LOUISIANA. 329 



went on fhore to fetch it : a happy accident of 

 Providence ! he was but juft come on fhore, 

 when his fhip fuddenly took fire, and burnt with 

 fuch fiercenefs, that three men who were in the 

 hold were burnt to death : the others only efca- 

 ped by throwing themfelves into the fea, and 

 iwimming on fhore *. 



The Sieur *S/. Criq complained to M. de Kerle- 

 rec \ but after a long delay, the governor obliged 

 the captain to terminate his quarrel with the 

 Sieur ^<? C — , the latter giving the former the 

 fum of 1500 livres. This commander being fe- 

 called to New Orleans^ gave himfelf up to fuch 

 debaucheries, that he fcandalized the whole colo- 

 ny. 



^ At the time when the Sieur St, Criq reclaimed his fhip 

 with M, de Bell-IJle, and received his orders addrefled to M. 



deC , to take care of the prefervation of the cargo, the 



governor of the Cats IJle wrote to M. de Belle-IJle himfelf: 

 *' That, on fuch a day, a fhip with three mails was loll: in 

 ** fight of his ftation, and he having made ligns without re- 

 " ceiving any anfwer, he took it tD belong to the enemy, 

 " who kept his men in ciofe quarters ; that he having arm- 

 " cd the boat bc^lcnging to his llation, and going into it 

 ** with all his people, after getting no anuver upon a re- 

 ** peated fignal, came on board the fhip, but found no living 

 *' foul in her, and the cargo taken out of her; -he only 

 " found a cut cable upon the deck, ?.nd favv that the fliip 

 <* was bored for twenty-fix gutis. 



