VIEWS OF LOUISIANA. 
m 
time after, an Indian was seen advancing with a calumet In each 
hand. He brought proposals of peace, and offered on the part of 
his chief to return the prisoners and negroes in their possession. 
Terms of any kind would not he attended to unless the chief 
came in person ; this the Indian declared could not take place, but 
observed to M. Perier, if he would advance to the corner of his 
entrenchment, the great chief would come to the end of his Fort. 
The Indian was dismissed with the message to his chief, that if 
the prisoners and negroes were delivered up, the general would 
then declare his further determination. These being brought 
and delivered to M. Perier, he declared that unless the great 
chief came to him in person he would continue the siege, and 
deny all quarter. The chiefs finally agreed to surrender, and 
with them the greater part of the people ; the remainder who re¬ 
fused to give themselves up found means during some very hea¬ 
vy rains to escape and join the rest of the nation. About two 
hundred were fortified some distance up the Red river, but were 
attacked and destroyed by St. Denys. Those that fell into the 
Viands of the French were disposed of as slaves ; a thing very 
unusual in their conduct towards the Indians, which has been 
marked #th a greater degree of kindness than perhaps that of 
p.ny of the European nations, but which on this occasion, may be 
ascribed to the known treachery and unconquerable enmity of 
these people. From that day the Natchez no longer existed as a 
nation. 
I have been more minute in detailing the circumstances of 
this affair, than perhaps might be deemed necessary; but it has 
excited much interest, and is generally viewed by writers as of 
importance in history. 
In the same year Louisiana was retroceded to the king of 
France, and Monsieur Perier appointed governor. I have taken 
a rapid view of the first settlement of Louisiana; it is not my in¬ 
tention to enter upon a history of the province, this would not 
accord with the plan of these cursory Views. I shall only ob¬ 
serve that even as late as the year 1736, the colony was incon¬ 
siderable, confined to some trifling settlements at the Beloxi, on 
the Mobile, and on the Mississippi, at New Orleans and Natchez, 
The greatest draw back on the prosperity of the colony was tl?e 
