BOTTNDARIES.—BOOK L 
23 
injudicious practice pf monopolies. The inhabitants could only 
dispose of their produce to the Company, and at such prices as 
it chose to establish. 
Charlevoix complains that although the Spaniards did not ac t 
as openly as* the English, against a colony at which they had taken 
great umbrage: yet that they had taken their measures more ef¬ 
fectually to arrest its progress, and to prevent the formation of 
any new establishment. He says, “ They have in fact succeeded 
even till now,* in retaining us by the pursuit of a contemptible 
trade, between the stream which was neglected to be settled,! 
and Pensacola, on a sandy coast,! on an island!] not better, and 
upon a river,§ which, although well enough to occupy, is ye£ 
not fitted for any great plan of colonization. It must be confess¬ 
ed, that on this occasion M. DTberville was not judicious, pF 
that he had no time to carry his designs into execution.” 
CHAPTER II. 
BOUNDARIES OF LOUISIANA. 
HAVING taken a cursory view of the discovery and frrSI 
settlement of Louisiana, I now enter upon a subject of no small 
difficulty and perplexity ; the discussion of the boundaries of this 
province. Difficulties have already occurred, and it is feared 
that others will yet arise, before the matter be finally adjusted. 
From the foregoing chapter, it will appear to the reader, that 
although in point of settlement and first discovery, the French 
might fairly be considered as having the best claim to Florida, 
yet the subsequent dereliction, for so great a number of years, 
gave the Spaniards a just right to occupy it, as a country own¬ 
ed only by the natives. We have seen, that Pensacola, during the 
war which preceded the treaty of 1721, was taken by the French, 
but afterwards surrendered in consequence of that treaty.^ 
* 1736, f Mississippi. ± Beloxi, Ij Isle Dauphin. § Mobile- 
