VIEWfe OF LOUISIANA. 
is 
The Mississippi was at this time called St. Louis, the naifcfc' 
given to it by La Salle, but the country on both sides of it was 
still known by the name of Florida; D’Iberville was the first to 
change it, to that of Louisiana. 
About this period two English vessels arrived in search of 
the Mississippi, induced by the glowing descriptions of Father 
Hennepin, who had ascended, or pretended to have ascended, 
this river to its source. One of these vessels entered the river 
but did not attempt to land, or form any settlement. It appeared 
that this country was also claimed by Britain, from the discove¬ 
ries of Sebastian Cabot, who sailed along the coast, without land¬ 
ing any where, and also by another title even more absurd than 
die Pope’s bull, to wit, in -virtue of her own Charters .* Thus had 
our infant French colony to contend with two great powers, one 
jealous of supposed encroachments, and the other envious of any 
new scheme of colonization on this continent. 
M. DTberville left Louisiana in 1700; the colony was very 
inconsiderable and far from advancing rapidly. The principal 
settlement was at the Isle of Dauphin* noway suited to the pur¬ 
pose. It, however, still continued to live until the year 1712, 
receiving occasional supplies from France and maintaining a 
good understanding with the Spanish colony of Pensacola; they 
seem to hpre forgotten former animosities and frequently 
rendered each other mutual assistance. The Indians were also 
conciliated and lived in friendship with the colonists. In this 
year the commerce and government of Louisiana, was granted 
to Crosat who had two objects in. view, the discovery of mines 
in the Illinois, and the trade with Mexico. In both these he 
completely failed. About this time the Natchez first began 
to. display that enmity to the French, (occasioned perhaps by the 
injudicious conduct of the officers who commanded the different 
posts within the country) which afterwards proved so fatal to 
themselves. The gold and silver mines of the Illinois could not 
be discovered; and St. Denys, an active and enterprising indivT 
*. See Marshall’s Life of Washington and Bosnian’s History of Ma¬ 
ryland; 
