of the crown is checked 
 by the intendant, who has the care of the king's 
 rights, and whatever relates to the revenue; and on 
 the side of the people it is checked by the royal coun- 
 cil, whose office it partly is to see that the people 
 are not oppressed by the one nor defrauded by the 
 other. The royal council, who stile themselves Le 
 Conseil superieur de la Louisiane, consist of the in- 
 tendant, who is first judge, the king's attorney, six 
 of the principal inhabitants, and the register of the 
 province; and they judge in all criminal and civil 
 matters. Every man has a right to plead his own 
 cause before them, either verbally or by a written 
 petition; and the evidences called on by each party 
 attend the examination of the council. In a court 
 like this, eloquence or great abilities cannot support 
 injustice or confound truth. 
 
 The intendant is commissary of the marine and 
 judge of the admiralty; and he decides, in a sum- 
 mary manner, all disputes between merchants, or 
 whatever else has a relation to trade. A final refer- 
 ence may be made from any judgment given by the 
 intendant [13] or council to the parliament of Paris. 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 45 
 
 On the first establishment of the colony, nothing 
 that could tend to render it flourishing or happy 
 was unthought of. I shall mention one instance of 
 the lenity and wisdom of the legislature; but the 
 dishonesty of governors and intendants, as well as 
 the corruption and relaxation of the government in 
 France since that time, has totally perverted or sunk 
 into oblivion regulations that were so evidently cal- 
 culated for the happiness of the subject. The 
 planter is considered as a Frenchman venturing his 
 life, enduring a species of banishment, and under- 
 going great hardships for the benefit of his country ; 
 for which reason he has great indulgence shewn. 
 Whenever by hurricanes, earthquakes, or bad sea- 
 sons, the planters suffer, a stop is put to the rigor 
 of exacting creditors. The few taxes which are 
 levied are remitted, and even advances are made to 
 repair their losses and set them forward. On the 
 other hand, there can be no temptation to the planter 
 to run fraudulently into debt, to the prejudice of 
 the French merchant, as all debts, though con- 
 tracted by the planters in France, are levied with 
 great ease. The process, properly authenticated, is 
 transmitted to America, and admitted as proof 
 there, and levied on the planter's estate, of what- 
 ever kind it may be. However, care is taken that 
 whilst compulsory methods are used to make the 
 planter do justice, the state shall not lose the in- 
 dustry of a useful member of the community; the 
 debt is always levied according to the substance of 
 the debtor. Thus one party is not sacrificed to the 
 
46 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 other, they both subsist ; the creditor is satisfied, and 
 the debtor not ruined. 
 
 The paper money which circulated in this prov- 
 ince has almost effected its ruin, owing to the mal- 
 administration of Mons. Kerlerec, who was gov- 
 ernor during the last war. As the sending money 
 from France, at that time, to pay the civil and mili- 
 tary officers, troops, and other exigencies of gov- 
 ernment, would have been attended with too much 
 risque, the governor and intendant were ordered to 
 issue out paper money, which were [14] called 
 Bons,^ being notes for small sums, payable in bills 
 of exchange, drawn at three months sight on the 
 treasury of France. These Bons were from ten sols 
 to one hundred livres ; and whoever collected a cer- 
 tain sum, as three or four hundred livres at least, 
 was entitled to a bill of exchange in lieu of the Bons, 
 which he paid to the treasurer of the province. The 
 governor and intendant empowered the comman- 
 dants and commissaries at our ports to issue out 
 notes of the same kind, for provisions, public works, 
 and Indian presents. Thus the debts contracted 
 with the merchants and inhabitants during the war 
 amounted to very large sums, and the abuses made 
 of this great trust rendered the expences of the 
 colony enormous. Mons. de Kerlerec, and some 
 
 ^Note by Pittman: The tenor of these Bons was as follows: 
 No a la Nouvelle Orleans. 
 
 Bon pour la somme de payable en lettres 
 
 de change sur le tresor 
 
 Sio-ned \ ^^^ Governor 
 "^ \ and Intendant. 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 47 
 
 other officers, took opportunities of negotiating bills 
 by way of Jamaica and other English colonies, be- 
 fore the peace was concluded: the amount of these 
 bills was very considerable and was duly paid. The 
 demands of money from Louisiana and expences of 
 Canada so far exceeded all expectation, and the 
 treasury of France being drained, the king, by an 
 edict in 1759, stopped payment of this colony's bills, 
 to the amount of seven millions of livres, on pre- 
 tence of no authenticated vouchers, or accounts of 
 the publick expences being arrived. In the latter 
 end of the year 1763, Mons. Kerlerec was recalled, 
 and Mons. de Rochemaure, the intendant, left the 
 colony some time before, and died shortly after his 
 arrival in France. Mons. D'Abbadie was sent out 
 as director-general, and was invested with the pow- 
 ers of both governor and intendant: he was in- 
 structed to reform the abuses which had taken place 
 in the publick offices, and to endeavour to restore 
 tranquility to the inhabitants, who were almost en- 
 gaged in a civil war, by entering into the disputes 
 of their governor and intendant, which were first 
 occasioned [15] by the arrival of two English flags 
 of truce, during the war, loaded with dry goods, 
 one of which was from Jamaica and the other from 
 Rhode Island. Whilst Mons. de Kerlerec held a 
 congress with the Creek and Chactaw Indians at 
 Mobile, Mons. de Rochemaure seized the vessels, 
 imprisoned the captains and crew, and lodged the 
 cargoes in the king's store-houses. Mons. de Ker- 
 lerec on his return to New Orleans, ordered the 
 
48 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 captains and sailors to be released, restored their 
 vessels to them, and permitted them to sell the car- 
 goes for the benefit of the owners. Many of the 
 most respectable inhabitants and some officers re- 
 monstrated against this proceeding, and represented 
 the danger of admitting English subjects to trade 
 in the time of war, who would become acquainted 
 with the navigation of the river, and be enabled to 
 give a true account of the then weak situation of 
 the province, which would fall an easy prey to their 
 enemies. The friends of Mons. Kerlerec, on the 
 other hand, petitioned that the cargoes might be 
 publickly sold, and the English protected; that the 
 colony was in the greatest want of the goods 
 brought by the flags of truce ; that it was an act of 
 humanity in the English governors who had 
 granted those commissions; that this was the only 
 method by which they could be supplied with what 
 they were in the greatest necessity for; and should 
 he take harsh measures with these people, the col- 
 ony must be totally excluded from all hopes of fu- 
 ture assistance till a peace, of which there was not 
 then the least prospect. But to return to the paper 
 money: Mons. D'Abbadie called in a great quantity 
 of the bills of exchange and Bons, depreciating their 
 value seventy-five per cent, and issued out new 
 paper money, signed by him, which he put on a par 
 with specie ; as, for example, a Bon of five livres was 
 equal to one dollar or piece of eight, and seventy 
 livres of the old paper was only equal to one dollar. 
 
Pittman's Mtssisippi Settlements 49 
 
 Thus the industrious planter was defrauded of 
 three-fourths of his property. 
 
 [16] Mons. D'Abbadie died in February 1765, 
 since which the paper money issued by him has 
 fallen twenty-five per cent, from its original value. 
 On the death of Mons. D'Abbadie, Mons. Aubry, 
 commandant of the troops, succeeded him as gov- 
 ernor, and Mons. Foucault, commissaire ordonna- 
 teur, as intendant. These gentlemen continued to 
 act in their respective stations, notwithstanding the 
 cession of the colony to the crown of Spain in 1764.^ 
 Don Antonio D'Ulloa arrived at New Orleans 
 about the middle of the year 1766, but refused to 
 take the government of the colony on him, until he 
 should have a sufficient armed force to establish his 
 authority. In the beginning of the year 1767 two 
 hundred Spanish soldiers were sent from the Ha- 
 vanna, but these he did not think sufficient to enforce 
 his commands in a country where the Spanish gov- 
 ernment was held in the utmost abhorrence and de- 
 testation; he sent about sixty of these troops to 
 erect two forts, one opposite fort Bute, on the mouth 
 of the Ibbeville, and the other on the west side of 
 the Missisippi, opposite the Natches ; the remainder 
 were sent in the autumn of 1767 to build a fort at 
 the mouth of the river Missoury; but the comman- 
 dant was forbid to interfere with the civil govern- 
 ment of their settlements in the Illinois country, 
 where Mons. De Saint Ange continues to command 
 
 ^The cession was made by a secret treaty of November 3, 1762, 
 but official notice did not reach the colony until 1764. 
 4 
 
^o Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 with about twenty French soldiers. Don Antonio 
 D'UUoa, who had already carried a high hand over 
 the inhabitants, received some orders from his 
 court, by which the commerce of the colony was 
 greatly restricted, and which were so disagreeable 
 to the colonists, that they revolted from the domin- 
 ion of the crown of Spain; and the council, by an 
 edict, inserted at the end of this work, obliged him 
 and the principal Spanish officers to leave the prov- 
 ince in November 1768, notwithstanding M. Au- 
 bry's remonstrances and the protest he made 
 against the edict of the council. 
 
 Mons. de Sacier, one of the council, with two 
 other gentlemen of the colony, was sent to France 
 with this edict, and to implore [17] the protection 
 of the king; they were imprisoned on their arrival, 
 and have never been heard of since. 
 
 During six months, which elapsed before news 
 could be received from Europe, the unhappy col- 
 onists vainly flattered themselves with hopes of 
 being justified for the steps they had taken by the 
 court of France. On the 23d of July, 1769, news 
 was brought to New Orleans of the arrival of gen- 
 eral O'Reily at the Balize, with eighteen transports, 
 followed by ten more from the Havanna, having 
 four thousand five hundred troops on board, and 
 loaded with stores and ammunition. This intel- 
 ligence threw the town into the greatest consterna- 
 tion and perplexity, as, but a few days before, 
 letters had arrived from Europe signifying that 
 the colony was restored to France. 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 51 
 
 In the general distraction that took place, the in- 
 habitants of the town and the adjacent plantations 
 determined to oppose the landing of the Spaniards, 
 and sent couriers requiring the Germans and Acca- 
 dian neutrals to join them. On the 24th an express 
 arrived from general O'Reily, which was read by 
 Mons. Aubry to the people in church; by this they 
 were informed that he was sent by his catholic maj- 
 esty to take possession of the colony, but not to dis- 
 tress the inhabitants; and that when he should be 
 in possession he would publish the remaining part 
 of the orders he had in charge from the king his 
 master; and should any attempt be made to oppose 
 his landing, he was resolved not to depart until he 
 could put his majesty's commands in execution. 
 
 The people, dissatisfied with this ambiguous mes- 
 sage, came to a resolution of sending three deputies 
 to Mr. O'Reily, viz. Messrs. Grandmaison, town- 
 major, La Friniere, attorney-general, and De Ma- 
 zant, formerly captain in the colony's troops and a 
 man of very considerable property ; these gentlemen 
 acquainted him, that the inhabitants had come to a 
 resolution of abandoning the province, [18] and de- 
 manded no other favour than that he would grant 
 them two years to remove themselves and effects. 
 The general received the deputies with great polite- 
 ness, but did not enter into the merits of their em- 
 bassy, farther than assuring them that he would 
 comply with every reasonable request of the col- 
 onists; that he had the interest of their country 
 much at heart, and nothing on his part should be 
 
52 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 wanting to promote it; that all past transactions 
 should be buried in oblivion, and all who had of- 
 fended should be forgiven: to this he added every 
 thing that he imagined could flatter the expecta- 
 tions of the people. On the ist of August the depu- 
 ties returned, and made publick the kind reception 
 the general had given them, and the fair promises 
 he had made. The minds of the people were now 
 greatly tranquilized, and those who had before de- 
 termined suddenly to quit their plantations now re- 
 solved to remain until their crops were off the 
 ground. 
 
 During the absence of the deputies, several of the 
 principal inhabitants applied to captain-lieutenant 
 Campbell, late of the thirty-fourth regiment, then 
 at New Orleans, to acquaint the governor of West 
 Florida that they were desirous of becoming British 
 subjects, and to beg that he would send a proper 
 person to tender them the oath of allegiance, and to 
 distribute the lands, on the banks of the river be- 
 twixt the Ibbeville and Natches, for them to settle 
 on; and that they were to be joined by near two- 
 thirds of the French inhabitants, and by German 
 and Accadian families, of which six hundred men 
 were capable of bearing arms. These would have 
 proved a valuable acquisition to the province of 
 West Florida, and it is rather unfortunate that at 
 this time there were no troops in the forts of 
 Natches and Ibbeville to give them protection. 
 
 On the 1 6th of August general O'Reily arrived 
 at New Orleans with one frigate and twenty-two 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 53 
 
 transports, and came on shore the day following to 
 reconnoitre the ground for disembarking, and [19] 
 the grand parade for drawing up his troops ; he was 
 attended by Mons. Aubry and the staff of the gar- 
 rison; he returned on board soon after, and was 
 saluted by the frigate and the garrison. Orders 
 were given for the troops to disembark on the i8th, 
 at four o'clock in the morning, by firing one gun 
 from the frigate; stages being previously made to 
 reach from the shore to the sides of the ships for 
 the soldiers to pass over. 
 
 On a signal being given all the troops began to 
 move, and in less than ten minutes were formed on 
 the bank of the river, and from thence marched to 
 the grand parade, where they formed the square. 
 The ships were dressed with the colours of different 
 nations, and the shrouds and yards crouded with 
 sailors. On the general's going on shore he was 
 saluted by the frigate, and received four cheers 
 from the sailors; and on his coming on the parade 
 there was a general discharge of cannon and small 
 arms from the garrison and militia, attended with 
 musick and drums. Don Alex. O'Reily and Mons. 
 Aubry, with their attendants, followed by a croud 
 of inhabitants, went to that angle of the parade 
 where the flag-staff stood. Mons. Aubry, as gov- 
 ernor, opened his orders from his most christian 
 majesty, to deliver up the town and island of New 
 Orleans, and province of Louisiana, to Don Alex. 
 O'Reily, in the name of his catholick majesty; and 
 expressed his happiness and satisfaction in being 
 
54 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 succeeded in the command of that country by a man 
 of his humanity and worth; to which general 
 O'Reily answered, " I shall make it the rule of my 
 future conduct in government, to imitate those wise 
 and prudent maxims in administring justice by 
 which you have gained the hearts of the people, 
 even at the most critical juncture." The Spanish 
 colours were now hoisted, and honoured by another 
 general discharge of artillery and small arms from 
 the garrison; his excellency and attendants went to 
 church, and sung Te Deum, whilst the guards were 
 relieving: after church was over, the parade was 
 dismissed, and the soldiers went to the barracks 
 appointed for them. [20] On the 19th of August 
 the town militia was reviewed: from this day the 
 time was passed in receiving and making visits 
 until the 25th in the morning, when the inhabitants 
 went to pay their respects to their new governor; 
 as they entered the hall, he desired them to place 
 themselves singly round the room, and holding a 
 paper in his hand, containing the names of the per- 
 sons principally concerned in the late insurrection, 
 such as were present he begged to walk into the 
 next room, where an officer and guard attended to 
 take them into custody; such as were absent he 
 sent for, to the number of thirteen, and confined 
 them in separate apartments, some on board ship, 
 others to guards and common prisons, where they 
 were detained to take their trials for high treason ; 
 their slaves and other effects were seized in the 
 king's name. On the 27th a proclamation was pub- 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 55 
 
 lished, ordering the inhabitants to take the oaths 
 of allegiance; and an amnesty to all concerned in 
 the late revolt, except those already in custody; 
 and another was published prohibiting negroes 
 from monopolizing provisions coming to market, 
 or buying or selling without a written leave from 
 their masters. Shortly after, other orders were 
 given out, by which all the English subjects, prot- 
 estants, and Jews of every nation, were enjoined 
 to depart from the province of Louisiana, and all 
 commerce prohibited, except with Old Spain and 
 her islands, and neither of these having demand 
 for the produce of Louisiana and their returns, if 
 any trade should take place, could not be employed 
 in the commerce of the Missisippi. 
 
 General O'Reily made great professions of 
 friendship to the governor of West Florida, and 
 assured him, upon every occasion, of his wishes to 
 live in harmony with his English neighbours. His 
 words and actions widely differed; he endeavoured 
 to tamper with the Indians settled on our terri- 
 tories, and behaved with great inhospitality to- 
 wards all English subjects who had occasion to go 
 up the river Missisippi, and infringed the articles 
 of peace, by sending a party of soldiers to cut the 
 hawsers of an English vessel, called [21] the Sea 
 Flower, that had made fast to the bank of the river 
 above the town ; the order was obeyed, and the ves- 
 sel narrowly escaped being lost. It is impossible 
 for vessels to navigate upon the Missisippi, unless 
 they are permitted to make fast to the shore, as 
 
56 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 has been explained in the foregoing part of this 
 work; and if EngHsh vessels are prevented, they 
 cannot be said to enjoy the free navigation of the 
 river, conformable to the articles of the last peace. 
 
 In October, great and solemn preparations were 
 made for the trial of the prisoners charged with 
 high treason, who continued to undergo a cruel 
 and rigorous imprisonment until the 31st of this 
 month. When they were brought before the high 
 court of justice, as it was called, (it was more prop- 
 erly a court martial, the general himself presiding, 
 and the other members being mostly Spanish of- 
 ficers) all the prisoners were found guilty of the 
 charge exhibited against them; five were sentenced 
 to be shot, and seven to be confined for ten years 
 to the Moro castle at the Havanna. Those con- 
 demned to death were executed the day following; 
 their names, Mons. Lafriniere, king's attorney; 
 Mons. De Marquis, formerly commandant of the 
 Swiss companies at New Orleans, and knight of 
 the order of St. Louis; Mons. De Noyant, captain 
 of dragoons, son of the late king's lieutenant of 
 Louisiana; Pierre Caresse and Petit, merchants. 
 The names of those banished to the Moro, Mons. 
 De Mazant, formerly captain in the colony troops; 
 Mons. Garic, register of the council ; Messrs. Dous- 
 set, Millet, sen. and jun. and Poupet, merchants. 
 
 Mons. Foucault, the intendant, was sent prisoner 
 to France. Mons. Villeroy,^ one of the persons 
 first arrested, had embarked with his slaves and 
 
 1 Villere. 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 57 
 
 most valuable effects, designing to throw himself 
 under the protection of the English; but being 
 afterwards persuaded of the sincerity of the Span- 
 ish general's promises, he landed with his slaves 
 and effects, and returned to his plantation : he was 
 so enraged at the treachery that had been used 
 [22] towards him, and at the cruel treatment he 
 received when in confinement, that he died raving 
 mad. The fate of Mons. Lafrinier's daughter and 
 only child is particularly lamentable;^ this young 
 lady was married but some months before this 
 dreadful event to Mons. De Noyant, who was hand- 
 some in his person, and amiable in his disposition. 
 
 It is impossible to reflect on this tragedy but with 
 horror and detestation. When fraud or treachery 
 are made use of to destroy an enemy, or punish the 
 guilty, it disgraces a nation and the name of jus- 
 tice. 
 
 It is remarkable, that the king of Spain, in his 
 acceptation of Louisiana, promises the inhabitants 
 their original form of government, and to continue 
 the French counsellors in his council : he also offers 
 to receive all the troops employed by the king of 
 France in that country into his service; but the 
 soldiers finding that they were to receive no more 
 pay than they had formerly been allowed, which is 
 considerably less than the pay of Spanish troops, 
 refused entering into that service to a man. 
 
 I have entered into this long digression concern- 
 
 ^ In that she lost both father and husband at the same time. The 
 name should be Lafreniere. 
 
58 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 ing the government of Louisiana, with a view of 
 giving some idea of its present poHtical state. I 
 shall now return to an account of the settlements. 
 
 There are some plantations on the Bayouk of 
 St. John, and on the road from thence to New Or- 
 leans. The settlements of Gentilly are one mile 
 from the Bayouk of St. John, on the side of a small 
 creek, which also communicates with the lake Pon- 
 chartrain. Cannes, Brule, Chapitoula, and the Ger- 
 man settlements join each other, and are a continu- 
 ation of well cultivated plantations of near forty 
 miles from New Orleans, on each side of the river. 
 At the German settlements,^ on the west side of the 
 river, is a church [23] served by the capuchins; 
 and a small stockaded fort in the center of the set- 
 tlements on the east side of the river; an officer 
 and twelve soldiers are kept there for the police of 
 that quarter. This post was originally erected 
 as an asylum for the inhabitants who first settled 
 there, and were much molested by the Chactaws 
 and Chickashaws, who in alliance carried on a war 
 against the settlers on the Missisippi. Their entry 
 into this part of the colony was very easy, as they 
 went up a small creek, called Tigahoe,^ in canoes. 
 The entrance of this creek, which is in the lake 
 Ponchartrain, is defended by a small redoubt and a 
 Serjeant's guard. 
 
 Having now gone through the richest and most 
 
 ^ The so-called German coast was settled by Germans sent over 
 by John Law for the purpose of occupying his grant upon the Ark- 
 ansas River. 
 
 2 Bayou Tigouiou. 
 
Pittman^s Missisippi Settlements 59 
 
 cultivated plantations on the Missisippi, it is neces- 
 sary to say something of their produce, which form 
 the greatest part of the commerce of Louisiana. 
 The different articles are indigo, cotton, rice, maiz, 
 beans, myrtle wax-candles, and lumber. The in- 
 digo of this country is much esteemed for its beau- 
 tiful colour and good quality; the colour is brighter 
 than that which is fabricated at St. Domingo. The 
 cotton, though of a most perfect white, is of a very 
 short staple, and is therefore not in great request. 
 The maiz, different sorts of beans, rice, and myrtle 
 candles, are articles in constant demand at St. Do- 
 mingo. 
 
