LOUISIANA. 21 



boats to fetch us, and to bring us refrelhments; 

 we diilributed our foldiers on board them, and, 

 by faiUng and rowing, we got to New Orleans 

 on Eafter-day. The Marquis de Vaudreuil is to 

 receive twenty-four companies of marines, to 

 augment the forces in Louifiana •, thefe troops 

 come on board of merchant-fhips, freighted for 

 the King's account ; there are likewife fome fe- 

 male recruits enlifted in France^ who come to 

 people thefe climates. Induftrious foldiers^ who 

 chufe to marry thefe girls, get their difmilTion, 

 and a certain number of acres of ground to cul- 

 tivate : they get vidiials from the King for three 

 years together, and he makes them a prefent of 

 half a pound of gun-powder, and two pounds of 

 fhot every month; of a gun, a hatchet, a pick- 

 axe, and corn to fow their fields -, with a cow, a 

 calf, cocks and hens, &c. 



The Marquis de Vaudreuil has diftributed the 

 twenty-four new companies in the different parts 

 of the colony, without any regard to perfons ; fo 

 that every one may equally Ihare the advantages 

 and the difadvantages. As to the detachment 

 near the Illinois^ a pofl five hundred leagues di- 

 ftant from New Orleans, it has fallen to the fliarc 

 of the company to which I belong. I have the 

 honour of being among the ofHcers which M. 

 RouilUy the fecretary of ftate for the marine, 

 C 3 has 



