94- 



the river, will very nearly apply to those which 

 are opposite, on the western side. 



The city of New Orleans, is situated in a bend 

 of the river, on the eastern side, in latitude thirty, 

 north, and longitude ninety, west. It was laid 

 out by the French, in the year 1720, extending 

 about a mile on front, from the gate of France, 

 to that of Chapitoulas, and somewhat more than 

 one third of a mile in rear to the rampart. On 

 the upper side an extensive suburb has been added, 

 called Saint Mary. The streets are straight,; 

 crossing each other at right angles, but are much, 

 too narrow, being only thirty-two French feet in 

 width. In the centre of the front of the city is a 

 large, handsome square, called Place D'armes. 

 The church and town house, built of stone, stand 

 facing the square. The houses in front of the] 

 city, and one or two squares back, are mostly 

 brick, and are two stones high ; the rest of the* 

 houses are chiefly one story, and built of wood. 

 They are elevated about eight feet from thei 

 ground, to avoid the inconvenience of water, and 1 

 the under part generally occupied as cellars. The j 

 city has been fortified, but the works, which were' 

 originally too deficient to have been defended, 

 have gone to decay, and are now principally 

 removed. There are about one thousand five 

 hundred houses, and between ten and twelve 

 thousand inhabitants, including Saint Mary's. It! 

 is the capital of Louisiana, and the seat of gov-' 

 ernment of the lower territory. Although thei 