 Some of the richest planters, since the year 1762, 
 have begun the cultivation of sugar, and have 
 erected mills for squeezing the canes; the sugar 
 produced in this country is of a very fine quality, 
 and some of the crops have been very large ; but no 
 dependance can be had on this, as some years the 
 winters are too cold, and kill the canes in the 
 ground. 
 
 In the autumn the planters employ their slaves 
 in cutting down and squaring timber, for sawing 
 into boards and scantling; the carriage of this tim- 
 ber is very easy, for those who cut it at the back 
 [24] of their plantations make a ditch, which is 
 supplied with water from the back swamps, and by 
 that means conduct their timber to the river side 
 without labour ; others send their slaves up to the cy- 
 press swamps, of which there are a great many be- 
 twixt New Orleans and Pointe Coupee; there they 
 
6o Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 make rafts of the timber they cut, and float them 
 down to New Orleans. 
 
 Many of the planters have saw-mills, which are 
 worked by the waters of the Missisippi in the time 
 of the floods, and then they are kept going night 
 and day till the waters fall. The quantity of lum- 
 ber sent from the Missisippi to the West India 
 islands is prodigious, and it generally goes to a 
 good market. 
 
 About ten leagues from the fort at the German 
 settlements are the villages of the Houmas and Ali- 
 bamons. The former were once a considerable na- 
 tion of Indians, they are reduced now to about forty 
 warriors: the latter are about twenty families, 
 being part of a nation which lived near fort Tou- 
 louse,^ on the river Alibamons, and followed the 
 French when they quitted that post in the year 
 1762. One league further up is the Fourche de 
 Chetimachas,^ near which is the village of a tribe 
 of Indians of that name; they reckon about sixty 
 warriors. Three leagues above this is the Conces- 
 sion of Mons. Paris, a pleasant situation and good 
 land; large herds of cattle are now kept there, be- 
 longing to the inhabitants of Pointe Coupee. The 
 new settlements of the Accadians are on both sides 
 of the river, and reach from the Germans to within 
 seven or eight miles of the river Ibbeville. These 
 
 ^Fort Toulouse was established by Bienville in 1714 at the point 
 where the Coosa and Tallapoosa unite to form the Alabama. 
 Abandoned by the French in 1762, it was occupied by United States 
 troops and named Fort Jackson, just one hundred years after its 
 original establishment. 
 
 2La Fourche. 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 6i 
 
 are the remainder of the famiHes which were sent 
 by general Lawrence from Nova Scotia to our 
 southern provinces; where, by their industry, they 
 did and might have continued to Hve very happy, 
 but that they could not publickly enjoy the Roman 
 Catholic religion, to which they are greatly big- 
 otted. They took the earliest opportunity, after 
 the peace, of transporting themselves to St. Do- 
 mingo, [25] where the climate disagreed with 
 them so much, that they in a few months lost near 
 half their numbers; the remainder, few only ex- 
 cepted, were, in the latter end of the year 1763, 
 removed to New Orleans, at the expence of the king 
 of France. There are about three hundred families 
 of this unfortunate people settled in different parts 
 of Louisiana. 
 
RIVER IBBEVILLE 
 
 We now come to the river Ibbeville, the south 
 boundary of West Florida, and of the EngHsh pos- 
 sessions on the river Missisippi. The junction of 
 the Ibbeville with the Missisippi is thirty-two 
 leagues from New Orleans, sixty leagues from the 
 Balize, and ninety leagues from Pensacola, by the 
 way of the lakes. The post at the mouth of the 
 river Ibbeville, on the banks of the Missisippi, has 
 ever struck me, from its situation, as of the great- 
 est consequence to the commerce of West Florida; 
 for it may with reason be supposed, that the inhab- 
 itants and traders who reside at Pointe Coupee, at 
 Natchitoches, Attacappa, Arcansas, the Illinois, 
 and the post of St. Vincent's on the Ouabache, 
 would rather trade at this place than at New Or- 
 leans, if they could have as good returns for their 
 peltry and the produce of their country; for it 
 makes a difference of ten days in their voyage, 
 which is no inconsiderable saving of labour, money, 
 and time. The goods these people take in return 
 for their peltry, furs, tobacco, tallow, and bear's 
 oil, are, spirituous liquors, grocery, dry goods of 
 all kinds, and all the articles necessary for their 
 commerce with the savages. The only difficulty 
 that opposes itself to this necessary settlement is 
 the want of a navigation through the river Ibbe- 
 
 62 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 63 
 
 ville; so that vessels might carry on a constant in- 
 tercourse betwixt this place and Pensacola, with- 
 out going up the Missisippi, which is a tedious nav- 
 igation. The better to shew the facility of accom- 
 plishing this, I shall here insert a description of the 
 passage from lake Ponchartrain to the Missisippi, 
 and directions necessary to be observed in that nav- 
 igation. The coast of West Florida, from Pensa- 
 cola to lake Ponchartrain, is so well known that it 
 is not necessary to say any thing on that head. The 
 description of the river Ibbeville, &c. was a report 
 transmitted with plans and draughts, in the year 
 1765, to his excellency general Gage. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF MASSIAC, PART OF THE 
 
 RIVER AMIT, AND THE RIVER 
 
 IBBEVILLE 
 
 Before I begin the description and directions, it 
 is necessary I should mention some errors which 
 have subsisted in all geographical accounts hitherto 
 given of that part of the country, which I have ex- 
 amined; these I will endeavour to explain. The 
 names Massiac, Manchaque, Ascantia, Amit, and 
 Ibbeville, have been so confounded, that it is with 
 difficulty a stranger can know what part of the 
 country to apply one or other of them to ; and these 
 errors still subsist with the French, so that when 
 this passage is talked of even amongst themselves 
 they confound one another, and he who would speak 
 of that part next the Missisippi, is thought by an- 
 other to have said something of the communication 
 betwixt the lakes Ponchartrain and Maurepas. In 
 order to avoid the same mistakes, it is proper these 
 names should be distinctly separated; the way I 
 think they should be understood is this : The pas- 
 sage from lake Ponchartrain to lake Maurepas 
 should be called the Massiac, and the two channels 
 be distinguished, by one being called the S. W. and 
 the other the N. W. The Amit should carry its 
 name as far as its current runs, which is from its 
 source, near Natches, to where it empties itself into 
 
 64 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 65 
 
 lake Maurepas, which is seventy leagues. The Ib- 
 beville I cannot understand to be any thing more 
 [28] than a small creek, which is supplied with 
 water by the Missisippi and Amit.^ From March 
 to September the former generally affords water 
 enough to make a navigation through; the rest of 
 the year its whole supply is from the latter, and 
 that only for six leagues and a half up. By this 
 rule I shall go on with the description and direc- 
 tions, which are as follow. Off the pass at Mas- 
 siac, next to the lake of Ponchartrain, is found 
 three fathoms of water ; and there are not less steer- 
 ing W. for the center of the pass, which when en- 
 tered there is four or five fathoms, keeping mid- 
 channel : this depth of water will be carried all the 
 way to lake Maurepas. Two miles and a half up 
 this channel is the point of an island, which is 
 formed by two channels; the entrance of the great 
 channel, called by the French Grand Massiac, lies 
 N. W. and the little one, which they call Le Petit 
 Massiac, N. W. by N. The great channel is the 
 best, although the depth of water is the same in 
 both; but as the shoals do not run so far off the 
 points, and as the turnings are not so great, nor so 
 many, the distance is consequently less; for these 
 reasons I should recommend the great channel for 
 our constant navigation. However advantageous 
 it may appear at first sight to have a post on the 
 
 ^ These names remain as Pittman applied them, except that the 
 Iberville is now Bayou Manchac. Ascantia was its earlier Indian 
 name. It was partly filled up during the war of 1812. The modern 
 form of the name of the channels connecting Lakes Maurepas and 
 Pontchartrain is Pass Manchac. 
 
66 Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 
 
 east end of the island, it would answer no purpose, 
 as the savages go frequently into lake Maurepas 
 from lake Ponchartrain, by the river Tanchipao;^ 
 which for canoes and small boats is equally as good 
 a navigation, because about three leagues up a 
 branch of the Nitabani^ empties itself into that 
 river, and which is the communication from Tan- 
 chipao to lake Maurepas. The opening of the lake 
 Maurepas is about seven miles from the east point 
 of the island; here it is necessary to keep near the 
 island, as a shoal bank runs off a point that lies 
 south about one mile and a half from the pass. 
 Steering by this direction, there will not be found 
 less than seven feet water on the bar, and never 
 less than eight feet going through the lake. The 
 mouth of the river Amit bears west southerly; by 
 keeping near the north shore we do not lessen the 
 water, but come at once into four fathoms; but go 
 as we please, we cannot find less than five feet. 
 [29] The mouth of this river is remarkable from 
 being embayed, and from a number of trees which 
 stand off the land in the lake and are almost cov- 
 ered with water. The land is overflowed when the 
 waters are high, about one foot and a half, as ap- 
 pears by the marks on the trees, and continues so 
 near a league up the river, where there is a spot of 
 land which appears to be never covered: all such 
 spots I have shown in the annexed draught.^ But 
 this is an observation which may be made of the 
 
 ^ Tangipahoa. 
 
 2 Natalbany. 
 
 3 See this draught at end of volume. 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 67 
 
 country throughout; that the lands grow lower as 
 we advance in the woods, and at three and four 
 hundred yards back from the river we never fail 
 meeting with bogs and swamps. As the land is not 
 much overflowed at the mouth, it would be no dif- 
 ficult matter to make a bank for the security of a 
 small post there; and if it should be ever thought 
 necessary, materials are ready; there being shells, 
 with which lime may be made, and very fine tim- 
 ber, such as cypress and elm. As I have been very 
 careful in making the draught, and marking every 
 little river that empties itself into this, I shall say 
 nothing of them, only that unless this draught is 
 followed, or a pilot taken, mistakes may be made by 
 going up one of them, instead of the river to be 
 pursued. The nearer we approach the junction of 
 the Amit with the Ibbeville the current becomes 
 stronger. When I went up, in the month of March, 
 I found within about three leagues of that place a 
 current running at the rate of three miles an hour, 
 though at the entrance at lake Maurepas it was 
 scarcely perceptible. From the mouth of the Amit 
 to the junction of the Ibbeville several trees are 
 fallen down, which should be removed, otherwise 
 the navigation is continually liable to interruptions 
 by the logs floating down, and being intercepted by 
 them, which in a verv little time would form a bar- 
 ricado quite across, such as' there was when I went 
 up, and which was cleared by ten negroes sent 
 down for that purpose, and my detachment. The 
 depth of water from lake Maurepas to the Ibbeville 
 
68 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 is from four to nine fathoms, and the distance four- 
 teen leagues : here it is necessary to strike the masts 
 when the waters are high, as the branches of the 
 trees hang very low, and [30] intervene so that in 
 some parts they form an arbour over the river. 
 Four leagues further up the lands are lower than 
 in any other part of the country, the marks of the 
 water on the trees being ten feet above the land. 
 At irregular distances, as from one to three hun- 
 dred yards on each side of the river, there are high 
 lands overgrown with canes, and this place is called 
 Tagoulafay; here are a number of small rivulets 
 which run into the river ; one league higher is Ana- 
 tamaha, which, in the Indian language, signifies the 
 fish-place: it is properly called, for they abound 
 here all the year, which accounts for the vast num- 
 ber of crocodiles that are continually on the banks 
 of this river. Sloops and schooners may come as 
 far as this place when the waters are at the lowest, 
 here never being less than twelve feet water; and 
 at this time there is an eddy from the river Amit 
 which sets to the westward. From hence to the 
 Missisippi I think the trees should be cut down 
 forty feet back from the river side, that a road 
 might be made for carriages when the waters are 
 low, at which time the bed of the river is dry from 
 the Missisippi; when the waters are high it will 
 still be necessary for the navigation, as vessels may 
 be tracked up by horses or men to the Missisippi, 
 in the same manner as lighters in England. The 
 river is too deep for setting conveniently with poles. 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 69 
 
 and too narrow for rowing; and the vast strength 
 of the current, at the time of the floods, without 
 there should be room for the oars, would drive the 
 batteaux into the woods, and it would be a difficult 
 matter to find the way back to the river. My bat- 
 teau went about one mile above Anatamaha, but I 
 could not get her any higher, although there was 
 not less than four and five feet water all the way 
 to the Missisippi, which is more than three leagues 
 distance (including the turnings of the river), and 
 when the waters are up there will be from eleven 
 to eighteen feet water. At two leagues to the west- 
 ward of Anatamaha the land is never covered 
 above one foot, which, when secured from the inun- 
 dations of the river by a bank being thrown up, will 
 be as good as any in Louisiana, and will yield every 
 produce natural to the climate. 
 
 [31] More than six miles of the passage of the 
 river Ibbeville is choaked up by wood, which has 
 been drawn in by the eddy from the Missisippi at 
 the annual floods. The river, for six miles below 
 its entrance, is not in general above fifty feet wide ; 
 many large trees had fallen across the river, which 
 stopped the logs that were floating down, and so 
 formed a barricado. In the beginning of the year 
 1764, captain-lieutenant Campbell, late of the thirty- 
 fourth regiment, undertook to clear the river, and 
 make it navigable; and by order of major Farmer 
 (who at that time commanded in West Florida) 
 hired upwards of fifty negroes for that purpose. 
 In the month of October, when the bed of the river 
 
70 Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 
 
 was dry, they cut the trees which had fallen across 
 into short logs, and cleared a path-way on the side 
 of the river about eight miles down, throwing the 
 canes and all the rubbish into it; expecting that 
 when the Missisippi should rise it would carry 
 all before it. In December captain Campbell re- 
 ported that he had made the river perfectly navi- 
 gable. The negroes had unfortunately begun to 
 cut the logs next the Missisippi, and had not cleared 
 the embarrassments that were on the lower parts 
 of the river, which, when the floods came on, inter- 
 cepted such logs as floated down, and made the 
 river in a worse condition than ever. A post was 
 established in the spring following, and a detach- 
 ment of thirty soldiers of the thirty-fourth regi- 
 ment, with officers, and an engineer; they built 
 some huts to lodge themselves, provisions, stores, 
 and Indian presents; and they continued to work 
 at the river, but to as little purpose as the negroes 
 had done before. In July, the thirty-fourth regi- 
 ment being on their way to the Illinois, major 
 Farmer took off the detachment, leaving the en- 
 gineer, and artillery officer, and three or four artifi- 
 cers, (most of whom were in a sickly state) and 
 the stores, to the mercy of the neighbouring Indi- 
 ans ; who, within a few days after the departure of 
 the regiment, pillaged the post, and the poor de- 
 fenceless people were happy to escape with their 
 lives to New Orleans, leaving the artillery and such 
 things as the Indians [32] could not destroy behind 
 them. In the month of December, 1766, governor 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 71 
 
 Johnstone sent a detachment of the Scots fusileers, 
 who were lately arrived in West Florida, to re- 
 possess that post ; they built a small stockaded fort, 
 which continued to be garrisoned by the troops 
 from Pensacola in the year 1768, when I left that 
 place. I have since heard that the garrisons at this 
 post and Natches are withdrawn. 
 
POINTE COUPEE 
 
 The settlements at Pointe Coupee commence 
 about ten leagues from the river Ibbeville; they 
 extend twenty miles on the west side of the Mis- 
 sisippi ; and there are some plantations back on the 
 side of (what is generally called) la fausse riviere, 
 thro' which the Missisippi passed about sixty years 
 ago; making the shape of a crescent, and made a 
 difference to the voyager of near eight leagues. It 
 is said that about that time two Canadians were 
 descending the river, but were stopped at the be- 
 ginning of this crescent by the roughness of the 
 waves, occasioned by the wind blowing very hard 
 against the current. One of these travellers chose 
 to amuse himself with his gun until the wind should 
 abate: and that he might not lose his way in the 
 woods, he determined to follow a little brook, which 
 had been made by the inundations of the river; he 
 had gone but a small distance, when he again found 
 himself by the side of the river, and saw the white 
 cliffs before him; which he knew by the course of 
 the Missisippi to be eight leagues from the place 
 where he left his companion; to whom he imme- 
 diately returned, and acquainted him with this dis- 
 covery. They agreed to endeavour to get their 
 canoe across, as there was about a foot water in 
 the brook, which had a little slope towards the 
 
 72 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 73 
 
 lower part of the river; they got their canoe into 
 the brook, and cut away the roots of trees and 
 bushes that obstructed its passage, and the waters 
 of the Missisippi entering seconded their endeav- 
 ours, so that in a short time they effected their pur- 
 pose. It is reported that in less than six years after 
 the Missisippi passed entirely through this chan- 
 nel, leaving its former bed quite dry, and which is 
 now difficult to trace, being mostly filled up, and 
 overgrown with trees. 
 
 [34] The fort, which is a quadrangle with four 
 bastions, is built with stockades, and contains 
 a very handsome house for the commanding officer, 
 good barracks for the soldiers, store-houses, and a 
 prison. The commanding officer is chosen from 
 one of the eldest captains of the colony ; the author- 
 ity of the governor is delegated to him, and the 
 storekeeper is the representative of the intendant. 
 There are seldom more than twelve soldiers at this 
 place, who are for no other purpose than to pre- 
 serve good order. The fort is situated on the side 
 of the Missisippi, about six miles above the lowest 
 plantation. The church is very near the fort, and 
 is served by a capuchin; there are three companies 
 of militia in this canton, chosen from the white in- 
 habitants, who amount to about two thousand of 
 all ages and sexes, and about seven thousand 
 slaves. They cultivate tobacco and indigo, raise 
 vast quantities of poultry, which they send to the 
 market of New Orleans, and furnish to the ship- 
 ping; they square a great deal of timber and make 
 
74 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 staves, which they send down in rafts to New Or- 
 leans. The inhabitants cultivated maize and other 
 provisions on the east side of the river; but after 
 the peace, when that side of the Missisippi was 
 ceded to the English, such as had houses there, who 
 were but few, removed to the west side, which re- 
 mained to the French. 
 
TONICAS 
 
 On the east side of the river, and about two miles 
 above the last plantation of Pointe Coupee, is the 
 village of the Tonicas, formerly a numerous nation 
 of Indians; but their constant intercourse with the 
 French, and immoderate use of spirituous liquors, 
 has reduced them to about thirty warriors. They 
 attacked the 226. regiment, commanded by major 
 Loftus, when on their way to take possession of the 
 Illinois, on the 20th of March, 1764, at the Roche 
 de Davion ;^ they killed five men and wounded four, 
 that were in two canoes which went a-head of the 
 convoy : although they fired on the other boats they 
 did no other damage, but prevented the regiment 
 proceeding on its enterprize. The soldiers did not 
 land, as their enemies were concealed in the wood, 
 and their numbers unknown; they occupied both 
 sides of the river, and the current in the middle of 
 the stream run at the rate of five miles an hour: 
 we have been very credibly informed that some of 
 the French of Pointe Coupee, and their slaves, as- 
 sisted the Tonicas in this attack. 
 
 ^ Davion's Rock is just below the present site of Fort Adams 
 Landing. The mission of Father Antoine Davion, abandoned in 
 1708, was at this point. The modern village of Fort Adams is about 
 a mile from the river. 
 
 75 
 
PELOUSAS 
 
 The small river of Pelousas^ is ten leagues above 
 the settlements of Pointe Coupee, and one league 
 below the mouth of the river Rouge ; it receives its 
 name from the natives, and its waters from a lake 
 which lies about forty leagues S. W. of the place 
 where it empties itself into the Missisippi. Twenty- 
 five leagues up this river is a settlement, known by 
 the name of Pelousas and Attacappa; it is formed 
 by about sixty families of Accadians, discharged 
 soldiers, and inhabitants from fort Toulouse, on 
 the river Alibamons, who have a few slaves. They 
 raise tobacco, maize, and wheat; the latter only for 
 their own consumption. They have large herds of 
 cattle, and follow the Indian commerce. They have 
 a small church, and a capuchin missionary resides 
 with them. This settlement was made under the 
 direction of Mons. D'Abbadie, in the year 1763, 
 and was governed by a French officer, named Pel- 
 rin, till the year 1767, when the inhabitants, who 
 had been oppressed by the tyranny, which has been 
 always exerted by officers of that nation command- 
 ing out-posts, complained to Don Antonio D'Ulloa, 
 
 ^The Opelousas or Apelousas is now the Atchafalaya River. As 
 a result of a change in the course of the Mississippi, the At- 
 chafalaya no longer joins the main channel of the Mississippi. 
 The name Opelousas is now applied to a tributary of the At- 
 chafalaya. For a description of the Opelousas and Attacapa Indians 
 see Sibley's " Historical Sketches " in State Papers, Indian Affairs, 
 vol. i, p. 721. 
 
 76 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements J J 
 
 and Mons. Aubry accusing him also of sacrilege, 
 he having forcibly taken possession of the plate 
 destined to the use of the altar, and used it at his 
 own table, under pretence of keeping it in security. 
 This worked his ruin more effectually than his ill 
 treatment of the inhabitants, and he was threat- 
 ened with excommunication; however he was pun- 
 ished by undergoing severe penances enjoined by 
 the priests, and rendered incapable, by the sentence 
 of a court-martial of French officers, of any em- 
 ployment military or civil. The government of this 
 settlement was afterwards vested in a magistrate 
 to be chosen annually by the inhabitants from 
 amongst themselves. One company of militia was 
 also raised for the defence of the establishment, 
 and the officers receive pay from the Spanish gov- 
 ernment. 
 
