( 30i ) 



and give themfelves very little trouble about the 

 advantages it is capable of procuring to ths 

 It ate. 



The third are fuch, who having feen nothing 

 but mifery, in a country for which exceflive fums 

 have been difburfed, attribute to it, without re- 

 flection, what ought folely to be laid to the in- 

 capacity or negligence of thofe who were char- 

 ged with the fettling it. You are, befides, not 

 unacquainted with the reafons for publifliing, 

 that Louifiana contained in its bofom immenfe 

 treafures ; and that its value to us was very 

 near equal to the famous mines of St. Barbe, and 

 others (till richer, from which we flattered our- 

 felves we fhould be able to drive the pofleflbrs 

 with eafe : and becaufe thefe ridiculous tales 

 found credit with fools, inftead of imputing the 

 miftake to themfelves, into which their foolifh 

 credulity had engaged them, they difcharged their 

 ill humour upon this country, in which they 

 found no one article that had been promifed 

 them. 



I am, &c, 



LETTER 



