fra'vel's in North America. 33 9 



till the Bôrders of the River have Settlements neaf eâch others 

 on the whole Extent of the Country, that is between the Illinois 

 and the Sea. 



Such, Madam, is this Country which they have fo much 



J, , talked of in France for fome Years, and of 



^ From whence ^^^^^ ^ ^^^^ ^ j^^^ j^^^^ 



proceeds the n^rong ^ . Europeans to acknowledge 



Nouon^ M they Qoodnefs of it, and ^o negled it. Fer^ 

 hajetn l^rance of ^.^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^j^^^^ whole Years, 

 tbu country. Hiftorian (a) could not forgive 



him for not having made a folid Settlenient here. " Where could 

 he goy fays he, to do better ?'* 



Indeed I never heard Louifiana lightly fpoken of, but by three 

 Sorts of People that have been in the Country, and whofe Tef- 

 tiâiony is certainly to be rejefted. The firft are the Mariners, 

 who from the Road of Ship IJland, or IJlé Dauphin^ could fee 

 nothing but that Illand quite covered with a barren Sand, and the 

 fiill more fandy Coaft of Biloxi^ ar^d who fulFered themfelves to 

 be perfuaded that the Entrance of the MiJJîJJîppi was impalTable 

 for Ships of a certain Bulk, or that it was neceflary to go fifty 

 Leagues up this River to find a Place that was habitable. 

 They would have been quite of another Opinion, if they could 

 have miftrufled thofe who talked to them in this Manner, and 

 have difcovered the Motives which induced them fo to do. 



The 2d Sort are poor Wretches, who being driven out of France 

 for their Crimes, or bad Conduél, true or falfe, or who, whether 

 to fhun the Purfuitof their Creditors, have engaged themfelves 

 in the Troops and in the Grants. Both thefe looking upon 

 this Country as a Place of Banilhment, are difgufted at every 

 Thin^. They do not interefl themfelves in the Suecefs of a Colo- 

 ny, of which they are Members againft their Inclination, and they 

 concern themfelves very little about the Advantages which it may 

 J)rocure for the State : The greateft Part of then^ are not even 

 capable of perceiving thefe Advantages. 



The third Sort are thofe, who having feen nothing but Pover- 

 ty in a Country on which exceffive Expences have been bellowed, 

 attribute to it without Refiedion what we ought entirely to caft 

 on the Incapacity, or on the Negligence, of thofe who had the 

 Care of fettling it. You alfo know very well the Reafons they 

 had, to publifh that Louijlana contained great Treafures, and that 

 it brought us near the famous Mines of St. Barhe, and other ftill 

 ficher, from which they flattered themfelves they fhould eafily 

 drive away the PofTefTors ; and becaufe thefe idle ^Stories had 

 gained Credit with fome filly People, inftcad of imputing to 



(a) Garciïaffû de la Vega % Yi\^or^ of the Conqueft of Florida* 



X X 2 themfelves 