NATCHES 
 
 Thirty-four leagues from the river Rouge is the 
 Natches, which, from its situation and soil, is the 
 finest and most fertile part of West Florida. The 
 fort is about six hundred and seventy yards from 
 the river's side. The road to it is very bad, on ac- 
 count of a steep high ground which is at a small 
 distance from the landing-place, very difficult to 
 ascend, and almost impracticable for carriages; a 
 small distance from this high land is a hill, on the 
 summit of which stands the fort, and the road be- 
 comes much better, ascending with a gradual slope. 
 The trouble of going up is recompensed by the 
 sight of a most delightful country of great extent, 
 the prospect of which is beautifully varied by a 
 number of little hills and fine meadows, separated 
 by small copses, the trees of which are mostly wal- 
 nut and oak. The country is well watered, hops 
 grow wild, and all kinds of European fruits come to 
 great perfection. The fences of many of the gar- 
 dens made by the French still remain, and several 
 fruit-trees, mostly figs, peaches, and wild cherries. 
 The French always esteemed the tobacco produced 
 here, as preferable to any cultivated in other parts 
 of America. This country was once famous for its 
 inhabitants, who from their great numbers, and 
 the state of society they lived in, were considered 
 
 78 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 79 
 
 as the most civilized Indians on the continent of 
 America. They Hved some years in great friend- 
 ship with the French, whom they permitted to 
 settle on their lands, and to whom they rendered 
 every service in their power. Their hospitality was 
 repaid with ingratitude. The French debauched, 
 and sometimes ravished the women, and tyrannized 
 over the men; every day brought them some new 
 disgrace. They determined to get rid of their op- 
 pressors, and on the eve of St. Andrew, 1729, they 
 surprised the fort, and put the whole garrison to 
 death; at the same time they made [38] a massacre 
 of the inhabitants, in which upwards of five hun- 
 dred were killed, some of the women and children 
 they made prisoners; very few of either sex es- 
 caped. The whole colony armed to revenge their 
 slaughtered countrymen, and they had several 
 skirmishes with the Natches, in which the success 
 was various. In 1730 Mons. De Perrier de Sal- 
 vert, brother to the governor, arrived from France, 
 with the rank of lieutenant-general in Louisiana, 
 and five hundred regular troops, who joined the 
 troops and militia of the colony. This army, amount- 
 ing to fifteen hundred men, went, under the com- 
 mand of the two brothers, to attack the nation of 
 Natches; who, with their chiefs, determined to de- 
 fend themselves in the fort^ they had built near a 
 
 ^ This location corresponds with the identification of the place 
 given in Claiborne's Mississippi. The fort was in Catahoula Parish, 
 Louisiana, at the south end of a small lake which forms part of 
 the eastern boundary of Sicily Island. On the fate of the Natchez, 
 see James Mooney's article in the American Anthropologist, new 
 series, vol. i, p. 510. 
 
8o Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 lake which communicates with the Bayouk Dar- 
 gent, lying west of the Natches, and north of the 
 river Rouge. They invested this fort, and the In- 
 dians made a very resolute and vigorous sally on 
 them, but were repulsed, after a considerable loss 
 on both sides. The French, having brought two or 
 three mortars, threw some shells into the fort; 
 which making a havock amongst their women and 
 children, so terrified the Indians, unused to this 
 sort of war, that they surrendered at discretion, 
 and were conducted to New Orleans, except a few 
 who had escaped to the Chickashaws, with their 
 hunters, who were providing provisions for their 
 garrison. Some of the unfortunate prisoners were 
 burnt at New Orleans, and the rest were sent as 
 slaves to the West India islands; some of whom, 
 shewing their resentment by upbraiding the au- 
 thors of their misery, were thrown into the sea. 
 Nothing now remains of this nation but their name, 
 by which their country continues to be called. 
 
 When I made the survey of fort Rosalia, which 
 was in the month of August, I observed that the 
 Missisippi had fallen thirty-six feet. The breadth 
 of the river at this place is exactly eighteen hun- 
 dred and seventy feet, and the fort stands one hun- 
 dred and eighty feet above the surface of the water. 
 It is an irregular pentagon, without bastions, and 
 is built of plank of five inches thick; the buildings 
 within the fort are a store-house, a house for the 
 officers, a barrack [39] for the soldiers, and a 
 guard-house. These buildings are made of framed 
 
Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 8 1 
 
 timber, filled up with mud and barbe Espagnole, (a 
 kind of moss, which grows in great abundance on 
 all the trees in Louisiana) and in this country that 
 manner of building houses is very common. The 
 barbe Espagnole (which much resembles a black 
 curly beard) is also made use of for stuffing mat- 
 tresses. 
 
 The ditch is partly made and partly natural; the 
 bottom is in most places nineteen feet from the top 
 of the rampart, and in many twelve and thirteen 
 from the top of the counterscarp ; on the north side 
 of the fort there is no ditch at all, but it is fenced 
 with pickets, to prevent an enemy getting under 
 the cover of the counterscarp or into the ditch. The 
 rampart is nearly the same height above the pick- 
 ets as it is in other parts above the bottom of the 
 ditch. The fort^ received the name of Rosalia in 
 honour to Mad. la duchesse de Ponchartrain, whose 
 husband was minister of France when it was built. 
 
 ^It is said that traces of the fort were still to be seen in the 
 city of Natchez in 1893. Wallace, Illinois and Louisiana, p. 289. 
 
POST OF ARCANSAS 
 
 The fort is situated three leagues up the river 
 Arcansas, and is built with stockades, in a quad- 
 rangular form; the sides of the exterior polygon 
 are about one hundred and eighty feet, and one 
 three pounder is mounted in the flanks and faces 
 of each bastion. The buildings within the fort are, 
 a barrack with three rooms for the soldiers, com- 
 manding officer's house, a powder magazine, and 
 a magazine for provision, and an apartment for 
 the commissary, all which are in a ruinous condi- 
 tion. The fort stands about two hundred yards 
 from the water-side, and is garrisoned by a cap- 
 tain, a lieutenant, and thirty French soldiers, in- 
 cluding Serjeants and corporals. There are eight 
 houses without the fort, occupied by as many fam- 
 ilies, who have cleared the land about nine hundred 
 yards in depth; but on account of the sandiness of 
 the soil, and the lowness of the situation, which 
 makes it subject to be overflowed, they do not raise 
 their necessary provisions. These people subsist 
 mostly by hunting, and every season send to New 
 Orleans great quantities of bear's oil, tallow, salted 
 buffaloe meat, and a few skins. The Arcansas or 
 Quapas Indians live three leagues above the fort, 
 on the side of the river ; they are divided into three 
 villages, over each of which presides a chief, and a 
 
 82 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 83 
 
 great chief over all ; they amount in all to about six 
 hundred warriors; they are reckoned amongst the 
 bravest of the southern Indians; they hunt little 
 more than for their common subsistence, and are 
 generally at war with the nations to the westward 
 of them, as far as the river Bravo, and they bring 
 in very frequently young prisoners and horses from 
 the Cadodaquias, Paneise, Podoquias,^ &c. of which 
 they dispose to the best advantage. 
 
 The river Arcansas is generally esteemed to be 
 in the most moderate climate of any part of Louis- 
 iana, and the lands six leagues [41] up the river 
 are reckoned as fertile. It was here that the fa- 
 mous Mr. Laws had his Concession, which was a 
 tract of four leagues square; when he failed, the 
 Germans, whom he settled in this country, left it, 
 being too remote. They, on their petition, had 
 lands granted them ten leagues above New Or- 
 leans, and which their posterity at present possess. 
 
 There are no more settlements or posts near the 
 banks of the Missisippi, until we come to Cascas- 
 quias, which is three hundred and seventy leagues 
 from the sea, but generally called four hundred; it 
 lies in the latitude 37° 43' north, and is the first 
 village in the country of the Illinois. 
 
 ^ Caddoes, Pawnees, and Padoucas. 
 
CASCASQUIAS 
 
 The village of Notre Dame de Cascasquias is by 
 far the most considerable settlement in the country 
 of the Illinois, as well from its number of inhab- 
 itants, as from its advantageous situation ; it stands 
 on the side of a small river, which is about eighty 
 yards across; its source lies north-east, about sixty 
 leagues from the village, and fifteen leagues east of 
 the remarkable rock of Peorya,^ and it empties it- 
 self with a gentle current into the Missisippi, near 
 two leagues below the village.^ This river is a 
 secure port for large batteaux, which can lie so 
 close to its bank as to load and unload without the 
 least trouble; and at all seasons of the year there is 
 water enough for them to come up. It must be ob- 
 served here, that it is extremely dangerous for bat- 
 teaux or boats to remain in the Missisippi, on ac- 
 count of the bank falling in, and the vast number 
 of logs and trees which are sent down, with a vio- 
 lent force, by the rapidity of the current, as also on 
 account of the heavy gales of wind to which this 
 
 ^Note by Pittman: There is in a sort of nich in this rock a figure 
 that bears some resemblance to a man ; the Indians who pass by pay 
 their adorations to it, imagining it something supernatural, and that 
 it has an influence over their fortunes. 
 
 2 Kaskaskia was the capital of Illinois until the admission of the 
 state in 1819. After that it gradually declined in importance. In 
 1881 the Mississippi cut a channel through to the Kaskaskia River, 
 leaving the larger part of the village upon an island. In the spring 
 of 1899 the last of the island was swept away by the river. The 
 number of inhabitants remaining in 1900 was 177. 
 
 84 
 
Pittman^s Missisippi Settlements 85 
 
 climate is subject. Another great advantage that 
 Cascasquias receives from its river is the faciUty 
 with which mills for corn and planks may be 
 erected on it: Mons. Paget was the first who in- 
 troduced water-mills in this country, and he con- 
 structed a very fine one on the river Cascasquias, 
 which was both for grinding corn and sawing 
 boards ; it lies about one mile from the village. The 
 mill proved fatal to him, being killed as he was 
 working in it, with two negroes, by a party of the 
 Cherokees, in the year 1764. The principal build- 
 ings are, the church and Jesuits house, which has a 
 small chapel adjoining to it; these, as well as some 
 other houses in the village, are built [43] of stone, 
 and, considering this part of the world, make a very 
 good appearance. The Jesuits plantation consisted 
 of two hundred and forty arpens of cultivated land, 
 a very good stock of cattle, and a brewery; which 
 was sold by the French commandant, after the 
 country was ceded to the English, for the crown, 
 in consequence of the suppression of the order. 
 Mons. Beauvais was the purchaser, who is the rich- 
 est of the English subjects in this country; he 
 keeps eighty slaves; he furnished eighty-six thou- 
 sand weight of flour to the king's magazine, which 
 was only a part of the harvest he reaped in one 
 year. Sixty-five families reside in this village, be- 
 sides merchants, other casual people, and slaves. 
 The fort, which was burnt down in October, 1766, 
 stood on the summit of a high rock opposite the 
 village, and on the other side of the river; it was 
 
86 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 an oblongular quadrangle, of which the exterior 
 polygon measured two hundred and ninety by two 
 hundred and fifty-one feet; it was built of very 
 thick squared timber, and dove-tailed at the angles.^ 
 An officer and twenty soldiers are quartered in the 
 village. The officer governs the inhabitants, under 
 the direction of the commandant at fort Chartres. 
 Here are also two companies of militia. 
 
 ^This was Fort Gage. The "fort" captured by George Rogers 
 Clark was undoubtedly the Jesuit house, described by Pittman. 
 See Poole in Winsor's America, vi. pp. 719-22 note, and Beckwith 
 in the Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library, vol. i. 
 
LA PRAIRE DE ROCHES 
 
 La Prairie de Roches^ is about seventeen miles 
 from Cascasquias ; it is a small village, consisting of 
 twelve dwelling-houses, all which are inhabited by 
 as many families; here is a little chapel, formerly 
 a chapel of ease to the church at Fort de Chartres. 
 The inhabitants here are very industrious, and 
 raise a great deal of corn and every kind of stock. 
 This village is two miles from Fort Chartres; it 
 takes its name from its situation, being built under 
 a rock that runs parallel with the river Missisippi 
 at a league distance, for forty leagues up. Here is 
 a company of militia, the captain of which reg- 
 ulates the police of the village. 
 
 ^The population of the village of Prairie du Rocher as returned 
 by the census of 1900 was 347. The relative location of the French 
 villages is best shown in Hutchins's map, first printed in his 
 Topographical Description of Virginia (London, 1778), and fre- 
 quently reprinted. 
 
 87 
 
FORT CHARTRES 
 
 Fort Chartres when it belonged to France was 
 the seat of government of the IlHnois; the head 
 quarters of the Enghsh commanding officer is now 
 here, who is, in fact, the arbitrary governor of 
 this country. The fort is an irregular quadrangle, 
 the sides of the exterior polygon are four hundred 
 and ninety feet; it is built of stone and plastered 
 over, and is only designed as a defence against the 
 Indians, the walls being two feet two inches thick, 
 and pierced with loop-holes at regular distances, 
 and with two port-holes for cannon in the faces, 
 and two in the flanks of each bastion ; the ditch has 
 never been finished; the entrance to the fort is 
 through a very handsome rustic gate: within the 
 wall is a small banquette, raised three feet, for the 
 men to stand on when they fire through the loop- 
 holes. The buildings within the fort are, the com- 
 mandant's and commissary's houses, the magazine 
 of stores, corps de garde, and two barracks; these 
 occupy the square. Within the gorges of the bas- 
 tions are, a powder magazine, a bakehouse, a prison, 
 in the lower floor of which are four dungeons, 
 and in the upper two rooms, and an out-house be- 
 longing to the commandant. The commandant's 
 house is thirty-two yards long, and ten broad; it 
 contains a kitchen, a dining-room, a bed-chamber, 
 
 88 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 89 
 
 one small room, five closets for servants, and a 
 cellar. The commissary's house (now occupied by- 
 officers) is built in the same line as this, its propor- 
 tions and distribution of apartments are the same. 
 Opposite these are the store-house and guard-house, 
 they are each thirty yards long and eight broad; 
 the former consists of two large store-rooms (under 
 which is a large vaulted cellar) and a large room, 
 a bed-chamber, and a closet for the store-keeper; 
 the latter, of a soldier's and officer's guard-rooms, 
 a chapel, a bed-chamber and closet for the chaplain, 
 and an artillery store-room. The lines of [46] 
 barracks have never been finished; they at present 
 consist of two rooms each, for officers, and three 
 rooms for soldiers; they are good spacious rooms 
 of twenty-two feet square, and have betwixt them 
 a small passage. There are fine spacious lofts over 
 each building which reach from end to end; these 
 are made use of to lodge regimental stores, work- 
 ing and intrenching tools, &c. It is generally al- 
 lowed that this is the most commodious and best 
 built fort in North America. The bank of the 
 Missisippi, next the fort, is continually falling in, 
 being worn away by the current, which has been 
 turned from its course by a sand-bank, now en- 
 creased to a considerable island covered with wil- 
 lows: many experiments have been tried to stop 
 this growing evil, but to no purpose. When the 
 fort was began in the year 1756, it was a good half 
 mile from the water-side; in the year 1766 it was 
 but eighty paces; eight years ago the river was 
 
90 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 fordable to the island, the channel is now forty feet 
 deep/ In the year 1764 there were about forty 
 families in the village near the fort, and a parish 
 church, served by a Franciscan friar, dedicated to 
 St. Anne. In the following year, when the English 
 took possession of the country, they abandoned their 
 houses, except three or four poor families, and set- 
 tled at the villages on the west side of the Missisippi, 
 chusing to continue under the French government. 
 
 ^ In 1772 a part of the wall of Fort Chartres was undermined 
 by the Mississippi and the fort was abandoned by the British. 
 After that the river shifted to the west, so that the ruins are now 
 a mile from the bank of the stream. The powder magazine and one 
 angle of the outer wall still remain. See Wallace in the Transac- 
 tions of the Illinois Historical Society for 1903. The story of the 
 fort is best told by E. C. Mason in a paper published in 1881 in 
 the Fergus Historical Series and reprinted since his death in 
 Chapters from Illinois History (Chicago, 1901). 
 
SAINT PHILIPPE 
 
 Saint Philippe is a small village about five miles 
 from Fort Chartres, in the road to Kaoquias ; there 
 are about sixteen houses and a small church stand- 
 ing; all the inhabitants, except the captain of mil- 
 itia, deserted it in 1765,^ and went to the French 
 side : the captain of militia has about twenty slaves, 
 a good stock of cattle, and a water-mill for corn and 
 planks. This village stands in a very fine meadow, 
 about one mile from the Missisippi. 
 
 ^Hutchins, who was at St. Philip a little later than Pittman, says 
 that two or three families remained. The village soon afterward 
 disappeared altogether. 
 
 91 
 
KAOQUIAS 
 
 The village of Sainte Famille de Kaoquias^ is 
 generally reckoned fifteen leagues from Fort 
 Chartres, and six leagues below the mouth of the 
 river Missoury; it stands near the side of the Mis- 
 sisippi, and is masked from the river by an island 
 of two leagues long; the village is opposite the 
 center of this island ; it is long and straggling, being 
 three quarters of a mile from one end to the other ; 
 it contains forty-five dwelling-houses, and a church 
 near its center. The situation is not well chosen, 
 as in the floods it is generally overflowed two or 
 three feet. This was the first settlement on the 
 river Missisippi. The land was purchased of the 
 savages by a few Canadians, some of whom married 
 women of the Kaoquias nation, and others brought 
 wives from Canada, and then resided there, leaving 
 their children to succeed them. The inhabitants 
 of this place depend more on hunting, and their 
 Indian trade, than on agriculture, as they scarcely 
 raise corn enough for their own consumption : they 
 have a great deal of poultry and good stocks of 
 horned cattle. The mission of St. Sulpice had a 
 very fine plantation here, and an excellent house 
 built on it; they sold this estate, and a very good 
 
 ^ Cahokia is practically extinct although the map of St. Louis 
 issued by the United States Geological Survey at the Louisiana 
 Purchase Exposition represents its streets and houses. It no 
 longer has a village government or a postofifice. 
 
 92 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 93 
 
 mill for corn and planks, to a Frenchman who chose 
 to remain under the English government. They 
 also disposed of thirty negroes and a good stock of 
 cattle to different people in the country, and re- 
 turned to France in the year 1764. What is called 
 the fort is a small house standing in the center of the 
 village; it differs in nothing from the other houses 
 except in being one of the poorest ; it was formerly 
 enclosed with high pallisades, but these were torn 
 down and burnt. Indeed a fort at this place could 
 be of but little use. 
 
SAINT LOUIS, OR PAINCOURT^ 
 
 This village is one league and a half above Kao- 
 quias, on the west side of the Missisippi, being 
 the present head quarters of the French in these 
 parts. It was first established in the year 1764, by 
 a company of merchants, to whom Mons. D'Abbadie 
 had given an exclusive grant for the commerce with 
 the Indian nations on the river Missoury; and for 
 the security and encouragement of this settlement, 
 the staff of French officers and the commissary were 
 ordered to remove there, upon the rendering Fort 
 Chartres to the English ; and great encouragement 
 was given to the inhabitants to remove with them, 
 most of whom did. The company has built a large 
 house, and stores here, and there are about forty 
 private houses and as many families. No fort or 
 barracks are yet built. The French garrison con- 
 sists of a captain-commandant, two lieutenants, 
 a fort-major, one serjeant, one corporal, and twenty 
 men. 
 
 ^ St. Louis was named from Louis IX. For an interesting ex- 
 planation of the origin of the name Paincourt, see Fortier's History 
 of Louisiana, ii, p. 341. Switzler's History of Missouri, p. 142, gives 
 a different explanation. 
 
 94 
 
SAINTE GENEVIEUVE, OR MISERE 
 
 The first settlers of this village removed about 
 twenty-eight years ago from Cascasquias: the 
 goodness of the soil and the plentiful harvests they 
 reaped made them perfectly satisfied with the place 
 they had chosen. The situation of the village is 
 very convenient, being within one league of the 
 salt spring, which is for the general use of the 
 French subjects, and several persons belonging to 
 this village have works here, and make great quan- 
 tities of salt for the supply of the Indians, hunters, 
 and the other settlements. A lead mine, which 
 supplies the whole country with shot, is about fif- 
 teen leagues distance. The communication of this 
 village with Cascasquias is very short and easy, it 
 being only to cross the Missisippi, which is about 
 three quarters of a mile broad at this place, and 
 then there is a portage, two miles distance, to Cas- 
 casquias. This cuts off eighteen miles by water, 
 six down the river Cascasquias and twelve up the 
 Missisippi. The village of St. Louis is supplied 
 with flour and other provisions from hence. An 
 officer appointed by the French commandant has 
 the entire regulation of the police. Here is a com- 
 pany of militia, commanded by a Mons. Valet, who 
 resides at this place, and is the richest inhabitant 
 of the country of the Illinois ; he raises great quanti- 
 
 95 
 
96 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 ties of corn and provisions of every kind ; he has one 
 hundred negroes, besides hired white people, con- 
 stantly employed. The village is about one mile 
 in length and contains about seventy families.^ 
 Here is a very fine water-mill, for corn and planks, 
 belonging to Mons. Valet. 
 
