tain circumstances, the Minds should "roll in the 

 water from the gulf, and cause sudden rises of the 

 river, in some instances, equal to a spring freshet." 

 Need we, or can we hesitate to admit, that the lands 

 adjacent to the Mississippi which, at some remote pe- 

 riod of time, were exempt from the overflowings of 

 that river, should, under present circumstances, be an- 

 nually inundated ? Let us extend our views of the 

 subject, and for a moment contemplate the scene, 

 which must occasionally be extended over nearly the 

 entire surface of this immense district. 



1 have hitherto only taken into consideration, the 

 probable results arising or growing out of the changes 

 in the Mississippi. It becomes necessary to bring in- 

 to view, some of the subordinate streams, that have a 

 material bearing and influence in this business, and 

 which flow through this part of the country. 



The Lafourche, Atchafalaya, and Teche rivers, 

 have each experienced, from some cause, a conside- 

 rable extension or prolongation into the gulf, as well 

 as the Mississippi ; and each of them from their slug- 

 gish movements, together with the Sabine, Calcasa, 

 Mermentau, and Vermillion rivers, are subject, from 

 the operations of strong southerly gales, to a re-flux 

 proportionate to that of the Mississippi. 



When the currents of all these rivers experience this 

 check, and that of the Mississippi, from the same 

 cause, and at the same time, is thrown back, so as 

 to equal a spring freshet, what can we expect but an 

 inundation of the country to a great distance ? And, 





