33^ ^« Hijîorical Journal of 



alfo encrcafes from the Bar upwards, which is the Reverfe of 

 all other Rivers, which are commoiily the deeper the néarer 

 they come to the Sea. 



It would be here a proper Place, Madajn, to entertain you 

 with the Caufes of the Failure of thofe numerous Grants, which 

 have made fo much Noife in France^ and on which fo many Per- 

 fons had built fuch mighty Hopes ; but I had rather refer this 

 to our firft Interview, and confine myfelf at prefent to communi- 

 cate to you my Thoughts of the Method that Perfons 

 fliould purfue in fettling in this Country, if the bad Succefs of fo 

 many Efforts, and of fuch large Sums advanced to no Purpofe, 

 does not entirely difguft our Nation. 



It appears to me that the Habitations oi?ght not to be placed 

 Whe e th F ^^^^ River ; but I would have 



hitatioL oulh^o ^^^^^ removed liigher up the Country at leaft 

 le tl d a Quarter of a League, or even half a League. 



P ' I am not ignorant that it is poffible to be 



freed from the Inconveniencies of the common Floods, by mak- 

 ing good Ditches ; but I think it is a great Inconvenience to 

 build upon a Soil, where if you dig ever fo little, you immedi- 

 ately find Water ; and of Confequence one can have no Cellars. 

 I am alfo of Opinion, that they would be great by Gainers leav- 

 ing the Lands all open to the annual Inundation of the River. 



The Mud that fettles on them, when the Waters are gone oiF, 

 renews and enriches them : One might employ a Part of them in 

 Pafturage, ths other might be fown with Rice, Pulfe, and in ge- 

 neral with every Thing that requires rich and wet Lands. In 

 Time we Ihould fee on both Sides the MiJJiJJtppi nothing but Gar- 

 dens, Orchards and Meadows, which would be fufficient to feed 

 the People, and would fupply Matter for an ufeful Commerce with 

 ourlflands, and the other neighbouring Colonies. In fhort, I 

 think I could anfwer for it, having landed twice or thrice every 

 Day as I came down the River, that almoft every where, at a 

 little Diftance from the Sides, we may find high Grounds, where 

 we might build on a folid Foundation, and where Wheat 

 would grow very well, when they have given Air to the Country 

 by thinning the Woods. 



As to what concerns the Navigation of the River, rit will 

 T\'ir J ^ always be difficult when we are to go up it, 

 ^i^f becaufe of the Strength of the Current, 



n)tgaing e Ki- ^j^j^j^ obliees us even in going dov/n to 

 be very cautious, often bears upon romts 

 that run out, and upon Shoals ; fo that to navigate it fafely, 

 we muft have Veffels that have both Sails and Oars. More- 

 over, as we cannot go forward at Night when it is cloudy, 

 thefc Voyages will be always very tedious and expenfive, at leall 



till 