 1 Ste. Genevieve was swept away by the flood of 1785. The mod- 
 em village was then built on the bluff about three miles northwest 
 of the original site. The population in 1900 was 1707. 
 
OF THE COUNTRY OF THE ILLINOIS 
 
 The country of the Illinois is bounded by the 
 Missisippi on the west, by the river Illinois on the 
 north, by the rivers Ouabache and Miamis on the 
 east, and the Ohio on the south. 
 
 The air in general is pure, and the sky serene, 
 except in the month of March and the latter end 
 of September, when there are heavy rains and hard 
 gales of wind. The months of May, June, July, 
 and August, are excessive hot, and subject to sud- 
 den and violent storms; January and February are 
 extremely cold; the other months of the year are 
 moderate. The principal Indian nations in this 
 country are, the Cascasquias, Kaoquias, Mitchi- 
 gamias, and Peoryas; these four tribes are gener- 
 ally called the Illinois Indians : except in the hunt- 
 ing seasons, they reside near the English settlements 
 in this country, where they have built their huts. 
 They are a poor, debauched, and dastardly people. 
 They count about three hundred and fifty warriors. 
 The Peanquichas, Mascoutins, Miamis, Kickapous, 
 and Pyatonons,^ though not very numerous, are a 
 brave and warlike people. The soil of this country 
 in general is very rich and luxuriant; it produces 
 all sorts of European grains, hops, hemp, flax, cot- 
 ton, and tobacco, and European fruits come to great 
 
 ^ Ouiatanons or Weas. 
 
 97 
 
 7 
 
98 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 perfection. The inhabitants make wine of the wild 
 grapes, which is very inebriating, and is, in colour 
 and taste, very like the red wine of Provence. 
 The country abounds with buffalo, deer, and wild- 
 fowl, particularly ducks, geese, swans, turkies, and 
 pheasants. The rivers and lakes afford plenty of 
 fish. 
 
 [52] In the late wars, New Orleans and the 
 lower parts of Louisiana were supplied with flour, 
 beer, wines, hams, and other provisions from this 
 country: at present its commerce is mostly con- 
 fined to the peltry and furs, which are got in 
 traffic from the Indians; for which are received 
 in return such European commodities as are nec- 
 essary to carry on that commerce and the support 
 of the inhabitants. 
 
OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTRY 
 
 OF ILLINOIS, WHEN BELONGING 
 
 TO THE FRENCH 
 
 This country, when in possession of the French, 
 was governed by a military officer, called the major- 
 commandant, who was appointed by the governor 
 of New Orleans; he was always a man connected 
 with the governor by interest or relationship; he 
 was absolute in his authority, except in matters of 
 life and death; capital offences were tried by the 
 council at New Orleans: the whole Indian trade 
 was so much in the power of the commandant, that 
 nobody was permitted to be concerned in it, but 
 on condition of giving him part of the profits. 
 Whenever he made presents to the Indians, in the 
 name of his king, he received peltry and furs in 
 return; as the presents he gave were to be con- 
 sidered as marks of his favour and love for them, 
 so the returns they made were to be regarded as 
 proofs of their attachment to him. Speeches 
 accompanied by presents were called paroles de 
 valeur] any Indians who came to a French post 
 were subsisted at the expence of the king during 
 their stay, and the swelling this account was no 
 inconsiderable emolument. 
 
 As every business the commandant had with the 
 Indians was attended with certain profit, it is not 
 
 99 
 
lOO Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 surprising that he spared no pains to gain their 
 affections; and he made it equally the interest of 
 the officers under him to please them, by permitting 
 them to [54] trade, and making them his agents 
 in the Indian countries. If any person brought 
 goods within the limits of his jurisdiction, without 
 his particular licence, he would oblige them to sell 
 their merchandise, at a very moderate profit, to 
 the commissary, on the king's account, calling it 
 an emergency of government, and employ the same 
 goods in his own private commerce: it may easily 
 be supposed, from what has been before said, that 
 a complaint to the governor of New Orleans would 
 meet with very little redress. It may be asked, if 
 the inhabitants were not offended at this monopoly 
 of trade and arbitrary proceedings? The com- 
 mandant could bestow many favours on them, such 
 as giving contracts for furnishing provisions, or 
 performing publick works; by employing them in 
 his trade, or by making their children cadets, who 
 were allowed pay and provisions, and could when 
 they were grown up recommend them for com- 
 missions. They were happy if by the most servile 
 and submissive behaviour they could gain his con- 
 fidence and favour. Every person capable of bear- 
 ing arms was enrolled in the militia, and a captain 
 of militia and officers were appointed to each 
 parish ; the captain of militia regulated corvees and 
 other personal service. From this military form 
 of government the authority of the commandant 
 was almost universal. The commissary was a mere 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements loi 
 
 cypher, and rather kept for form than for any 
 real use ; he was always a person of low dependence, 
 and never dared counteract the will of the com- 
 mandant. 
 
OF THE INHABITANTS 
 
 The first white inhabitants of the Illinois came 
 from Canada; some brought wives and families 
 with them, others married Indian women in those 
 countries; there is still a continual intercourse be- 
 tween them and the Canadians. The men of these 
 countries are very superstitious and ignorant ; they 
 are in general active and well made; they are as 
 good hunters, can bear as much fatigue, and are 
 as well acquainted with the woods, as the Indians; 
 most of them have some knowledge of the dialects 
 of the neighbouring Indians and much affect their 
 manners. The price of labour in general is very 
 high, as most of the young men rather chuse to 
 hunt and trade amongst the Indians, than apply 
 to agriculture or become handicrafts. At the 
 Illinois a man may be boarded and lodged the year 
 round on condition of his working two months, 
 one month in ploughing the land and sowing the 
 corn, and one month in the harvest. The only 
 trades they have amongst them are carpenters, 
 smiths, masons, taylors, and mill-wrights. The 
 number of white inhabitants in this country, ex- 
 clusive of the troops, are about two thousand, of 
 all ages and sexes; in this number are included 
 those who live at Fort St. Vincent's,^ on the 
 
 1 Poste Vincennes or Poste du Ouabache, not St. Vincents, as it 
 was often called by the English. It was named from its founder^ 
 Franqois Morgan, sieur de Vincennes. 
 
 1 02 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 103 
 
 Ouabache. Thirty French soldiers were withdrawn 
 from thence in the latter end of the year 1 764. The 
 inhabitants at this post live much at their ease, 
 having every thing necessary for their subsistence 
 of their own production. Their commerce is the 
 same as that of the other inhabitants of this 
 country. 
 
L'ARRET DE LA COUR SUPERIEURE DE 
 LA PROVINCE 
 
 Mentione a la page i6. 
 
 Louis, par la grace de Dieu, roi de France & de 
 Navarre, a tous ceux qui ces presentes verront, 
 salut: Savoir faisons, que vu par le conseil supe- 
 rieur de la province de Louisianne, les tres-humbles 
 representations faites cejourd'hui a la cour, par 
 tous les habitans, negocians, artizans, & autres peu- 
 ples, icelles expositives, que le soulagement d'un peu- 
 ple dont le conseil est le pere, le maintien des loix 
 dont il est le depositaire & I'interprette, les progres 
 de I'agriculture & du commerce dont il est le pro- 
 tecteur, sont les motifs des representations des dits 
 habitans .& negocians, &c. Quels objets pour le 
 conseil! Pourroit-il, apres les avoir envisagez en 
 regarder d'autres, qu'autant qu'ils concourent a fa- 
 voriser ceux-la ? Qu'il suspende pour quelques mo- 
 mens ses penibles travaux, pour se livrer aux sujets 
 qui sont representes aujourd'hui, comme les plus 
 dignes de son attention & de son ministere: & toi 
 dont le prosperite fait I'objet de nos plus ardens de- 
 sirs, toi qui es pour nous ce que Sparthe, Athenes, 
 & Rome etoient pour leurs zeles citoyens; O chere 
 
 104 
 
ARRET OF THE SUPERIOR COUNCIL OF 
 THE PROVINCE 
 
 Referred to in page i6 [see p. 50]. 
 
 Louis, by the grace of God, king of France and 
 of Navarre, to all those who shall see these presents, 
 greeting: We make it known that the superior 
 council of the province of Louisiana, having taken 
 into consideration the humble representations made 
 this day to that court by all the inhabitants, mer- 
 chants, artisans, and others; and these laying be- 
 fore it, that the relief of a people, to whom the 
 council is a father ; the support of the laws, of which 
 it is the depository and interpreter; and the im- 
 provement of agriculture and commerce, of which 
 it is the patron, are the motives of the representa- 
 tions of said inhabitants and merchants, &c. What 
 important objects are these for the council ! Can it, 
 after having duly considered them, give attention 
 to any other, farther than as they contribute to 
 favour these? Let it for a few moments suspend 
 its labours to attach itself to those subjects, which 
 are now represented as most worthy of its attention 
 and its ministry: and you, whose prosperity is the 
 object of our most ardent wishes; you who are to 
 us what Sparta, Athens, and Rome were to their 
 zealous citizens, O dear country! suffer us to pay 
 
 105 
 
io6 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 patrie ! Permets nous d'acquittter tine dette legitime 
 en te consacrant ce foible tribut de notre amour; 
 nos coeurs vont le dieter, une main docile va se pre- 
 ter a leurs inspirations. 
 
 Sept millions de papiers royaux formoient tout 
 le numeraire de cette colonie & la fortune des citoy- 
 ens; la privation totale de ce capital, dont S. M. 
 suspendit le payement par un arret du mois [58] 
 d'Octobre 1759, a mis la province de la Louisiane 
 dans la plus deplorable situation. On n'entre- 
 prendra pas de faire un detail des calamites, des 
 renversemens des fortunes, de la ruine des families 
 qui ont ete les suites funestes de cette catastrophe; 
 la cour en a sous les yeux un tableau plus frappant 
 qu'on ne sgauroit le peindre, toutes les fois qu'elle 
 s'assemble pour etre les arbitres des malheureuses 
 victimes de cet evenement. Revenus de I'abatte- 
 ment dans lequel ils avoient ete plonges, les citoy- 
 ens de la Louisiane commencoient enfin a respirer; 
 ils avoient envisage la fin de la guerre comme la 
 fin de leurs malheurs, & Aavoient dans Tesperance 
 que le retour de la paix auroit ete le moment destine 
 pour leur soulagement. L'agriculture, (disoit I'ha- 
 bitant) cette richesse la plus reelle des nations, cette 
 source seconde dont coulent tons les biens dont on 
 jouit, va etre animee & restituera au centuple pen- 
 dant la paix, les pertes que Ton a essuye pendant 
 la guerre; le commerce, sans lequel les fruits de la 
 terre n'ont ni prix, ni valeur, va etre vivifie & pro- 
 tege (disoit le negociant) douces illusions! Pro- 
 
Pittman^s Missisippi Settlements 107 
 
 a lawful debt, by consecrating to you this weak 
 tribute of our love, a tribute dictated by our hearts, 
 which are seconded by an obedient hand, ready to 
 perform what they inspire. 
 
 Seven millions of royal paper made all the cur- 
 rency of this colony, and the fortune of its citizens ; 
 the total privation of this capital, the payment of 
 which his majesty suspended by an edict of [59] the 
 month of October, 1759, has reduced the province 
 of Louisiana to the most deplorable situation. We 
 shall not undertake to enter into a detail of the 
 calamities, of the ruined fortunes, of the downfal 
 of families, which were the fatal consequences of 
 that catastrophe; the court has before its eyes a 
 more striking picture of those than it is possible 
 for us to paint, every time it assembles to take cog- 
 nizance of the unhappy victims of this event. Re- 
 covered from the dejection into which they had 
 been plunged, the citizens of Louisiana at last began 
 to take heart. They had considered the conclusion 
 of the war as the end of their misfortunes, and en- 
 tertained hopes that the return of peace would be 
 the moment destined for their relief. Agriculture, 
 said the inhabitants, that real wealth of a nation, 
 that prolific source from whence flow all the bless- 
 ings which we enjo)^, will now be revived, and will 
 restore a hundred fold during the peace, the losses 
 which we underwent during the war; commerce, 
 without which the fruits of the earth have neither 
 worth nor value, will be revived and encouraged, 
 (said the merchant) pleasing illusions! flattering 
 
io8 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 jets flateiirs, qu'etes vous devenus? Le cultiva- 
 teur, le commergant, tous les etats de la colonie 
 eprouvent dans la plus profonde paix, des revers & 
 des calamites qu'ils n'avoient point ressenti pen- 
 dant une longue & cruelle guerre. Le premier coup 
 dont la colonie a ete f rappe est la nouvelle de la ces- 
 sion que sa majeste en a faite a I'Espagne; on ne 
 s'etonnera point sans doute, de la profonde tristesse 
 dont cet evenement a penetre tous les cceurs; les 
 Frangois aiment leur prince par dessus toutes 
 choses, & un heureux prejuge fait pancher naturel- 
 lement tous les hommes vers le gouvernement dans 
 lequel ils sont nes; jettons une voile sur cet evene- 
 ment, la plume tombe des mains d'un Frangois 
 quand il veut I'approfondir. Ce qui occupe serieuse- 
 ment aujourd'hui & qui doit aussi fixer toute I'at- 
 tention de la cour, ce sont les avant-coureurs des 
 chaines dont une nouvelle administration menace 
 les colons de la Louisiane. Tantot c'est une com- 
 pagnie exclusive, qui doit au prejudice de la nation, 
 faire le commerce de toutes les possessions qui res- 
 tent aux [60] Frangois dans I'Amerique Septentrio- 
 nale ; on voit ensuite paroitre un arret, qui renf erme 
 la liberte necessaire au commerce dans les bornes 
 les plus etroites, & defend aux Frangois toute liai- 
 son avec leur propre nation, tout y respire les pro- 
 hibitions & la gene, partout les commergans de 
 Louisiane trouvent des obstacles a surmonter, des 
 difficultes a vaincre & (s'il est permis de se servir 
 de cette expression) des ennemies de la patrie a 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 109 
 
 projects ! what is now become of you! The farmer, 
 the dealer, all ranks and classes in the colony, un- 
 dergo, in the most profound peace, misfortunes and 
 calamities which they never felt during a long and 
 bloody war. The first stroke by which the colony 
 was afflicted, was the information it received of the 
 cession made of it by his majesty to Spain : nobody, 
 doubtless, will be surprised at the profound melan- 
 choly which this news excited in all hearts. The 
 French love their monarch above all things, and 
 a happy prejudice makes all men naturally incline 
 to the government under which they are born. Let 
 us cast a veil over this event, the pen drops from 
 the hand of a Frenchman when he attempts to 
 dive into it : what at present seriously occupies and 
 should engross the whole attention of the court, 
 is the apprehension of that slavery with which a 
 new administration threatens the colonies of 
 Louisiana. At one time we behold an exclusive 
 company, which, to the prejudice of the nation, is 
 empowered to carry on all the commerce of the 
 remaining [61] possessions of the French in North 
 America ; we next see an edict make its appearance, 
 which confines the liberty necessary for carrying 
 on commerce within the narrowest bounds, and 
 forbids the French to have any connexion with 
 their own nation; prohibitions and constraint pre- 
 vail every where ; the merchants of Louisiana every 
 where meet with obstacles to surmount, difficulties 
 to overcome, and (if it be allowable to make use of 
 such an expression) enemies of their country to 
 
no Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 combattre. En Europe il s'ecoule quelquefois six 
 mois avant qu'un armateur parvienne a sgavoir s'il 
 obtiendra un passeport; on n'est pas mieux regu a 
 St. Domingue lorsqu'il est question d' expeditions 
 pour ce fleuve. Mr. le Prince Monbazon, general 
 de risle, commence a les refuser. A la Louisiane 
 dans le centre meme de la colonic, ou le genie le 
 plus borne voit au premier coup d'oeil combien elle 
 a besoin d'encouragement & de protection, on n'est 
 pas plus favorise. Le gouvernement defendit il y a 
 pres d'un an, I'importation des negres, sous pre- 
 texte que la concurrence auroit fait tort a un nego- 
 ciant des colonies Angloises qui devoit en fournir. 
 Quelle marche effrayante & destructive ! C'est pri- 
 ver la colonic de Taliment le plus propre a son ac- 
 croissement; c'est couper les racines d'une branche 
 de commerce qui vaut seule pour la Louisiane plus 
 que toutes les autres reunies: accrediter des sem- 
 blables sistemes, c'est vouloir convertir en une vaste 
 foret des etablissemens qui ont coute des peines & 
 des soins a I'infini. La vigilance de la cour decouv- 
 rira facilement la cause de ces contrarietes, les ef- 
 forts de son zele la detruiront, & son affection pour 
 la colonic la sauvera du naufrage. La contrainte 
 tient tout dans la langueur & dans la faiblesse, la 
 liberte au contraire anime tout: personne n'ignore 
 aujourd'hui que I'octroi des priveleges exclusifs est 
 a proprement parler une espece de vampire, qui 
 peu a peu mine le peuple, tarit le numeraire, ecrase 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 1 1 1 
 
 combat. In Europe there sometimes passes six 
 months, before a person who fits out a vessel knows 
 whether he shall obtain a passport ; we have no bet- 
 ter success at St. Domingo when expeditions to that 
 river are in question: Prince Monbazon, general 
 of the island, begins to refuse them. In Louisiana, 
 in the very center of the colony, where a person 
 of the meanest genius sees at the very first glance 
 how much it stands in need of encouragement and 
 patronage, we do not meet with more favour. The 
 government almost a twelvemonth ago forbid the 
 importation of negroes, upon pretext that the com- 
 petition would have hurt a merchant belonging to 
 the English colonies, who was to furnish them. 
 How terrible and how destructive a bargain is this ! 
 It is depriving the colony of the food best adapted 
 to its nourishment; it is cutting up by the roots 
 a branch of commerce, which is of more consequence 
 to Louisiana than all the rest put together : to pro- 
 mote system-S of this sort is desiring to convert 
 into a vast forest establishments which have cost 
 infinite pains and trouble. The vigilance of the 
 court will easily discover the cause of these con- 
 trarieties ; the efforts of its zeal will destroy it ; and 
 its affection for the colony will save it from de- 
 struction. Constraint keeps the affairs of the 
 province in a state of languor and weakness ; liberty, 
 on the contrary animates all things: nobody is at 
 present ignorant that the granting of exclusive 
 privileges may be justly considered as a sort of 
 devouring fire, which imperceptibly undermines and 
 
112 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 I'agriculture, & le commerce; voye oppressive, qui, 
 pour le bonheur de I'humanite, est depuis long-tems 
 bannie des colonies Frangoises. [62] Par quelle 
 fatalite faut-il que la Louisiane seule voie renaitre 
 des etincelles d'un feu si devorant. Ce ne sont 
 point ici des terreurs paniques, la cour en demeu- 
 rera convaincue apres qu'elle aura pris lecture de 
 I'arret dont on a I'honneur de lui presenter I'extrait. 
 On ne balance point a dire que Texecution du plan 
 qu'il renferme ruineroit la colonic, en portant a 
 Tagriculture & au commerce les plus dangereuses 
 atteintes. Les colons de la Louisiane desperent 
 d'avance du salut de leur patrie, si les priveleges 
 & exemptions, dont elle a joui jusqu'a present, 
 ne sont maintenus; si I'execution de ce fatal arret 
 qui a porte I'allarme & la desolation dans tous 
 les coeurs n'est detournee; si une ordonnance ren- 
 due au nom de S. M. C. & publiee a la Nouvelle 
 Orleans le 6 Septembre 1766, dont on joint ici 
 copie, n'est annullee comme illegale dans tous ses 
 points, & contraire a I'accroissement de I'agricul- 
 ture & du commerce: si enfin Ton permettoit 
 que les douces loix sous lesquelles les colons ont 
 vecu jusques a aujourd'hui fussent violees. On ne 
 doit jamais oublier le discours sublime qu'un magis- 
 trat illustre addresse aux legislateurs de la terre 
 (voulez-vous dit-il abroger quelque loy, n'y touchez 
 que d'une main tremblante. Observez tant de so- 
 lemnites, apportez tant de precautions que le peuple 
 
Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 113 
 
 consumes the people, drains the currency, and 
 crushes agriculture and commerce; an oppressive 
 method, which, for the honour of humanity, has 
 been long since banished from the French colonies, 
 [63] To what fatality is it owing that Louisiana 
 alone sees sparks of this devouring fire again struck 
 out? These are not panick terrors, and this the 
 court will be convinced of, after perusing the sen- 
 tence, an extract of which we have here the honour 
 of presenting them with. We shall not scruple to 
 affirm, that the carrying the plan which it contains 
 into execution, would ruin the colony, by giving 
 agriculture and commerce the most dangerous 
 wounds. The inhabitants of Louisiana despair be- 
 forehand of the preservation of their country, if 
 the privileges and exemptions which it has hitherto 
 enjoyed are not continued; if the execution of this 
 fatal decree, which has alarmed all hearts and filled 
 them with consternation, is not prevented; if an 
 ordonnance published in the name of his Catholic 
 majesty at New Orleans on the 6th of September 
 1766, of which a copy is here subjoined, is not 
 annulled, as illegal in all these points, and an ob- 
 struction to the increase of agriculture and com- 
 merce; if in fine the mild laws, under which the 
 inhabitants have lived till now, were suffered to 
 be violated. We should never forget the sublime 
 discourse, which a renowned magistrate addresses 
 to the legislators of the earth ; " Are you, says he, 
 desirous of abrogating any law, touch it with a 
 trembling hand. Observe so many formalities, 
 
114 Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 
 
 en conclut naturellement, que les loix sont bien 
 saintes puisqu'il faut tant de formalites pour les 
 abroger. ) 
 
 Qu'il est douloureux sans doute pour des Fran- 
 cois, d'eprouver toutes les rigueurs aux quelles on 
 soumet aujourd'hui leur commerce, pendant qu'une 
 nation etrangere, leur ambitieuse rivale, fait ou- 
 vertement & sans trouble le commerce de la colonic 
 au prejudice de la nation a qui elle appartient, qui 
 a contribue a son etablissement & qui en fait les 
 fraix: on ne craint point qu'on objecte que les 
 Frangois seuls, ne sont point en etat de fournir le 
 continent de ses besoins; un pret de sept millions 
 que les citoyens de la Louisiane ont fait au roi, de- 
 puis I'annee 1758, jusqu'en 1763, sera [64] un mo- 
 nument eternel de I'etendue du commerce Frangois 
 & de I'attachment des colons pour le service de leur 
 souverain. 
 
