SOLON ROBINSON, 1849 189 



The style of dwellings here is a story and a half — ^the 

 half one at the bottom — though sometimes it is high 

 enough for use and is paved with marble or tiles — a front 

 and back gallery, often all around — all the doors and win- 

 dows just alike; that is, two inner doors opening from 

 the centre the upper half glass, and two outer ones of 

 wood, hung with great wrought-iron hinges big enough 

 for a door 16 feet wide, instead of 16 inches, fastened 

 with large iron hooks. 



In warm weather the whole are open and a curtain 

 fills the space. One of the handsomest and most luxuri- 

 ous gardens that I noticed, is that of Valcour Amie,^ who 

 is also one of the largest planters, and makes refined loaf 

 sugar. His house is more modern and splendid. 



The entrance of the houses here is nearly in front. You 

 drive in upon one side of the garden and into the back 

 yard, among a general assortment of chickens, young 

 negroes, turkeys, ducks, and dogs. 



Governor Roman's^ garden is another enchanting spot. 

 Judicious taste, skill, wealth and climate combined, 



'Valcour Aime, born in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, 1798; 

 died December 31, 1867. Acquired a plantation in St. James Parish 

 above New Orleans. Married Josephine Roman, sister of Governor 

 Roman. Sugar was first refined in the United States on Aime's 

 plantation and under his supervision. Experimented widely with 

 sugar refining machinery. His house was known as "The Little 

 Versailles." See sketch in Dictionary of Avierican Biography, 

 1:130. For discussion of his plantation operations, see Moody, 

 Slavery on Louisiana Sugar Plantations, 43, 45, 47, 52, 55, 57, 64, 

 75, 82-84, 87-88, 104. 



^ Andre Bienvenu Roman, born in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, 

 March 5, 1795; died at New Orleans, January 28, 1866. Early 

 taken to St. James Parish, where his father established a sugar 

 plantation. Later owned his own plantation in the same district. 

 Served for many years in Louisiana House of Representatives. 

 Governor, 1831-1835, 1839-1843. Subscribed to and sponsored Jef- 

 ferson College in St. James Parish. President of Louisiana State 

 Agricultural Society. Opposed disunion, but yielded to the major- 

 ity. See sketch in Dictionary of American Biography, 16:125-26; 

 "A. B. Roman, of Louisiana, Agriculturist," in De Bow's Review, 

 11: facing 350, 436-43 (October, 1851). For discussion of his 

 treatment of slaves, see Moody, op. cit., 21, 45-46, 73, 75, 86, 89. 



