Travels in North America. 325 



the fineft lûands of America^ and of the Englip Colonies. Need 

 there any Thing more to render a City fiourilhing ? Rome and 

 Paris had not fuch conMerable Beginnings, were not built under 

 fuch happy Aufpices, and their Founders did not find on the 

 Siene and the Tyber the Advantages we have found on the MiJJtf- 

 Jipply in Comparifon of which, thofe two Rivers are but little 

 Brooks. ———But before 1 undertake to mention what there 

 is here worthy your Curiolity, that I may proceed according 

 to Order, I fhali take up my Journal again where I broke it 

 off. 



I ftayedat the Natchez much longer than I expelled, and it was 

 ■nj.^ , ^ the abandoned Condition in which J found 



7 J'-U^^^^^^^^ ^ y the French, with Refpedl to fpiritual Aids,. 

 /^^Natchezw//^- . , ' ^ r/ m a 



cu* Succef there till after Chnjtmas, 



u. uccejs* T\iQ Dew of Heaven hath not yet fallen on 



this fine Country, which above all others may boaft of its Por- 

 tion of the Fatnefs of the Earth. The late M. dUbsrnjille had 

 deftined a Jefuit fûj for this Purpofe, who accompanied him in 

 the fécond Voyage he made to Lonijiajia^ with a Defign to efta- 

 blifli Chriftianity in a Nation, whofe Converflon, he made no 

 Doubt, would be followed by that of all the reft. But this MiA 

 iionary paffing by the Village of the Bayagoulas, thought he 

 found there more favourable Difpofitions for Religion, and 

 while he was thinking to fix his Abode amongil them, he was 

 called to France by fuperior Orders. 



After this, an Ecclefiailic of Canada (h) was fent to the 

 Natchez, and remained there a pretty long Time, but he made 

 no Frofeîytes, tho' he had gained the good Graces of the Wo- 

 man Chief, who out of Refped to him, gave his Name to one 

 of her Sons. This Miilionary having been obliged to make a 

 Journey to Maubile, was killed on the Way by Savages, whp 

 probably only wanted his Baggage, as it had happened before 

 to another Prieil (c) on the Side of the Akanfas, Since that 

 Time all Louifia?ia, above the Illinois, has remained without any 

 Prieil:, except the Toiiicas, who have had for feveral Years an 

 Ecclefiailic (d), whom they loved and eileemed, and whom they 

 would have made their Chief, and who, notwithilanding, could 

 never perfuade one of them to embrace ChriJIianity, 



But it is fomething prepoderous to think of taking Meafures 

 r^-^ French ^"^^ ^^^^ Converfion of Infidels, whilil the 

 *ri^jedof fùiritual ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ Faith are almoli all 

 ^Aids without Pailors. I have already had the 



Honour of telling you. Madam, that the 



(a) Father Paul Du Ru, (h) M. de S. Cofm^. (c) M, Fcucaïuî. (d) M. 



Canton 