 Que c'est au moment qu'une nouvelle Mine vient 
 d'etre decouverte, que le cotton dont la culture as- 
 suree par I'experience, promet au cultivateur la re- 
 compense de ses travaux, & a I'armateur le charge- 
 ment de ses navires, que la fabrique de I'indigo pent 
 aller de pair avec celle de Saint Domingue, que le 
 commerce des pelleteries est pousse au plus haut 
 point ou il soit encore parvenu, c'est dans ces heu- 
 reuses circonstances que quelques ennemis de la 
 patrie & createurs d'un faux sisteme, ont sans doute 
 surpris la religion des personnes en place, pour sa- 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 115 
 
 have recourse to so many enquiries, that the people 
 may naturally conclude that the laws are sacred, 
 since so many precautions are required in the ab- 
 rogation of them." 
 
 We will likewise, without hesitation, affirm that 
 it is a high mortification for Frenchmen to suffer 
 all the rigours to which their commerce is subjected, 
 whilst a foreign nation, their ambitious rival, open- 
 ly carries on the trade of the colony, to the prej- 
 udice of the nation to which it belongs, which 
 contributed to its establishment, and which is at 
 the expence of it: we do not fear that it will be 
 objected, that the French alone are not able to sup- 
 ply the continent with all the commodities which 
 they want; a loan of seven millions, which the in- 
 habitants of Louisiana have made the king since 
 the year 1758 to 1763, will be an eternal monument 
 [65] of the extent of the French commerce, and of 
 the attachment of the people of the colonies to their 
 sovereign's service. 
 
 It is just at the instant that a new mine has been 
 discovered, when the culture of cotton, improved by 
 experience, promises the planter the recompense of 
 his toil, and the person who is concerned in fitting 
 out vessels, cargoes to load them; when the manu- 
 facture of indigo may vie with that of St. Domin- 
 ico; when the fur trade has been carried to the 
 highest degree of perfection; it is in these happy 
 circumstances that certain enemies to their country, 
 and broachers of a false system, have doubtless 
 drawn in persons in public office to sacrifice the in- 
 
Ii6 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 crifier les habitans de la Nouvelle Orleans. Que 
 la cour ne renvoye pas a des tems plus eloignes le 
 soulagement d'un peuple qui lui est cher; qu'elle 
 fasse connoitre aux personnes revetues de I'auto- 
 rite royale, Tequisement ou seroit reduite cette pro- 
 vince si elle n'etoit point desormais affranchie des 
 prohibitions qui la plongeroit dans une ruine irre- 
 mediable; que penseroit-on d'un medecin, qui ayant 
 le remede universel attendroit une peste pour s'en 
 servir. Que c'est a la faveur de la navigation des 
 isles du vent, & sous le vent, que les habitans de la 
 Louisiane trouvent chaque annee le debit de quatre- 
 vingt a cent cargaisons de bois; qu'on ote cette 
 branche de commerce, on prive la colonic d'un re- 
 venu annuel de cinq cent mille livres au moins, som- 
 me que le travail seul des negres & I'application du 
 maitre produit sans autre mise dehors. Qu'il vau- 
 droit mieux, suivant un fameux auteur, perdre dans 
 un grand royaume cent mille hommes par une faute 
 de politique, que d'en commettre une qui arrete le 
 cours de I'agriculture & du commerce: que Ton 
 sgait que ceux qui presentent des pro jets pour ob- 
 tenir des priveleges exclusifs, ne manquent jamais 
 de raisons plausibles pour les faire paroitre oecono- 
 miques & avantageux, soit au roi, soit au public; 
 mais I'experience de tons les siecles & de tous les 
 lieux demontre evidemment [66] que ceux qui sol- 
 licitent des exclusions ont uniquement en vue leur 
 interet particulier; qu'ils sont moins zeles que les 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 117 
 
 habitants of New Orleans. The court should not 
 longer defer the relief of a people which is dear 
 to it; it should make known to those invested with 
 royal authority the exhausted state to which this 
 province would be reduced, if it was not for the 
 time to come freed from the prohibitions, which 
 would plunge it into irremediable ruin. What 
 should we think of a physician, who being possessed 
 of the panacea, or universal remedy, should wait 
 for a plague in order to apply it ? It is by the trade 
 to the Leeward Islands that the inhabitants of 
 Louisiana find means every year to dispose of four- 
 score or a hundred loads of wood ; if this branch of 
 trade was to be taken away, the colony would be 
 deprived of an annual income of 300,000 livres at 
 least, a sum which the work of the negroes and 
 the application of the master produces alone, with- 
 out any foreign assistance. According to the ob- 
 servation of a celebrated author, it would be better 
 to lose a hundred thousand men in a great kingdom 
 by an error in politicks, than to be guilty of one 
 which should stop the progress of agriculture and 
 commerce. It is well known that those who present 
 plans to obtain exclusive privileges, are never with- 
 out plausible reasons to make them appear saving 
 and advantageous, as well to the king as the 
 public; but the experience of all ages and all coun- 
 tries evidently demonstrates, that those who seek 
 exclusions, [6y'\ have their private interest solely 
 in view; that they have less zeal than others for 
 the prosperity of the state, and have less of the 
 
ii8 Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 
 
 autres pour le bien de I'etat & moins bons patriotes. 
 Que I'execution de I'arret pour le commerce de la 
 Louisiane reduiroit les habitans a I'affligeante al- 
 ternative, ou de perdre leurs recoltes, faute de na- 
 vires pour en faire I'exportation, ou de changer 
 leurs denrees en fraude avec une nation etrangere, 
 en s'exposant a subir la rigueur de la loi qui pro- 
 nonce la perte des biens & de la liberte contre les 
 contrebandistes ; quelle vie! & quel combat! Qu'il 
 n'est que trop vrai comme on I'a deja observe, que 
 le bruit seul de la nouvelle ordonnance a cause une 
 diminution considerable, non seulement sur les ob- 
 jets de luxe, mais aussi sur les biens fonds. Une mai- 
 son qui valoit ci-devant vingt mille livres auroit de 
 la peine aujourd'hui d'en produire cinq; on dira peut- 
 etre que la rarete de 1' argent contribue aussi a cette 
 diminution, mais combien sera plus grande la disette 
 des especes, lorsque la colonic se verra livree, soit 
 a une compagnie exclusive, soit a I'ambition de cinq 
 a six particuliers qui ne f orment qu'une masse ? Ce 
 sera alors un membre qui s'accroitra monstrueuse- 
 ment aux depens de la substance des autres qui de- 
 viendront sees, et paralitiques ; le corps se verra par 
 la menace d'une destruction totale: que ce n'a ete 
 qu'en favorisant ouvertement I'introduction des 
 negres que Ton etoit parvenu a mettre cette colonic 
 dans Fembonpoint, ou Ton I'a vue en 1759. Qu'on 
 dira peut-etre, pour dissiper les allarmes, que Tor 
 & I'argent qui s'est repandu sur la place, au moyen 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 119 
 
 spirit of patriotism. The execution of the decree 
 with regard to the commerce of Louisiana, would 
 reduce the inhabitants to the sad alternative of 
 either losing their harvests for want of vessels to 
 export them, or to exchange their commodities in 
 a fraudulent manner with a foreign nation, expos- 
 ing themselves to undergo the rigour of the law, 
 which ordains that those who carry on a contra- 
 band trade shall lose both their lives and liberties. 
 What a life is this! what a struggle! it is but too 
 true, as has been already observed, that the report 
 of the new ordinance alone has caused a consider- 
 able diminution, not only in the articles of luxury, 
 but likewise in landed estates. A house which 
 was heretofore worth twenty thousand livres would 
 hardly sell for five thousand: some will, perhaps, 
 assert that the scarcity of money contributes like- 
 wise to this diminution ; but how much greater will 
 be the scarcity of specie, when the colony shall 
 either be delivered up to an exclusive company, or 
 to the ambition of five or six individuals, who form 
 but one body? It will resemble a member grown 
 to a monstrous bulk at the expence of the substance 
 of the rest, which would become withered and 
 paralytic ; the body would thereby find itself threat- 
 ened with a total destruction : it was only by openly 
 favouring the introduction of negroes that this 
 colony was raised to the flourishing state which it 
 appeared to have attained in 1759. Perhaps it will 
 be said, to dispel these alarms, that the gold and 
 silver which has been made to abound in the place 
 
I20 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 d'une nouvelle administration, pourra dedomma- 
 ger des pertes de I'agriculture, & du commerce, mais 
 qu'a juger de I'avenir par I'experience du passe & 
 du present, on trouvera cette ressource bien foible, 
 personne n'ignorant d'ailleurs que, parmi les dif- 
 ferens tresors que la terre renferme dans son sein, 
 Tor & I'argent ne sont ni les premieres richesses, ni 
 les plus desirables, ces matieres ont reduit dans un 
 etat deplorable leurs possesseurs naturels & les 
 maitres de ces esclaves ne sont pas devenus plus 
 puissants. II semble que des le moment ils ayent 
 perdu tout esprit d'industrie, tout [68] aptitude au 
 travail, comme un laboureur qui trouveroit un tre- 
 sor au milieu de son champ abandoneroit pour tou- 
 jours la charrue; que d'ailleurs combien d'actes de 
 rigueur n'ont pas etc exercees contre des paisibles 
 citoyens par un etranger, qui, quoique revetu d'un 
 caractere respectable, n'a satisfait a aucuns des for- 
 malites ni a aucuns des devoirs prescrits par Facte 
 de cession, leur objet de tranquilite. On citera un 
 ancien capitaine qui a ete detenu, par ses ordres, 
 aux arrets & son navire dans le port pendant I'es- 
 pace de huit a dix mois, pour n'avoir pas sgu lire 
 dans les decrets de la providence que le bateau dans 
 lequel il avoit envoye des paquets qu'on lui avoit 
 confie, feroit naufrage. Une semblable tyrannic a 
 ete exercee par le depositaire de cette meme auto- 
 rite informe & illegale, envers deux capitaines de la 
 Martinique qui n'avoient commis d' autre crime, que 
 celui de n'avoir pas devine que le conseil de la Lou- 
 
Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 121 
 
 by a new administration, may indemnify for the 
 losses of agriculture and commerce; but to judge 
 of the future by the experience of the past and the 
 present, that resource will be found to be very 
 weak, as nobody can be ignorant, that amongst the 
 various treasures which the earth contains in its 
 bosom, gold and silver are neither the chief riches 
 nor the most desirable; these metals have reduced 
 their natural possessors to a deplorable state, and 
 the masters of those slaves are not thereby become 
 more powerful. They appear from that moment 
 to have lost all spirit and industry, all disposition 
 [69] to work; like a labourer who should find a 
 treasure in the midst of his field, and thereupon 
 forsake his plough for ever. Besides, how many 
 acts of severity have been exercised against peace- 
 able citizens by a stranger; who, though invested 
 with a respectable character, has observed none of 
 the formalities, nor performed any of the duties 
 prescribed by the act of cession, their object of 
 tranquility. We shall mention an old captain of 
 a ship who was confined by his orders, and his 
 vessel detained in the port during eight or ten 
 months, for not having been able to read in the de- 
 crees of providence, that the vessel in which he had 
 dispatched certain packets entrusted to his care 
 would be cast away. A similar tyranny was exer- 
 cised by the person invested with this illegal and 
 unjust authority, against two captains belonging to 
 Martinico, who had been guilty of no other crime 
 but that of not having guessed that the council 
 
122 Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 
 
 isiane avoit rendu un arret qui interdisoit I'entree 
 des negres creolises des Isles du Vent & sous le 
 Vent: quel traitement un ancien citoyen n'a-t-il pas 
 essuye a Toccasion d'un paquet qui avoit ete remis 
 au capitaine de son navire, & qui ayant ete contra- 
 rie par les vents, n'a pii le remettre a la Havanne? 
 Comment decrira-t-on Tinhumanite avec laquelle ont 
 ete menes les Accadiens? Ce peuple, le jouet des 
 evenemens, s'est determine, par un esprit patrio- 
 tique, d'abandonner tout ce qu'il pouvoit posseder 
 sur les terres Angloises pour venir vivre sous les 
 heureuses loix de leur ancien maitre: ils sont ar- 
 rives a grand f raix dans cette colonic ; a peine sont- 
 ils parvenus a deffricher Templacement necessaire 
 a une pauvre chaumiere que, sur quelques repre- 
 sentations qu'ils ont voulu faire a M. Ulloa, il les 
 a menace de les chasser de la colonic & de les faire 
 vendre comme des esclaves pour payer les rations 
 que le roi leur avoit donne, en enjoignant aux Alle- 
 mands de leur refuser retraite. On laisse a decider, 
 si cette conduite ne tient point de la barbaric ; mais 
 on croit pouvoir conclure, sans rien exagerer, 
 qu'elle est diametralement opposee au sisteme poli- 
 tique qui veut que Ton [70] favor ise toutes les 
 branches de populationes. Ceux qui se plaignent, & 
 quel homme assez aneanti sous le joug peut essuyer 
 sans murmure de telles inhumanites ? Oui, on I'ose 
 dire, ceux qui se plaignent sont menaces d'etre em- 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 123 
 
 of Louisiana had issued an edict, which forbid the 
 entrance of the negroes naturalized amongst the 
 CreoHans into the Leeward Islands. What ill 
 usage has an old citizen suffered upon account of 
 a pacquet, which had been put into the hands of 
 the captain of one of his ships, who, having met 
 with contrary winds, was unable to deliver it at 
 the Havannah? How shall we describe the bar- 
 barity with which the people of Accadia were 
 treated? This people, the sport of fortune, were 
 determined, by a patriotic spirit, to forsake all they 
 might be possessed of upon the English territories, 
 in order to go to live under the happy laws of their 
 ancient master: they arrived in this colony at a 
 great expence, and scarce had they cleared out a 
 place sufficient for a poor thatched hut to stand 
 upon, when in consequence of some representations, 
 which they happened to make to Mr. Ulloa, he 
 threatened to drive them out of the colony, and have 
 them sold for slaves, to pay the rations which the 
 king had given them, at the same time directing 
 the Germans to refuse them a retreat. The court 
 is left to determine whether this conduct does not 
 border upon barbarism; but we think we may take 
 upon us to conclude that it is diametrically op- 
 posite to the political system, which directs us to 
 promote every [71] branch of population. Those 
 who complain, (and who is there so far broke to 
 the yoke as to bear without murmuring such horrid 
 inhumanities?) yes, we dare to declare it, those 
 who complain are threatened with imprisonment, 
 
124 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 prisonnes, exiles a la Balises, & envoyes aux mines. 
 Que si M, Ulloa a ete revetu de quelque autorite, 
 son prince ne lui a jamais ordonne de la rendre 
 tirannique, ni de I'exercer avant d' avoir fait con- 
 noitre ses titres & ses pouvoirs. De telles vexations 
 ne sont pas I'ouvrage des coeurs des rois, elles s'ac- 
 cordent pen avec I'humanite qui fait leur caractere 
 & qui dirige leurs actions : qu'on ne finiroit point si 
 on entreprenoit le detail de toutes les humiliations 
 que les Frangois de la Nouvelle Orleans ont 
 eprouve. II est a desirer, pour Thonneur de la na- 
 tion, que ce qui a pu en transpirer puisse etre efface 
 par les precieux effets de la protection du conseil 
 superieur que Ton reclame aujourd'hui, & que pour 
 mettre le comble a tant de tribulations on leur pre- 
 dit, qu'avec le tems, on reduira les colons de la 
 Louisiane a la simple nourriture de la tortilla, tan- 
 dis que Taliment le plus sobre ne fera jamais leur 
 peine. Que cependant le conservation de leurs 
 jours, leurs obligations envers leurs creanciers, leur 
 honneur emanant du patriotisme & de leur devoir, 
 leurs fortunes enfin se trouvant attaquees par le 
 dit decret, les portent a offrir leurs biens & leur 
 sang pour conserver a jamais le doux & inviolable 
 titre de citoyen Frangois. Que tout cet expose les 
 conduit naturellement a des conclusions auxquelles 
 le zele de la cour pour le bien public, sa fermete 
 pour le maintien des loix dont S. M. T. C. Fa eta- 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 125 
 
 banished to Balises, and sent to the mines. Now, 
 though Mr. Ulloa might have been invested with 
 some authority, his prince never commanded him 
 to exert it in a tyrannical manner, nor to exercise 
 it before he had made known his titles and his 
 powers. Such oppressions are not dictated by the 
 hearts of kings ; they agree but ill with that human- 
 ity which constitutes their character and directs 
 their actions. We should hardly ever make an 
 end, were we to enter into a detail of all the mor- 
 tifications which the French of New Orleans have 
 undergone. It were to be wished for the honour 
 of the nation, that as many of them as have trans- 
 pired might be obliterated by the precious effects 
 of the protection of the superior court, which is 
 now applied for, and that to render so much tribula- 
 tion complete, it should be foretold to them, that in 
 time the inhabitants of Louisiana will be reduced 
 to live upon turtle alone, whilst the most frugal 
 sort of food will now be a punishment to them. 
 In the mean time, the preservation of their lives, 
 their obligations to their creditors, their honour, 
 which is the result of patriotism and of their duty, 
 in fine, their very fortune being attacked by the 
 said decree, reduce them to offer their possessions 
 and their blood to preserve for ever the clear and 
 inviolable title of Frenchmen. All that has hither- 
 to been said leads them naturally to make demands 
 or requests to which the zeal for the public good, 
 its steddiness in supporting the laws which his 
 most christian majesty has made them the deposi- 
 
126 Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 
 
 blie depositaire, les assure qu'elle fera I'accueil le 
 plus favorable. Mais avant d'entrer dans ces con- 
 clusions ils doivent rendre homage aux bontes de 
 M. Aubry. I.es voeux du public se sont toujours 
 accordes avec le choix du prince a lui donner le 
 commandement en chef de la Louisiane, ses vertus 
 lui ont fait decerner le titre d'honnete homme & de 
 gouverneur equitable: il n'a jamais use de ses pou- 
 voirs que pour faire le bien, & [72] tout ce qui a 
 ete injuste lui a toujours paru impossible. Qu'ils 
 ne craignent point qu'on ait a leur reprocher que la 
 reconnoissance les ait fait exagerer en quelques 
 choses: negliger des louanges meritees, c'est voler 
 une dette legitime, & concluent enfin en suppliant le 
 cour, 
 
 1. D'obtenir que les priveleges & exemptions 
 dont la colonic a joui, depuis la retrocession que la 
 compagnie en fit a S. M. T. C. soient maintenus 
 sans qu'aucune innovation puisse en arreter le 
 cours, & troubler la surete des citoyens. 
 
 2. Qu'il soit accorde des passeports, conges & 
 permissions emanant de messieurs le gouverneur & 
 commissaire de S. M. T. C. aux capitaines de na- 
 vires qui s'expedieront de cette colonic pour tel port 
 de France & de TAmerique que ce puisse etre. 
 
 3. Que tout batiment expedie de tel port de 
 France & de I'Amerique que ce puisse etre, aura 
 I'entree libre du fleuve; soit qu'il vienne directe- 
 
Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 127 
 
 tories of, assures them that it will give the most 
 favourable reception. But before they proceed to 
 these demands, they must pay their homage to the 
 goodness of Mons. Aubry. The wishes of the 
 public have always corresponded with the choice 
 of the prince in assigning him the chief command 
 over the province of Louisiana; his virtues have 
 caused the titles of honest man and equitable gov- 
 ernor to be adjudged him; he never made use of 
 his power but to do good, and all [73] unjust 
 deeds have to him ever appeared impossible. They 
 are not afraid of being reproached that gratitude 
 has made them exaggerate in any particular: to 
 neglect deserved praises is to keep back a lawful 
 debt, and they conclude, in fine, by intreating the 
 court, 
 
 1 . To obtain that the privileges and exemptions, 
 which the colony has enjoyed since the cession, 
 which the company made to his most christian maj- 
 esty, should be supported without any innovations 
 being suffered to interrupt their course and dis- 
 turb the security and quiet enjoyment of the cit- 
 izens. 
 
 2. That passports and permissions should be 
 granted from the governors and commissioners of 
 his most christian majesty, to such captains of 
 vessels as shall set sail from this colony to any 
 ports of France or America whatever. 
 
