SOLON ROBINSON, 1848 153 



covy ducks about their nests. She says that all her ex- 

 perience goes to the contrary; that her ducks have al- 

 ways been unusually secretive, and thinks that is their 

 general character in this region. I also partook of the 

 hospitalities and kind offices of John R. Dufrocq,^ editor 

 of the Baton-Rouge Gazette, Mayor of the city, &c., &c., 

 whom his thousands of Michigan and Canada friends will 

 delight to hear is the same highminded nature's noble- 

 man he ever was. By his politeness and attention, and in 

 his company, I visited the penitentiary, now being trans- 

 ferred by the present contractors, McHatton, Pratt & Co., 

 into a great cotton and woollen manufactory. There are 

 at present about 140 convicts, who are well fed, clothed, 

 and lodged in solitary cells. They are now making 900 

 yards of an excellent quality of stout cotton, well worthy 

 the attention of planters. There are a few shoemakers, 

 tailors, and blacksmiths, besides carrying on a great 

 amount of brick making; for the individuals having the 

 contract for the splendid state house now building here. 

 They get $12.50 a thousand for the bricks laid in the wall. 

 I saw in the penitentiary, sixteen of the best mules I ever 

 saw together. One was seventeen hands high and well 

 formed ; though not so remarkably so as one not quite so 

 large, and valued at $250 — none of them being worth less 

 than $150 — the present value of the plantation mules be- 

 ing now from $80 to $125. Baton Rouge may be said to 



' John R. Dufrocq, formerly of Detroit, Michigan, apparently 

 came to Baton Eouge early in the 1840's. Upon the death of John 

 Hueston, editor of the Baton Rouge Gazette (Whig), in a political 

 duel in 1843, Dufrocq published the Gazette for Hueston's heirs 

 for several months. In January, 1844, with Albert P. Converse, 

 became owner and publisher, continuing as editor intermittently 

 until June, 1850. Mayor of Baton Rouge, 1846-1856. Became a 

 notary and auctioneer. Took a prominent part in the Mechanics' 

 Association, serving as secretary in 1846 and for several years 

 subsequently. President of the Mechanics' Institute, and its li- 

 brarian, 1852. A school and street in Baton Rouge are named 

 for Dufrocq. Baton Rouge Gazette, 1843-1856; Baton Rouge 

 Weekly Advocate, 1850-1860; Baton Rouge Daily Comet, 1852-1856; 

 Baton Rouge Gazette and Comet, 1856-1862. 



