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 ital of the Territory, by which the feelings and opinions of the other 

 parts of the colony had been directed ; and there were amono^ her citi- 

 zens men of intelHgence and capacity, whose example and influence pre- 

 vailed over the natural repugnance that always arises in the adoption of a 

 radical change in the poHtical condition of a country, iiiberty, with the 

 popular institutions that accompany her, were welcomed ; their advan- 

 tages were soon understood ; and perhaps no other instance can be found 

 of the amalgamation of a people with a great nation with so much ease 

 and tranquillity. 



What follows to be told of llie history of St, Louis is a part of that of 

 the State of which it is now the emporium. It belongs to the local his- 

 torian to make known the rise and progress of her institutions; under the 

 promoting care of Liberty; foremost among which, he cannot fail to dis- 

 tinguish the noble example of public spirit set by the Catholic clergy, who 

 were the first to establish throughout the country numerous institutions for 

 worship, charity, and public instruction. But, before quilting my narrative, 

 I cannot refrain from alluding to the actual condition of St. Louis, and in- 

 dulging in the prospect of her future greatness. 



The geographical position of the city is favorable to a remarkable de- 

 gree. Situated a few miles below the junction of two of the greatest rivers 

 of the world, it is the natural central depot of all the varied products that 

 reach it by a navigation of one thousand to two thousand miles over these 

 two rivers and their innumerable tributaries. St. Louis is emphatically the 

 key of the Far West ; comprehending within this term the extensive re- 

 gions stretclung between the Mississippi and the Pacific ocean. All distant 

 expeditions to the north, or to the west, must start from St. Louis; and 

 here, also, all their fruits are gathered together, comprising the proceeds 

 of the fur-trade, as well as the mineral and agricultural productions of 

 the whole northern basin of the Mississippi ; whence they are distributed 

 to the various markets of consumption, either by the Mississippi to the 

 Gulf of Mexico, by the Ohio to the Atlantic States, or through Illinois, by 

 the lakes and other opened channels of communication, to the seaboard and 

 the Canada^. 



It is worthy of remark — and her geographical position makes it obvi- 

 ous — that no works of internal improvement can be made by any of the 

 neighboring States, whether to the east or north, or even by those that 

 may hereafter be formed to the north or west, without becoming subser- 

 vient to the interests of St. Louis. Hence the State of Missouri has not 

 deemed it wise to embark hastily in such expenditures; and though, in 

 the true spirit of the time, much reproached on this score, events at this 

 day prove that she acted judiciously. Submitting its great and magnificent 

 territory to the natural and unburdened course of things, without the ne- 

 cessity of levying direct taxes, immigrants have been flocking for several 

 years back to this rich and beautiful country, the resources of which they 

 develop with astonishing rapidity. In 1830, the population of the State 

 was only 140,445 ; that of St. Louis 6.500. In 1S40, the census returned 

 382,702 as the whole number of the inhabitants of the State; and the pop- 

 ulation of St, Louis was estimated, in 1841, at 30,000 within the city limits. 

 The amount of property taxed, according to the city register of the same 

 year, was 8,591,075 dollars. 



The first arrival of a steamboat at St. Louis was in 1819; there are 

 now (October, 1841) no less than 67, of from 150 to 800 tons burden, 