 3. That any ship which sails from any port of 
 France or America whatever, shall have free en- 
 trance into the river, whether it sail directly for 
 
128 Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 
 
 ment pour cette colonic, ou qu'il y abordc dc Re- 
 lachc, afin que ccla s'est toujours pratique, 
 
 4. Que la libcrte du commerce avec toutes les na- 
 tions qui sont sous la domination de S. M. T. C. 
 soit accorde a tous les citoyens, en conformite des 
 ordres du roi a feu M. D'Abbadie, enregistres au 
 greffe de cette ville, & conformement aussi a la 
 lettre de monseigneur le due de Choiseuil au meme 
 M. D'Abbadie, en datte du 9 Fevrier 1766. 
 
 5. Que M. Ulloa soit declare infractaire & usur- 
 pateur, en plusieurs points, de I'autorite devolue au 
 gouvernement & au conseil, puisque toutes les loix, 
 ordonnances & coutumes, veulent c[ue cette autorite 
 ne soit exercee par aucun officier, qu'apres qu'il aura 
 rempli toutes les formalites prescrites, & c'est a 
 quoi M. [74] Ulloa n'a point satisfait; pourquoi, il 
 doit etre declare infractaire & usurpateur, i. Pour 
 avoir fait arborer pavilion Espagnol en plusieurs 
 endroits de la colonic, sans avoir prealablement 
 montre & fait enregistrer au conseil, les titres & 
 pouvoirs dont il a pu etre munis & que les citoyens 
 assembles ayent pu en etre informes. 2. Pour avoir, 
 de son chef & autorite privee, exige que des capi- 
 taines de navires fussent detenus & leurs batimens 
 dans le port sans aucun fondement & pour avoir 
 faire mettre aux arrets a bord d'une fregate Es- 
 pagnole des citoyens Francois. 3. Pour avoir fait 
 
Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 129 
 
 the colony, or only put into it occasionally, as has 
 been always observed. 
 
 4. That the freedom of trade with the several 
 nations under the government of his most christian 
 majesty, shall be granted to all the citizens, in 
 conformity to the king's orders to the late Mr. 
 D'Abbadie, registered at the secretary's office of 
 this city, and likewise in conformity to the letter of 
 his grace the duke de Choiseuil, addressed to the 
 same Mr. D'Abbadie, and dated the 9th of Feb- 
 ruary 1766. 
 
 5. That Mr. Ulloa shall be declared to have, 
 in many points, infringed and usurped the authority 
 which had devolved to the government and the 
 council, because all the laws, ordonances, and cus- 
 toms, direct, that the said authority shall not be 
 exercised by any officer, till he shall have performed 
 all the formalities prescribed; [75] and this con- 
 dition Mr. Ulloa has not complied with. He should 
 therefore be declared to have infringed and usurped 
 the authority of the government; i. For having 
 caused Spanish colours to be set up in several parts 
 of the colony, without having previously caused to 
 be registered in the council books, the titles and 
 powers which he might have received, and of which 
 the assembly of the citizens might have been in- 
 formed. 2. For having of his own accord, and by 
 his own private authority, insisted upon captains 
 of vessels being detained with their ships in the 
 port without any cause, and for having ordered 
 subjects of France to be confined aboard a Spanish 
 
130 Pittman^s Missisippi Settlements 
 
 tenir des conseils, dans la maison du sieur Detre- 
 han, par des officiers Espagnols, dans lesquels il a 
 ete rendu des arrets concernant les citoyens de la 
 Louisiane; & demandent, qu'en vertu de tons ces 
 griefs & tant d'autres de notoriete publique & aussi 
 pour la tranquilite de tous les citoyens qui recla- 
 ment la protection du conseil, ils soient affranchis de- 
 sormais de la crainte d'une autorite tiranique & 
 des conditions portees par le dit decret, au moyen 
 de Feloignement de M. Ulloa, auquel il doit etre 
 enjoint de s'embarquer, dans le premier batiment 
 qui partira, pour se rendre ou bon lui semblera, hors 
 de la dependance de cette province. 
 
 6. Qu'il soit ordonne a tous les officiers Espa- 
 gnols, qui sont dans cette ville ou repandus dans les 
 postes dependans de la colonic, d'en sortir pour se 
 rendre egalement la ou ils jugeront a propos, hors 
 de la dependence de la dite province, & qu'enfin il 
 plaise a la cour, ordonner que I'arret a intervenir 
 sera lu, public & affiche dans tous les lieux & en- 
 droits accoutumes de cette ville & copies colla- 
 tionees envoyees dans tous les postes de la dite co- 
 lonic. Les dites representations sont signees par 
 cinq cent trente six personnes, habitans, negocians, 
 marchands, & notables. Vu aussi la copie du de- 
 cret public par ordre de S. M. C. non signee, ni 
 dattee, autre copie d'une [yG] ordonnance publiee 
 en cette ville par ordre de M. Ulloa, du 6 Septembre 
 
Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 131 
 
 frigate. 3. For having caused councils to be held 
 in the house of Mr. Detrehan by Spanish officers, 
 in which decrees were issued concerning the in- 
 habitants of Louisiana. And they request, that 
 on account of these grievances, and many others 
 publickly known, and likewise for the tranquility 
 of all the citizens who apply for the patronage of 
 the council, they shall for the time to come be freed 
 from the fear of a tyrannical authority, and ex- 
 empted from observing the conditions enjoined by 
 the said decree, by means of the dismission of Mr. 
 Ulloa, who should be ordered to embark aboard the 
 first vessel which shall set sail, in order to depart, 
 whenever he thinks proper, out of the countries de- 
 pending upon this province. 
 
 6. That orders shall be given to all the Spanish 
 officers who are in this city, or scattered up and 
 down at the posts depending upon the colony, to 
 quit them, in order to repair likewise, whenever 
 they shall think proper, out of the dependencies 
 of the province; and, finally, that the court would 
 be pleased to order that the decree shall be read, 
 published, and set up, in all the usual places of this 
 city, and collated copies sent to all the posts of the 
 said colony. The said representations signed by 
 five hundred and thirty-six inhabitants, eminent 
 merchants and dealers. On account, likewise, of 
 the copy of the decree, published by orders of his 
 catholic majesty, neither signed nor dated, and of 
 another copy of an [yy] ordonance published in this 
 city, by order of Mr. Ulloa, of the 6th of Sep- 
 
132 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 1766, I'arret interlocutoire rendu le jour d'hier sur 
 le requisitoire de M. le procureur general du roi, 
 portant & ordonnant avant dire droit, que les dites 
 representations seroient mises entre les mains de 
 messieurs, M*""^ Uchet, ecuyer, sieur de Knion, & 
 Piot Delaunay, conseillers titulaires, pour etre par 
 eux examinees & ensuite communiquees messieurs 
 les gens du roi, pour etre requis & ordonne ce qu'il 
 appartiendra de droit; le tout vu, M. le procureur 
 general du roi s'est leve & remis, a dit, 
 
 " Messieurs, 
 " Le premier point le plus interessant a examiner, 
 " est la demarche de tous les habitans & negocians 
 "unis, qui dans leur servitude preparee, & leurs 
 "malheurs demontres, s'addressent a votre tribu- 
 "nal & vous demandent justice des infractions 
 " f aites a Facte solemnel de cession de cette colonic : 
 "votre tribunal est-il competant? Sont-ils fondes? 
 "Je vais prouver I'etendue de Tautorite royale de- 
 " feree au conseil superieur. Les parlemens & les 
 "conseils superieurs sont les depositaires des loix 
 "a I'abri desquels les peuples vivent heureux; sont 
 "protecteurs nes par etat des vertueux citoyens, & 
 "sont etablis pour faire executer les ordonnances, 
 "edits, & declarations, des rois apres leur enregis- 
 "trement: telle a ete la volonte de Louis le bien- 
 "aime, notre seigneur roi, & au nom duquel tous vos 
 "arrets jusqu'a ce jour, ont ete rendus & mis a 
 
Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 133 
 
 tember 1766, the interlocutory decree issued yester- 
 day, upon the requisition of the king's attorney- 
 general, orders and directs, that before the decision 
 of the court, the said representations shall be put 
 into the hands of Messrs. Attre Uchet, esquire, 
 lord of Knion, and Piot Delaunay, titular counsel- 
 lors, to be by them examined, and afterwards com- 
 municated to the king's council; that what the law 
 directs may be enacted concerning them. All these 
 particulars being taken into consideration, the king's 
 attorney-general stood up and said, 
 
 " Gentlemen, 
 "The first and most interesting point to be ex- 
 "amined is the step taken by all the inhabitants 
 "and merchants in concert, who, being threatened 
 "with slavery, and labouring under grievances 
 "which have been enumerated, address your trib- 
 "unal, and require justice for the violations of the 
 " solemn act of the cession of that colony. Is your's 
 " a competent tribunal ? Are these complaints just? 
 " I shall now shew the extent of the royal authority 
 "vested in the superior council. The parliaments 
 "and superior council are the depositaries of the 
 "laws, under the protection of which the people 
 "live happily; they are, by their rank and dignity 
 "the patrons of virtuous citizens, and they are 
 "established for the purpose of executing the or- 
 "donances, edicts, and declarations of kings after 
 "they are registered. Such was the will and 
 "pleasure of Lewis the well-beloved, our sovereign 
 " lord, in whose name all your decrees to the present 
 
134 Pitttnans Missisippi Settlements 
 
 "execution. L'acte de cession, seul titre dont le 
 '' commissaire de S. M. C. puisse se prevaloir 
 " pour reclamer autorite & propriete fut addresse a 
 "defunt M. D'Abbadie, avec ordre de le faire en- 
 "registrer au conseil superieur de la colonie, afin 
 " que les differ ens etats de la dite colonie soient in- 
 *' formes de son contenu & qu'ils puissent y aA^oir 
 "recours au besoin, la presente n'etant a autres 
 " [78] fins. La lettre de M. Ulloa dattee de la Ha- 
 "vanne du 10 Juillet 1765, qui caracterise ses de- 
 " sirs de rendre a messieurs les habitans tous les ser- 
 " vices qu'ils pourront souhaiter, vous fut addres- 
 " see, messieurs, avec priere de faire participer aux 
 "dits habitans qu'en cela il ne feroit que remplir 
 " son devoir & flater son inclination. La dite lettre 
 ''fut, par votre arret de delibere, publiee, affichee, 
 ''& enregistree comme un garant que les habitans 
 "auroient de leur bonheur & de leur tranquilite. 
 " Une autre lettre du mois d' Octobre dernier ecrite 
 " a M. Aubry, constate que la justice se rende tou- 
 *' jours dans la colonie au nom du roi Louis le bien- 
 "aime. II resulte du puissant point d'appui de 
 " Facte solemnel de cession & des autres accessoires, 
 *'que messieurs les habitans & negocians sont bien 
 " fondes a vous presenter leurs tres humbles repre- 
 " sentations, & vous, messieurs, tres autorises a pro- 
 "noncer. Examinons actuellement avec scrupule 
 " Facte de cession, & la lettre de M. Ulloa ecrite au 
 
Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 135 
 
 " day have been issued out and carried into execu- 
 "tion. The act of cession, the only title of which 
 " his catholic majesty's commissary can avail him- 
 " self, to make his demands auctoritate & proprie- 
 ''tate, was addressed to the late Mr. D'Abbadie, 
 " with orders to cause it to be registered in the supe- 
 '' rior council of the colony, to the end that the diff er- 
 " ent classes of the said colony may be informed of 
 " its contents, and may be enabled to have recourse 
 ''to it upon occasion; [79] this instrument being 
 "calculated for no other purpose. The letter of 
 "Mr. Ulloa, dated from the Havannah July 10, 
 "1765, which intimates his disposition to do the 
 "inhabitants all the services they can desire, was 
 "addressed to you, gentlemen, with a request to 
 "intimate to the said inhabitants, that therein he 
 "would only discharge his duty and gratify his 
 "own inclinations. The said letter was, by your 
 "decree, published, set up, and registered, as a 
 "pledge to the inhabitants of happiness and tran- 
 " quility. Another letter, of the month of October 
 "last, written to Mr. Aubry, certifies that justice 
 "should be always administered in the colony in 
 "the name of Louis the well-beloved. It results 
 " from the solid basis of the solemn act of cession 
 "and other accessories, that the inhabitants and 
 "merchants have good reason to present you with 
 " their most humble remonstrances ; and you, gen- 
 " tlemen, fully authorized to pronounce thereupon. 
 "Let us now accurately examine the act of cession 
 " and the letter written by Mr. Ulloa to the superior 
 
136 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 "conseil superieur. Je crois devoir rapporter mot 
 " a mot I'extrait de la lettre du roi, qui fut publiee, 
 " affichee, & enregistree. 
 
 " Ce meme acte solemnel de cession qui donne 
 " titre de propriete a S. M. C. statue pour les colons 
 '^des privileges anciens & connus, & la parole roy- 
 "ale de notre seigneur roi, en promet & en fait es- 
 " perer de nouveaux dont les malheurs de la guerre 
 "Font prive de faire jouir ses sujets, les privileges 
 "anciens etant suprimes par I'autorite du com- 
 " missaire de S. M. C. la propriete devient caduque ; 
 "Facte de cession par pure, simple & bonne amitie 
 " s'est fait avec ses reserves qui confirment les pri- 
 " vileges & libertes, & promet aux habitans une vie 
 "tranquile, a I'abri de leurs loix canoniques & ci- 
 "viles. La propriete resultant d'une cession par 
 " don gratuit, ne pent se repeter & etre obtenu qu'en 
 " satisf aisant pendant toute la propriete aux re- 
 " serves [80] contenues dans le dit acte de cession. 
 "Notre seigneur roi, espere & se promet en conse- 
 "quence de Famitie & de Faifection de S. M. C. 
 "qu'elle voudra bien donner des ordres a son gou- 
 "verneur & a tous autres officiers employes a son 
 "service dans cette colonic pour Favantage & la 
 "tranquilite des habitans de cette meme colonic, & 
 "qu'ils soient juges & leurs biens regis suivant les 
 
Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 137 
 
 "council. I think it likewise incumbent on me to 
 "cite, word for word, the extract of the king's 
 " letter, which was published, set up, and registered. 
 "This very solemn act of cession, which gives 
 "the title of property to his catholic majesty, es- 
 " tablishes for the inhabitants of the colony ancient 
 " and known privileges, and the royal word of our 
 " sovereign lord the king promises, and gives us 
 "ground to hope for, others, which the calamities 
 " of war have prevented him from making his sub- 
 "jects enjoy. The antient privileges having been 
 "suppressed by the authority of his catholic maj- 
 "esty's commissioner, property becomes preca- 
 "rious; the act of cession, through pure good will 
 "and friendship, was made with these reserves, 
 "which confirm their liberties and privileges, and 
 "promises the inhabitants a life of tranquility, 
 "under the protection and shelter of their canon 
 " and civil laws. The property which results from 
 "a cession by free gift cannot be claimed and ob- 
 "tained, except by complying with the reserves 
 "contained in the [81] said act of cession, during 
 "the time of possessing that property. Our sov- 
 " ereign lord the king hopes, and promises himself, 
 "that in consequence of the friendship and affec- 
 "tion shewn by his catholic majesty, that he will 
 "be pleased to give orders to his governor, and to 
 "all other officers employed in his service in that 
 "colony, for the advantage and tranquility of the 
 "inhabitants of the colony, and that they should 
 "be ruled and their fortunes and estates managed 
 
138 Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 
 
 " loix, formes & usages de la colonie. Les litres de 
 "M. Ulloa peuvent ils faire prevaloir des ordon- 
 " nances & des ordres infractaires au respect du a 
 " Facte solemnel de cession. Les privileges anciens, 
 "la tranquilite des citoyens Francois, les loix, 
 " formes & usages de la colonie sont sacres par une 
 "promesse royale, par un enregistrement ordonne 
 " au conseil superieur, & par une publication notoire 
 " & prescrite. Le recours a I'acte de cession par les 
 "differens etats de la colonie, est I'unique fin de la 
 "lettre de notre seigneur roi; rien de mieux fonde 
 " & de plus legal que le droit de representations, ac- 
 "quis par autorite royale aux habitans & citoyens 
 " de la colonie. 
 
 "Passons a Texamen de la lettre de M. Ulloa, 
 " ecrite au conseil superieur de la Nouvelle Orleans 
 "en datte du 10 Juillet 1765. Je rapporterai mot a 
 "mot I'article concernant M. le conseil superieur & 
 " messieurs les habitans. 
 
 '' Je me Hate d'avance qu'elle pourra me propor- 
 " tionner des occasions favorahles pour vous te- 
 '' moigner les desirs qu'ils m'assistent de pouvoir 
 ''vous rendre tous les services, que vous & mes- 
 '' sieurs les habitans pourront souhaiter, de quoi je 
 ''vous prie de les assurer de ma part, & qu'en cela 
 " ne ferai que remplir mes devoirs & Hater mon in- 
 " clination. 
 
 "M. Ulloa a prouve par la les ordres qu'il avoit 
 "regu de S. M. C. conformes a I'acte solemnel de 
 
Pittmaris Missisippi Settlements 139 
 
 according to the laws, forms, and customs of the 
 colony. Can Mr. Ulloa's titles give weight to 
 ordinances and orders which violate the respect 
 due to the solemn act of cession? The antient 
 privileges, the tranquility of the subjects of 
 France, the laws, forms, and customs of the 
 colony, are rendered sacred by a royal promise, 
 by a registering ordered by the superior council, 
 and by a publication universally known. The 
 recourse had to the act of cession by the different 
 classes of the colony is the sole aim of the letter 
 of our sovereign lord the king; nothing can be 
 better grounded or more legal than the right of 
 remonstrating, which the inhabitants and citizens 
 of the colony have acquired by royal authority. 
 "Let us proceed to an examination of the letter 
 of Mr. Ulloa, written to the superior council of 
 New Orleans, dated the loth of July, 1765. (I 
 shall here cite, word for word, the article relative 
 to the superior council and the inhabitants.) 
 
 ""/ Hatter myself beforehand, that it will he able 
 to procure me favourable opportunities to testify 
 to you my desires of having it in my power to do 
 you all the service that you and the inhabitants 
 can wish, which I beg you would assure them of 
 from me, and let them know that in acting thus I 
 shall at once discharge my duty and gratify my 
 inclinations." 
 
 "Mr. Ulloa proved thereby the orders which he 
 had received from his catholic majesty, conform- 
 able to the solemn act of [83] cession, and he 
 
140 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 "cession, & il annongoit un sentiment [82] indis- 
 "pensable a tout gouverneur qui veut bien servir 
 "son roi dans les colonies. Specialement sans ha- 
 "bitans point de commerce, sans commerce peu 
 "d'habitans. Le rapport des deux industries a la 
 "masse de I'etat, etaye les trones. La liberte & la 
 "concurrence sont meres nourrices des deux etats; 
 "I'exclusion, le tiran & le maratre. Sans liberte 
 "peu de vertus. Du despotisme nait la pusillani- 
 " mite & Fabime des vices. Uhomme n'est reconnu 
 "pecher vis-a-vis de Dieu, que parce qu'il conserve 
 "le libre arbitre, ou est la liberte des habitans & 
 "des negogians? Les marques de protection & de 
 " bienveillance sont converties en despotisme: una 
 "seule autorite veut tout aneantir. Tous les etats 
 " sans distinction ne doivent plus, sans courir risque 
 "d'etre taxes de crime, que trembler, etre asservis 
 "& ramper: le conseil superieur, boulevard de la 
 " tranquilite des citoyens vertueux, ne s'est soutenu 
 " que par la probite, le desinteressement des magis- 
 "trats, & la confiance reunie des citoyens en eux. 
 "Sans prise de possession, sans I'enregistrement 
 " indispensable au conseil superieur des titres & pa- 
 "tentes suivant les loix, formes, & usages de la 
 "colonic & de la presentation de I'acte de cession, 
 " M. UUoa a fait juger par un president, trois con- 
 " seillers, & un greffier, nommes d'office des f aits de 
 
Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 141 
 
 "discovered a sentiment indispensable in every 
 "governor who is desirous of serving his king in 
 "the colonies: especially as without inhabitants 
 " there can be no commerce, and without commerce 
 "few inhabitants. The proportion of industry to 
 " the bulk of the state supports and props the throne. 
 " Liberty and emulation are the nursing mothers of 
 "the state; monopoly or exclusion, the tyrant and 
 "the step-mother. Without liberty there are but 
 " few virtues. From despotism springs pusillanim- 
 " ity and the abyss of vices. Man is considered as 
 "sinning before God only because he retains his 
 "free-will, upon which depends the liberty of in- 
 " habitants and merchants. Instances of protection 
 "and benevolence are converted into despotism: a 
 "single authority would absorb and annihilate 
 "every thing. All ranks, without distinction, can 
 " no longer, without running the risk of being taxed 
 "with guilt, do any thing else but tremble, bow 
 "their necks to the yoke, and lick the dust. The 
 "superior council, bulwark of the tranquility of 
 " virtuous citizens, has supported itself only by the 
 "probity, the disinterestedness of merchants, and 
 "confidence of the united citizens in that tribunal. 
 "Without taking possession, without registering, 
 "as was necessary, in the superior council, titles 
 "and patents according to the laws, forms, and 
 " customs of the colony, and to the requisition of the 
 " act of cession, Mr. Ulloa has caused a president, 
 "three counsellors, and a secretary, nominated for 
 "the purpose, to take cognizance of facts which 
 
142 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 "la competence du conseil superieur & concernant 
 " des citoyens Frangois. Vingt f ois les mecontente- 
 "mens, & desagremens sembloient vous forcer a 
 "vous demettre de vos places, mais vous avez tou- 
 " jours regarde annexe a votre etat de conseiller du 
 "roi tres-chretien, d'adoucir & de calmer les mur- 
 " mures des citoyens vexes. L'amour de la patrie, 
 " & la justice due a tout citoyen qui la reclame ont 
 " nourri votre zele. Elle s'est rendue avec la meme 
 " exactitude, vous n'avez jamais voulu faire vos re- 
 " presentations aux infractions f aites a I'acte de ces- 
 "sion, vous avez toujours craint d'autoriser une 
 "masse de colonic [84] mecontante & menacee des 
 "plus grands malheurs, vous avez prefere la tran- 
 " quilite publique : mais la masse des habitans & ne- 
 "gocians vous demandent justice. 
 
 "Passons a I'examen exact & scrupuleux des 
 " griefs, plaintes, & imputations contenues dans les 
 "representations des habitans & des negocians. 
 " Quels tristes & notoires tableaux vous exposent 
 " les dites representations ! les fleaux de la derniere 
 "guerre, une suspension jusqu'a ce jour de pay- 
 "ment de sept millions de papier du roi mis sur la 
 " place pour les besoins du service & regus avec con- 
 " fiance par les negocians & habitans avoient recule 
 " Taisance & les f acilites de la circulation ; mais I'ac- 
 "tivite & I'industrie du cultivateur & negocians 
 " Frangois avoient presque surmonte les echecs. Les 
 "coins les plus recules des possessions sauvages 
 
Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 143 
 
 "should properly be determined by the superior 
 "council, and in which French citizens were con- 
 "cerned. Often did discontents and disgusts seem 
 "to force you to resign your places, but you have 
 "always considered it as a duty of your station 
 "of counsellors to the most christian king, to 
 "alleviate and calm the murmurs of the oppressed 
 " citizens. The love of your country, and the justice 
 "due to every citizen who applies for it, have 
 " nourished your zeal. It has been always rendered 
 " with the same exactness ; you never thought proper 
 "to make your representations upon the act of 
 "cession; you declined to authorise a numerous 
 " [85] discontented colony, threatened with the 
 "most dreadful calamities; you preferred public 
 "tranquility: but the bulk of the inhabitants and 
 " merchants apply to you for justice. 
 
 "Let us now proceed to an accurate and scru- 
 " pulous examination of the grievances, complaints, 
 "and imputations contained in the representations 
 " of the inhabitants and merchants. What sad and 
 "dismal pictures do the said representations bring 
 "before your eyes! The scourges of the last war, 
 "a suspension to this day of the payment of seven 
 "millions of paper-money of the king's, laid down 
 " to supply the calls of the service, and received with 
 " confidence by the merchants and inhabitants, had 
 "obstructed the ease and facility of the circula- 
 "tion, but the activity and industry of the planter 
 "and French merchants had almost got the better 
 "of all difficulties. The most remote corners 
 
144 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 ' avoient ete decouverts, le commerce des pelleteries 
 
 * etoit pousse a son plus haut point, la nouvelle cul- 
 'ture du cotton adoptee, jointe aux indigots & ta- 
 *bacs, assuroient des chargemens aux armateurs. 
 ' Le commissaire de S. M. C. avoit annonce & pro- 
 *mis dix ans de liberte de commerce, ce tems suffi- 
 
 * soit pour tout citoyen Francois attache a son sei- 
 ' gneur roi. Les tabacs de cette colonic prohibes en 
 'Espagne, ou ceux de la Havanne sont les seuls 
 'permis: les bois (branche considerable des reve- 
 *nus des habitans) inutiles a I'Espagne fournis 
 ' dans cet objet par ses possessions, & enfin I'indigo 
 ' inf erieur a celui de Guatimala qui en f ournit plus 
 'qu'il n'en faut aux manufactures d'Espagne, ren- 
 'doient ruineux les retours des denrees des habi- 
 *tans en Espagne & livroient les dits habitans a la 
 'plus grande misere. Le commissaire de S. M. C. 
 'avoit constate publiquement I'impossibilite du 
 'commerce de ce pays avec I'Espagne: toute pro- 
 'tection, faveur, encouragement, etoient journelle- 
 
 ment promis a Fhabitant, le titre de protecteur 
 [86] fut decerne a M. Ulloa, la bonne foi & la 
 confiance nourissoient I'esperance & I'activite ne- 
 cessaire au cultivateur; mais par quelle fatalite 
 ruinante & imperceptible a-t-on vu une maison de 
 vingt mille livres vendue six mille livres, & les 
 habitations tout-a-coup perdre sur leur valeur in- 
 trinsique la moitie & les deux tiers ? Les fortunes 
 
Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 145 
 
 "of the possessions of the savages had been dis- 
 " covered, the fur trade had been carried to its 
 "highest perfection, the new culture of cotton 
 " adopted, these, joined to the indigoes and tobaccos, 
 "secured cargoes to those who were concerned in 
 "fitting out ships. His cathoHc majesty's com- 
 " missioner had promised a free trade for ten years, 
 "that period being sufficient for every subject of 
 "France attached to his sovereign the king. The 
 "tobaccos of this colony prohibited in Spain, or 
 " those of the Havannah, are the only ones allowed : 
 "the woods (a considerable branch of the income of 
 "the inhabitants) being useless to Spain, furnished 
 "in this article by its plantations, and the indigo 
 "being inferior to that of Guatimala, which sup- 
 " plies more than requisite to the manufactures of 
 " Spain, these circumstances ruined the returns of 
 " the commodities of the inhabitants of this colony 
 " to Spain, and delivered up the said inhabitants a 
 "prey to the most dreadful misery. His catholic 
 "majesty's commissioner had publickly proved the 
 " impossibility of this country's trading with Spain : 
 " all patronage, favour, encouragement, were every 
 " day promised the inhabitant ; the title of protector 
 "was decreed to Mr. Ulloa; [87] sincerity and 
 " confidence nourished hope and the activity neces- 
 " sary to the planter : but by what undermining and 
 " imperceptible fatality have we seen a house worth 
 " twenty thousand livres sold for six thousand, and 
 " habitations all on a sudden lose one half and two- 
 " thirds of their intrinsic value? Fortunes waste 
 
146 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 *' s'ecroulent, & le numeraire est plus rare que ja- 
 " mais ; la confiance est perdue, & le decouragement 
 "est general, tout retentit du cri lugubre de la mi- 
 "sere, & le precieux titre de citoyen Frangois se 
 "voit eclipser, & le fatal decret concernant le com- 
 "merce de la Louisiane porte le dernier coup de 
 " massue a Faneantissement total de la colonie. Le 
 ''pavilion Espagnol est arbore a la Balise & aux 
 " Illinois, & autres lieux, aucuns titres, aucunes pa- 
 "tentes, n'ont ete presentees au conseil superieur: 
 "le terns fuit, les delais fixes pour la liberte de 
 " I'emigration se trouveront expires, la force tira- 
 " nisera, il f audra vivre asservis, charges de chaines 
 "ou abandonner precipitamment des etablissemens 
 "transportes du grand-pere au petit-fils. Tous les 
 "habitans & negocians vous demandent leur sei- 
 " gneur roi, Louis le bien-aime ! leur fortunes & leur 
 " sang sont offert pour vivre & mourir Frangois. 
 
 " Passons au resume des points de charge, griefs 
 " & imputations. M. Ulloa a fait juger par des con- 
 " seillers par lui nommes d'office des faits de la com- 
 "petence du conseil superieur concernant les seuls 
 "citoyens Franqois: les sentences ont ete signifiees 
 "& mises a I'execution contre les sieurs Cadis & 
 " Leblanc ; M. Ulloa a soutenu les negres mecontens 
 "de leurs maitres, M. le commissaire de S. M. C. 
 "n'a presente au conseil superieur aucun de ses 
 "titres, pouvoirs, & provisions, n'a point exhibe la 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements i/\.j 
 
 "away, and specie is more scarce than ever; confi- 
 " dence is lost, and the discouragement becomes gen- 
 "eral; the plaintive cries of distress are heard on 
 " every side, the precious name of subject of France 
 " is seen to be eclipsed, and the fatal decree concern- 
 " ing the commerce of Louisiana gives the last fatal 
 "stroke to the colony, that must totally annihilate 
 " it. The Spanish standard is set up at Balise and 
 "at the Illinois, and other places: no titles, no 
 "patents were presented to the superior council: 
 " time flies apace, the delays fixed for the liberty of 
 "emigration will soon expire, force will tyrannise, 
 "we must live in slavery and loaded with chains, 
 "or precipitately forsake establishments delivered 
 "down from the grandfather to the grandson. All 
 " the inhabitants and merchants call upon you, their 
 "sovereign lord the king, Lewis the well-beloved; 
 "their treasures and their blood are offered, they 
 " are resolved to live and die French. 
 
 " Let us proceed to resume the points of the 
 "charge, grievances and imputations. Mr. UUoa 
 " has caused counsellors, named by himself, to take 
 "cognizance of facts, which should by right be 
 " determined by the superior council, relative to the 
 "subjects of France alone: the sentences have been 
 "signified and put in execution against messieurs 
 "Cadis and Leblanc; Mr. Ulloa has supported the 
 "negroes, dissatisfied with their masters; the com- 
 "missary of his catholic majesty has presented to 
 " the superior council none of his titles, powers, and 
 "provisions; has not exhibited a copy of the act 
 
148 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 "copie de I'acte de cession pour en demander acte, 
 "a sans les dites formalites indispensables arbore 
 "pavilion Espagnol a la Balise, aux Illinois & au- 
 "tres lieux; a, sans autorite legale, puni & chatie 
 *'& vexe des [88] citoyens Francois; en a meme 
 "envoye aux arrets dans la fregate de S. M. C. a 
 "usurpe, de sa seule autorite, le quart des com- 
 "munes des habitans de la ville, se Test approprie 
 "& I'a fait entourer pour y faire paroitre ses che- 
 "vaux. 
 
 " Le tout murement examine, je requiers pour le 
 "roi, que les sentences rendues par les conseillers 
 ''nommes d'office & mises a execution contre les 
 "sieurs Cadis & Leblanc, citoyens Frangois, soient 
 "declares attentatoires a I'autorite de notre sei- 
 "gneur roi, & destructives du respect du a sa justice 
 " souveraine seantes en son conseil superieur, en ce 
 "qu'elles violent les loix, formes, & usages de la 
 "colonic, confirmes & guarantis par I'acte solemnel 
 "de cession; que M. Ulloa soit declare infractaire 
 "a nos loix, formes, usages, & aux ordres de S. 
 " M. C. par Facte de cession & certifie par sa lettre 
 "dattee de la Havanne du dix Juillet 1765; qu'il 
 "soit declare usurpateur d'une autorite illegale en 
 " f aisant chatier & vexer des citoyens Frangois sans 
 "avoir au prealable satisfait aux loix, formes, & 
 "usages de faire enregistrer au conseil superieur 
 
Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 149 
 
 "of cession, in order to have it registered; has, 
 " without the said indispensable formaHties, set up 
 " the Spanish standard at BaHse, at the lUinois, and 
 "other places; has, without legal authority, pun- 
 dished and oppressed subjects of France; [89] has 
 "even confined some in the frigate of his catholic 
 "majesty; has by his authority alone usurped the 
 "fourth part of the common of the inhabitants of 
 "the city; has appropriated it to himself, and has 
 " caused it to be surrounded, that his horses might 
 " graze there. 
 
 " Having maturely weighed all this, I require, in 
 " behalf of the king, that the sentences pronounced 
 " by the counsellors nominated for the purpose, and 
 "put in execution against messieurs Cadis and Le 
 "Blanc, subjects of France, be declared encroach- 
 "ments upon the authority of our sovereign lord 
 "the king, and destructive of the respect due to 
 "his supreme justice, seated in his superior coun- 
 " cil, inasmuch as they violate the laws, forms, and 
 " customs of the colony, confirmed and guaranteed 
 "by the solemn act of cession; that Mr. Ulloa be 
 "declared to have violated our laws, forms, cus- 
 "toms, and the orders of his catholic majesty in 
 " the act of cession, which is confirmed by his letter 
 "from the Havannah, dated the 20th of July 1765; 
 "that he be declared usurper of illegal authority, 
 " by causing subjects of France to be punished and 
 "oppressed, without having previously complied 
 " with the laws, forms, and customs, in causing his 
 "powers, titles, and provisions to be registered in 
 
150 Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 
 
 " ses pouvoirs litres & provisions & la copie de I'acte 
 ''de cession pour en demander acte; qu'il soit en- 
 " joint a M. UUoa commissaire de S. M. C. de sor- 
 " tir de la colonie dans la f regate sur laquelle il est 
 " venu sous le plus court delai pour eviter des acci- 
 "dens ou de nouvelles rumeurs; & d'aller rendre 
 ''compte de sa conduite a S. M. C. & quant aux 
 "differens postes etablis par mon dit sieur Ulloa 
 " qu'il soit dit qu'il laissera les ordres par ecrit qu'il 
 "jugera convenable; qu'il soit declare responsable 
 "de tons les evenemens qu'il auroit pu prevoir; 
 "que messieurs Aubry &: Foucault soient pries & 
 "meme sommes, au nom de notre seigneur roi, de 
 " continuer a commander & regir la colonie comme 
 "ils faisoient ci-devant, que tous batimens sortant 
 " de cette colonie ne puissent [90] etre expedies que 
 " sous des passeports signes de M. Foucault faisant 
 "fonctions d'ordonnateur ; que la prise de posses- 
 " sion ne pourra etre proposee ni tentee par aucuns 
 "moyens sans de nouveaux ordres de S. M. T. C. 
 " que messieurs Loyola, Gayarro, & Navarro seront 
 "declares etre garants de leur signature dans les 
 "bons qu'il sont mis sur la place s'ils ne sont ap- 
 "paroir des ordres de S. M. C. qui les ait autorises 
 " a mettre les dits Bons & papiers sur la place ; qu'il 
 "leur soit accorde les delais necessaires pour don- 
 " ner I'ordre qu'ils jugeront convenable a leur comp- 
 
Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 151 
 
 "the superior council, with the copy of the act of 
 "cession; that it be enjoined Mr. Ulloa, commis- 
 " sioner of his cathoHc majesty, to leave the colony 
 " in the frigate in which he came, without delay, to 
 " avoid accidents and new clamours, and to go and 
 " give an account of his conduct to his catholic maj- 
 " esty : and with regard to the different posts estab- 
 " lished by the said Mr. Ulloa, he is desired to leave 
 "in writing such orders, as he shall think neces- 
 "sary; that he be declared responsible for all the 
 "events which he might have foreseen; that 
 "Messrs. Aubry and Foucault be requested, and 
 "even summoned, in the name of our sovereign 
 " lord the king, to continue to command and govern 
 " the colony as they did heretofore ; that such ships 
 "as sail from this colony shall not [91] be dis- 
 " patched without passports signed by Mr. Fou- 
 "cault, invested with the office of regulator, and 
 "discharging the duties enjoined by it; that the 
 " taking possession can neither be proposed nor at- 
 "tempted by any means, without new orders being 
 " issued by his most christian majesty; that Messrs. 
 "Loyola, Gayarro, and Navarro, shall be declared 
 "guarantees of their signature for the goods and 
 "paper-circulation which they have caused to be 
 "exposed in the market-place, if they do not pro- 
 " duce the orders of his catholic majesty, empower- 
 "ing them to expose the said goods and paper- 
 " circulation in the public market-place ; that a suf- 
 "ficient time be granted them to take the proper 
 " measures to be ready to give an account of their 
 
152 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 " tabilite. Que les habitans & negocians soient au- 
 " torises a choisir des deputes pour aller porter leurs 
 "suppliques au seigneur roi; qu'il soit fixe & ar- 
 "rete, que le conseil superieur addressera des re- 
 " presentations a notre seigneur roi, que I'arret a 
 "intervenir soit lu, public, affiche, & enregistre; 
 " que copies collationnees en soient envoyees a mon- 
 " seigneur le due de Praslin avec une lettre du con- 
 " seil superieur & aussi dans les postes de la colonie 
 "pour y etre lues, publiees, affichees, & enregis- 
 " trees." 
 
 Oui le rapport de messieurs, M**"^ Uchet ecuyer, 
 sieur de Knion, & Piot Delaunay, conseillers com- 
 missaires en cette partie, le tout murement examine 
 & la matiere mise en deliberation, le procureur- 
 general oui & retire : 
 
 Le conseil compose de treize membres dont six 
 nommes d'office, ayant chacun donne son avis par 
 ecrit, disant droit sur les dites representations, a 
 declare & declare les sentences rendues par des con- 
 seillers nommes d'office par M. Ulloa, & mises a 
 execution contre les sieurs Cadis & Leblanc citoy- 
 ens Frangois, attentatoires a Fautorite de notre 
 seigneur roi & destructives du respect du a sa jus- 
 tice souveraine seante en son conseil superieur; Fa 
 declare usurpateur [92] d'une autorite illegale en 
 faisant chatier & vexer des citoyens Frangois, sans 
 avoir au prealable satisfait aux loix & formes, n'ay- 
 
Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 153 
 
 " proceedings. That the inhabitants and merchants 
 " be empowered to elect deputies to carry their peti- 
 "tions and supphcations to our sovereign lord the 
 "king; that it be fixed and determined, that the 
 " superior council shall make representations to our 
 "sovereign lord the king; that the decree which is 
 " issued shall be read, set up, published, and regis- 
 "tered; that confronted copies be sent to his grace 
 "the duke of Praslin, with a letter of the superior 
 " council, and likewise to the posts of the colony, to 
 " be there read, set up, published, and registered." 
 
 The report being heard of Messrs. Attre Uchet, 
 esq. le sieur de Knion, and Piot Delaunay, counsel- 
 lors and commissioners appointed for this purpose, 
 the whole being duly weighed and the subject delib- 
 erated upon, the attorney-general having been 
 heard and having retired : 
 
 The council composed of thirteen members, of 
 which six are nominated to officiate, having each 
 of them given their opinion in writing, pronounc- 
 ing upon the said representations, has declared and 
 declares the sentences pronounced by the counsel- 
 lors nominated by Mr. Ulloa, and carried into ex- 
 ecution against Messrs. Cadis and Le Blanc, sub- 
 jects of France, to be encroachments upon the au- 
 thority of our sovereign lord the king, and de- 
 structive of the respect due to his supreme justice, 
 vested in his superior council; [93] has declared 
 and declares him an usurper of illegal authority, in 
 causing subjects of France to be punished and op- 
 pressed without having previously complied with 
 
154 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 ant fait apparoir ni enregistrer ses pouvoirs, titres 
 & provisions; & au prejudice des privileges a eux 
 conserves par le dit acte de cession: & pour preve- 
 nir quelque violence du peuple, & eviter quelque 
 tumulte dangereux, le conseil par sa prudence ordi- 
 naire, se trouve oblige d'enjoindre, comme de fait 
 il en joint a M. Ulloa de sortir de la colonic sous 
 trois jours pour tout delai, soit dans la fregate de 
 S. M. C. sur laquelle il est venu, ou dans tel autre 
 batiment qui lui paroitra convenable, & d'aller ren- 
 dre compte de sa conduite a S. M. C. a ordonne & 
 ordonne que concernant les postes par lui etablis 
 dans le haut du fleuve, il laissera tels ordres qu'il 
 jugera convenables, le rendant responsable de tons 
 les evenemens qu'il auroit pu prevoir. A prie & 
 prie messieurs Aubry & Foucault & les somme 
 meme au nom de notre seigneur roi, de continuer a 
 commander & regir, comme ils faisoient ci-devant 
 la colonic: defend expressement a tous armateurs 
 & capitaines d'expedier aucun batiment sous autre 
 passeport que celui de M. Foucault, faisant fonc- 
 tion de Fordonnateur : a ordonne & ordonne que la 
 prise de possession pour S. M. C. ne pourra etre 
 proposee & tentee, par aucun moyens, sans des nou- 
 veaux ordres de S. M. T. C. qu'en consequence M. 
 Ulloa s'embarquera sous le dit delai de trois jours 
 dans tel batiment qu'il jugera a propos avec tous 
 les matelots qui sont a la Balise. Pour ce qui con- 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 155 
 
 the lav/s and forms, having neither produced his 
 powers, titles, and provisions, nor caused them to 
 be registered, and that in prejudice of the privileges 
 insured to them by the said act of cession: and to 
 prevent any violence of the populace, and avoid any 
 dangerous tumult, the council, in its usual pru- 
 dence, finds itself obliged to enjoin, as in fact it en- 
 joins, Mr. UUoa to quit the colony, allowing him 
 only the space of three days, either in the frigate 
 of his catholic majesty, in which he came, or in 
 whatever vessel he shall think proper, and go and 
 give an account of his conduct to his catholic maj- 
 esty : it has likewise ordained and ordains, that with 
 regard to the posts established by him at the upper 
 part of the river, he shall leave such orders as he 
 judges expedient, making him at the same time re- 
 sponsible for all the events which he might have 
 foreseen. It has likewise requested and requests 
 Messrs. Aubry and Foucault, and even cites them 
 in the name of our sovereign lord the king, to con- 
 tinue to command and govern the colony as they 
 did heretofore: at the same time expressly forbids 
 all those who fit out vessels, and all captains of 
 ships, to dispatch any vessel with any other pass- 
 port but that of Mr. Foucault, who is to do the 
 office of regulator: has likewise ordered and or- 
 ders, that the taking possession for his catholic maj- 
 esty can neither be proposed nor attempted by any 
 means without new orders from his most christian 
 majesty: that in consequence Mr. Ulloa shall em- 
 bark in the space of three days in whatever ship he 
 
156 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 cerne messieurs Loyola, Gayarro, & Navarro, le 
 conseil a ordonne qu'ils pourront rester pour suivre 
 leur comptabilite jusques a de nouveaux ordres de 
 S. M. T. C. en par eux demeurer garans de leurs 
 signatures dans les bons qu'ils ont mis sur la place, 
 a moins qu'ils ne fassent apparoir des ordres de S. 
 M. C. A autorise & autorise les habitans & nego- 
 cians, a choisir [94] telles personnes qu'ils croiront 
 convenable pour aller porter leur supplique au 
 seigneur roi, & a arrete que pareillement le conseil 
 superieur addressera des representations a notre dit 
 seigneur roi; ordonne que le present arret sera im- 
 prime, lu, public & affiche & enregistre en tous les 
 lieux & postes de cette colonic, & que copie en sera 
 envoyee a Mgr. le due de Praslin, ministre de la 
 marine. 
 
 Mandons, a tous nos huissiers ou sergents sur ce 
 requis, faire pour I'execution du present tous actes 
 & exploits necessaires, de ce faire donnons pouvoir. 
 Et enjoignons au substitut du procureur general 
 du roi, tenir le main a I'execution, & d'en avertir la 
 cour en son tems. 
 
 Donne, en la chambre de conseil, le vingt neuf 
 Octobre 1768. 
 
 Par le conseil, 
 
 GARIC, greffier en chef. 
 
Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 157 
 
 shall think proper. With regard to what relates 
 to Messrs. Loyola, Gayarro, and Navarro, the 
 counsel has decreed that they may stay and follow 
 their respective business, till they have received 
 new orders from the most christian king, and re- 
 main sureties of their signatures for the goods and 
 paper-circulation which they exposed to public 
 view in the market-place, except they produce the 
 orders of his catholic majesty. Has likewise au- 
 thorised and authorises the [95] inhabitants and 
 merchants to chuse whatever persons they think 
 proper to go with their petition to our sovereign 
 lord the king, and has decreed that the superior 
 council shall in like manner make representations 
 to our said sovereign lord the king : orders that the 
 present decree shall be printed, read, set up, pub- 
 lished, and registered in all places and posts of this 
 colony, and that a copy of it shall be sent to his 
 grace the duke, of Praslin, minister of the marine. ^ 
 
 We order all our bailififs and Serjeants to per- 
 form all the acts and ceremonies requisite for car- 
 rying the present decree into execution; we at the 
 same time empower them to do so. We also enjoin 
 the substitute of the king's attorney-general to su- 
 perintend the execution, and to apprize the court 
 at a proper time. 
 
 Given at the council-chamber on the 29th of Oc- 
 tober, 1768. 
 
 By the council, 
 
 GARIC, principal secretary. 
 
158 Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 Je proteste contre I'arret du conseil, qui renvoye 
 monsieur Don Antonio de UUoa de cette colonic; 
 leurs majestes tres chretienne & catholique seront 
 offenses du traitement que Ton fait eprouver a une 
 personne de son caractere, & malgre le peu de 
 forces qui j'ai sous mes ordres, je m'opposerois de 
 tout mon pouvoir a son depart, si je ne craignois 
 que sa vie ne fut exposee, aussi bien que celle de 
 tons les Espagnols qui se trouvent ici. 
 
 Delibere a la chambre de conseil, ce 29 Octobre 
 1768. 
 
 Signe 
 
 AUBRY. 
 
 [96] Collatione sur I'original demeure es mi- 
 nutes de greffe, par nous greffier en chef soussigne, 
 a la Nouvelle Orleans le deux Novembre 1768. 
 
 GARIC, greffier en chef. 
 
 [98] EXTRAIT DES ReGISTRES DU CONSEIL SUPE- 
 RIEUR DE LA PROVINCE DE LA LOUISIANE, 
 
 DU 31 Octobre 1768 
 
 Vu par le conseil superieur, la protestation faite 
 
 par M. Aubry, chevalier de I'ordre royal & militaire 
 
 de St. Louis, commandant pour sa majeste tres- 
 
 chretienne de la ditte province, a I'arret de la cour 
 
Pittmans Missisippi Settlements 159 
 
 I protest against the decree of the council, which 
 dismisses don Antonio de Ulloa from this colony; 
 their most christian and catholic majesties will be 
 offended at this usage of a person of his character ; 
 and tho' I have so small a force subject to my or- 
 ders, I should with all my might oppose his de- 
 parture, were I not apprehensive of endangering 
 his life, as well as the lives of all the Spaniards in 
 this country. 
 
 Deliberated at the council-chamber this 29th of 
 October 1768. 
 
 Signed 
 
 AUBRY. 
 
 [97] Compared with the original, left amongst 
 the minutes of the secretary's office, by me, the first 
 secretary, whose name is hereto signed, at New 
 Orleans, 2d of November 1768. 
 
 GARIC, principal secretary. 
 
 [99] Extract of the Registers of the Superior 
 Council of the Province of Louisiana, 
 3 1 ST October 1768 
 The superior council having taken into consider- 
 ation the protest made by Mr. Aubry, knight of the 
 royal and military order of St. Louis, governor of 
 said province for his most christian majesty, 
 against the decree of court delivered on the 29th of 
 the present month against Mr. Ulloa, commissioner 
 of his catholic majesty; and this protest being read 
 
l6o Pittman's Missisippi Settlements 
 
 rendu le 29 du present mois, centre M. Ulloa com- 
 missaire de S. M. C. icelle lue I'audience tenante; 
 oui sur ce, le procureur-general du roi en ses con- 
 clusions; la matiere raise en deliberations: le con- 
 seil, sans condamner les motifs qui ont donne lieu 
 a M. Aubry, de protester contre I'arret de la cour 
 du 29 du present, a declare & declare la ditte pro- 
 testation nulle, & comme non avenue; ordonne que 
 le dit arret sortira son plein & entier effet, ce qui 
 sera execute en toute sa forme & teneur. 
 
 Donne & delibere en la chambre de conseil, le 31 
 Octobre 1768. 
 
 Par le conseil, 
 
 GARIC, greffier en chef. 
 
 FIN. 
 
Pittmans Missisippi Settlements i6i 
 
 whilst the audience was holding, and the king's 
 attorney-general being heard thereupon, and the 
 matter thoroughly debated; the council, without 
 condemning the motives which have caused Mr. 
 Aubry to protest against the decree of court of the 
 29th of the present month, has declared and de- 
 clares the said protest null and void, and orders 
 that the said decree shall have its entire effect, 
 which shall be executed in its full force and tenor. 
 
 Given and resolved at the council-chamber, Octo- 
 ber 31, 1768. 
 
 By the council, 
 
 GARIC, principal secretary. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
INDEX 
 
 Note : Pittman's spelling of proper names is corrected in this index 
 
 ABBADIE, D', 10, 47, 48, 49, 
 
 76, 94. 
 Acadiians, 51, 52, 60, 76. 
 Adaes, Fort of, 32. 
 Alabama River, 60, 76. 
 Amite River, 64-71. 
 Appalaches, 12. 
 Appalachicola, 9. 
 Arkansas Post, 62, 82-8'3. 
 Arkansas River, 31, 83. 
 Arret of the Superior Council, 
 
 Oct. 29, 1768, 15, 50, 104-157. 
 Ascantia, Bayou, 64, 65. 
 Atchafalaya River, 76. 
 Aubry, Charles Chevalier d', 
 
 49, 50, 51, 53, 77, 159. 
 
 BALIZB, 34, 38. 
 
 Beauvais (Vitol Ste. Geme). 
 
 Beckwith, Hiram W., 16. 
 
 Black River, 32. 
 
 Bons (paper-money), 46, 48. 
 
 Bouquet, General HIenry, 9, 11. 
 
 Browne, Montford, 12. 
 
 Brule, 58. 
 
 Bute, Fort, 49. 
 
 CAHOKIA, 91, 92-93, 94. 
 Campbell, Captain John, 52, 
 
 69, 70. 
 Canadians, 92, 102. 
 Cannes, 58. 
 Capuchins, 42. 
 Caresse, Pierre, 56. 
 Chapitoula, 58. 
 Charlevoix, Pierre F. X. de, 
 
 23. 
 Chartres, Fort, 10, 11, 86, 87, 
 
 88-90, 91, 92, 94. 
 Craw-fish, 34. 
 Croghan, Major George, 10. 
 
 DAVION'S Rock, 10, 75. 
 Denny, Captain, 12. 
 Des Moines River, 30. 
 Doucet, Julien Jerome, 56. 
 
 ENGLISH Turn, 39. 
 
 FARMER, Major Robert, 11, 
 13, 14, 69, 70. 
 
 Florida, East and WIest, 9, 13, 
 15. 
 
 Fort Adams, 75. 
 
 Forts. See Adaes, Bute, Char- 
 tres, Gage, Rosalie, and 
 Toulouse. 
 
 Foucault, Intendant, 49, 56. 
 
 GAGE, Fort, 85. 
 
 Gage, General Thomas, 11, 14, 
 
 63. 
 Garic, Jean Baptiste, 56, 157, 
 
 160. 
 Gentilly, 58. 
 
 Germans, 51, 52, 58, 60, 8'3. 
 Grandmaison, Major de, 51. 
 
 HALDIMAND, General Fred- 
 erick, 11, 12, 13, 14, 25. 
 
 Hennepin, Father Liouis, 23. 
 
 Hops, 78, 97. 
 
 Hutchins, Thomas, 15, 16, 87, 
 91. 
 
 IBERVILLE River, 11, 13, 33, 
 52, 62-71, 72. 
 
 Illinois Country; description, 
 97-98; government, 99-101; 
 inhabitants, 102-103. 
 
 Illinois River, 30, 31, 62, 70, 
 75, 83, 84, 97. 
 
 Illinois Villages, 10, 11, 17. 
 
 Imlay, Gilbert, 15. 
 
 Indians: Alabamas, 60; Ar- 
 kansas, 82; Attacapas, 62, 
 76; Caddoes, 83; Cahokias, 
 97; Cherokees, 85; Chicka- 
 saws, 36, 58; ChoctawS; 47, 
 58; Creeks, 47; Houmas, 60; 
 Kaskaskias, 97; Kickapoo^ 
 97; Mascoutens, 97; Miamis, 
 97; Michigamias, 97; Ouia- 
 tanons, 97; Padoucas, 83; 
 Pawnees, 83; Peorias, 97; 
 Piankishaws, 97; Quapaws, 
 see Arkansas; Tonicas, 10, 
 75. 
 
 Indigo, 59, 73. 
 
 JOHNSTONE, Gov. George, 
 10, 13, 15, 24, 71. 
 
164 Pittman's Mississippi Settlements 
 
 KASKASKIA, 16, 83, 84-8'6, 87, 
 
 95. 
 Kerlerec, Louis Billouart de, 
 
 46, 47, 48. 
 Kitchin, Thomas, 17. 
 
 LA FOURCHE, 60. 
 Lafreniere, Nico las Chauvin 
 
 de, 51, 56, 57. 
 L' Argent, Bayou, 80. 
 La Salle, Robert Cavelier de. 
 
 29. 
 Law, Jolm, 58, 83. 
 Le Page du Pratz, 23. 
 Loftus, Major Arthur, 10, 75. 
 Louisiana: government, 44; 
 
 produce, 59. 
 
 MAIZJE, 59, 74, 76, 96. 
 
 Manchac, Bayou, 64-71; Pass, 
 65. 
 
 Marquis, Pierre, 56. 
 
 Masan, Balthasar, 51, 56. 
 
 Maurepas, Lake, 64, 65, &6, 67. 
 
 Miami River, 97. 
 
 Milhet, Jean and Joseph, 56, 
 
 Minnesota River, 30. 
 
 Misere. See Ste. Genevieve. 
 
 Mississippi River, 9, 10, 11, 13, 
 15, 16, 29-40, 62, 63, 68, 72, 
 87, 89, 92, 95, 97. 
 
 Missouri River, 30, 31. 
 
 Mobile, 9', 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 
 24, 26, 47. 
 
 Mobile Bay, 12. 
 
 Moingona (Des Moines) Riv- 
 er, 30. 
 
 NATALBANY River, 66. 
 Natchez, 11, 34, 36, 52, 64, 71, 
 
 78-81. 
 Natchitoches, 32, 36, 62. 
 New Orleans, 13, 16, 17, 35, 36, 
 
 41-61. 
 Noyan, Jean Baptlste de, 56, 
 
 i57. 
 
 OHIO River, 11, 31, 97. 
 Opelousas, 33, 76-77. 
 O'Reilly, Alejandro, 17, 50-55. 
 
 PAGET, , 85. 
 
 Paincourt, 94. 
 
 Parkman, Francis, 10, 13. 
 
 Pelousas. See Opelousas. 
 
 Pelrin, , 76. 
 
 Pensacola, 9, 11, 12, 13, 24-25, 
 
 26, 63, 71. 
 Peoria, Rock of, 84. 
 Perier, Rene Boucher de la, 
 
 79. 
 Petit, Joseph, 56. 
 Pittman, Philip, 9-17. 
 Planters' life, 45. 
 Pointe Coupee, 59, 62, 72-74, 
 
 75, 76. 
 Pontchartrain, Lake, 12, 41, 
 
 58, 63, 64, 65, 66. 
 Poole, William F., 16. 
 Poupet, Pierre, 56. 
 Pownall, Governor Thomas, 
 
 15. 
 Prairie du Rocher, 87. 
 
 RBiD River, 10, 32, 33, 76, 78". 
 
 Rochemore, , 47. 
 
 Rosalie, Fort, 11, 16, 80, 81. 
 
 SACIER, , 50. 
 
 St. Ange de Bellrive, Louis, 
 
 49. 
 St. Carlos, 34, 38. 
 St. Croix River, 30. 
 St. Francis River, 31. 
 St. John, Bayou, 41, 58. 
 St. Louis, 94. 
 St. Philip, 91. 
 St. Pierre (Minnesota) River, 
 
 30. 
 St. Sulpice Mission, 92. 
 Ste. Genevieve, 95-96. 
 Salt works, 95. 
 Salverte, Perier de, 79. 
 Saw-mills, 60. 
 Shrimps, 34. 
 Soto, Hernando de, 32. 
 Spanish moss, 81. 
 Stirling, Captain Thomas, 11. 
 Sugar, 59. 
 
 TANGIPAHOA River, 66. 
 Taylor, Colonel William, 10. 
 
Index 
 
 i6s 
 
 Tigouiou, Bayou, 58. 
 Tobacco, 32, 73, 76, 78, 97. 
 Tombecbe, 12. 
 Toulouse, Fort, 60, 76. 
 
 ULL.OA, Antonio de, 17, 34, 
 
 49, 50, 76. 
 Ursulines, Convent of, 43. 
 
 VALET, 
 
 95. 
 
 Villere, Joseph, M, 
 Vincennes, 62, 102. 
 
 WABASH River, 62, 97, 103. 
 Wallace, Joseph, 16. 
 Water-mills, 85, 91, 96. 
 west Florida, 10, 11, 13, 15, 
 26, 41, 63, 71, 78. 
 
 YAZOO' River, 32. 
 
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 i}.i>!iii$iimi^ 
 
Important 
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The First Qircumnavigation of the Qlobe 
 
 MAGELLAN'S VOYAGE 
 AROUND THE WORLD 
 
 By ANTONIO PIGAFETTA 
 
 The original and complete text of the oldest and best MS. 
 (the Ambrosian MS. of Milan, of the early XVI cen- 
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AUDUBON'S WESTERN 
 JOURNAL: 1849-1850 
 
 Being the MS. record of a trip from New York to 
 
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 By 
 
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 With biographical memoir by his daughter 
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 Edited by 
 
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 With folded map, portrait, and original drawings 
 
 ^GHN W. AUDUBON, son of the famous 
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^AUDVBO^S WESTERN JOURNAL 
 
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PERSONAL NARRATIVE 
 
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 largest collections on this side of the Atlantic, or in many abroad. They 
 are copiously explained and illustrated by introductions and notes, bio- 
 graphical sketches of the authors, bibliographical data, etc. The series 
 
 should, of course, be in every public, collegiate, and insti- 
 tutional library, to say nothing of private collections of 
 respectable rank. The works included naturally vary in literary 
 merit and attractiveness, but many of them will compare favorahly 
 with the better class of modern books of travel, while some are as fas- 
 cinating as the best fiction." — The Critic. 
 
 The Arthur H. Clark Company 
 
 'PV'BLISHE%S CLEVELAND, OHIO 
 
Extracts from a few of the reviews 
 
 American Historical Review : **The books are handsomely bound and print- 
 ed. The editing by Dr. Thwaites seems to have been done with his 
 customary" care and knowledge. There is no want of helpful annotations. 
 
 The books therefore are likely to be of more real value than the 
 early prints from which they are taken." 
 
 The Independent : *'The editor's annotadons make the present series worth 
 possessing, even if one already owns the originals." 
 
 The Literary Digest: "It is next to impossible, at this late date, 
 even to a well-endowed public library, to amass a consider- 
 able collection of these early travels, so essential to an adequate 
 understanding of the life and manners of the aborigines, and the social and 
 economic conditions in the middle and far West, during the period of 
 early American settlement. The making of a judicious and competent 
 selection of the best and rarest of these writings has become an inevit- 
 able requirement ; and the patient company of historians, librarians, 
 and scholars will be quick to congratulate each other that the great task 
 has fallen to the hands of so well-equipped an editor as Dr. Thwaites, 
 eminent as an authority on all questions pertaining to the exploration and 
 development of our great Western domain." 
 
 The Forum: "A most helpful contribution to the study of the America of a 
 century or so ago." 
 
 The Athenaum: ". . . A series of permanent historical value . . . ItOUght 
 
 to find a place in every geographical or historical library." 
 
 Public Opinion: '*The century that sets the bounds of this work is the most 
 important and interesting in the history of the 'winning of the West;' . . 
 it is comprehensive, and the materials at the disposal of the editor assure a 
 collection that will be indispensable to every well-equipped public 
 or private library." 
 
 The Nation: ** A stately series, octavo in size, typographically very open and 
 handsome. The annotations are abundant and highly valuable. ' ' 
 
 New York Times Saturday Review: '* Pssi invaluable series of reprints of 
 rare sources of American history." 
 
 The Dial: "An undertaking of great interest to every student of 
 Western history. Exhaustive notes and introductions are by Dr. 
 Thwaites, the foremost authority on Western history, who is also to sup- 
 ply an elaborate analytical index, under one alphabet, to the complete 
 series. This latter is an especially valuable feature, as almost all the rare 
 originals are without indexes. ' ' 
 
" We cannot thoroughly understand our own history, local or National, without some knowledge 
 of these routes of trade and war." — Tlie Outlook. 
 
 The Historic Highways of America 
 
 by Archer Butler Hulbert 
 
 A series of monographs on the History of America as portrayed in the evo- 
 lution of its highways of War, Commerce, and Social Expansion. 
 
 Comprising the following volumes : 
 
 I — Paths of the Mound-Building Indians and Great Game Animals. 
 II — Indian Thoroughfares. 
 
 Ill — Washington's Road: The First Chapter of the Old French War. 
 IV — Braddock's Road, 
 V— The Old Glade (Forbes's) Road. 
 VI — Boone's Wilderness Road. 
 VII — Portage Paths: The Keys of the Continent 
 VIII — Military Roads of the Mississippi Basin. 
 IX — Waterways of Westward Expansion. 
 X — The Cumberland Road. 
 XI, XII — Pioneer Roads of America, two volumes. 
 XIII, XIV — The Great American Canals, two volumes. 
 XV — The Future of Road-Making in America. 
 XVI— Index. 
 
 Sixteen volumes, crown 8vo, cloth, uncut, gilt tops. A limited edition 
 only printed direct from type, and the type distributed. Each volume hand- 
 somely printed in large type on Dickinson's hand-made paper, and illustra- 
 ted with maps, plates, and facsimiles. 
 
 Published a volume each two months, beginning September, 1902. 
 
 Price, volumes i and 2, ^2.00 net each; volume* 3 to 16, ^^2.50 net 
 each. 
 
 Fifty sets printed on large paper, each numbered and signed by the 
 author. Bound in cloth, wdth paper label, uncut, gilt tops. Price, ^5.00 
 net per volume. 
 
 "The fruit not only of the study of original historical sources in documents found here and in 
 England, but of patient and enthusiastic topographical studies, in the course of which every foot of 
 these old historic highways has been traced and traversed." — The Living Age. 
 
 "The volumes already issued show Mr. Hulbert to be an earnest and enthusiastic student, and a 
 reliable guide." — Out West. 
 
 " A look through these volumes shows most conclusively that a new source of history is being 
 developed — a source which deals with the operation of the most effective causes influencing human 
 affairs." — Iowa Journal of Histoiy and Politics. 
 
 " The successive volumes in the series may certainly be awaited with great interest, for they 
 promise to deal with the most romantic phases of the awakening of America at the dawn of occi- 
 dental civilization." — Boston Transcript. 
 
 " The publishers have done their part toward putting forth with proper dignity this important 
 work. It is issued on handsome paper and is illustrated with many maps, diagrams, and old 
 prints."— Chicago Evening Post. 
 
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