IN.

France, in right of o New France and As but also a moiety ety of New York, sippi, including Tex ghout that wide regis the severest forms s enforced with equa Previous to the wr 1689, the strife in the mother countries, for and west, and for the 3 been truly said, the of the French Can Live support; on the I heartily with Eng as to them the pledg stantism; for national yrant, and in the ele riod the two princip Tackinaw and on the that English traders even to Mackina, mmerce of the lakes mpt to effect an allLake Ontario to the e keys of the great o intercourse existed Found in every forest sell. In 1688, had Illinois would have lost, and a genera d the ruin of New

Notwithstanding all the reverses of war, France, by th peace of Ryswick, in 1697, retained in America all Hudson Bay, and all the places of which she was in possession a the beginning of the war; in other words, with the exceptio of the eastern moiety, of Newfoundland, France retained th whole coast and adjacent islands, from Maine to beyon Labrador and Hudson's Bay, besides Canada and the Valle of the Mississippi. But the boundary lines were reserve for wrangling among commissioners. At this period, of a the portions of New France, no one more occupied the mind of the ministry than Louisiana. Since the unfortunate attemp of De la Salle to enter the Mississippi by sea, the project ap peared to have been renounced. At length, in 1697, M D'Iberville aroused the attention of the ministry on this poin and inspired the Count de Pontchartrain with the design o constructing a fort at the entrance of the Great River, whic this officer promised himself to discover.

Two vessels were fitted out for this purpose, the comman of one of which was given to the Marquis Chateaumorand, th other to Iberville, and they sailed in October, 1698. In Ja uary, 1699, they touched at Pensacola, then in the occupand of three hundred Spaniards. Having passed the mouth the Mobile, landed on an isle which he called Massacre Islan (since called Dauphin Island,) Iberville went on the ma land, and having discovered the river Pascagoulas, where 1 met with a number of savages, he departed in barges with h brothers, De Bienville, and the Sieur De Sauvole, a Recolle friar, forty-eight men, besides two Biscayens, and provision for twenty days, with the design of searching for the Missi sippi, of which the savages had spoken to him under the nat of “Malbouchia,” and the Spaniards by that of "the Pal sade." He at length entered it on the second of Marc which was Quinquagesima Monday, and found that the nar given by the Spaniards well suited it, for its mouth actual

bristled with trees which the current in into it.1

After having well reconnoitred this lon he made known his discovery to M. Chate turned to St. Domingo; and Iberville, as s pared, ascended the river as far as Bayago was sent to him by an Indian chief, which the Chevalier Tonti, and was directed to M vernor of Louisiana. The letter commenced village of Quinipissas,2 this twentieth of A Having found the posts on which you had arms thrown down by the drift wood, I ca to be fixed on this side, about seven leagu where I have left a letter in a tree by the si nations have smoked the calumet with me who fear us exceedingly, since you had capt I conclude in saying, that it is a great grie shall return with the ill fortune of not ha after we had coasted with two canoes thirt Mexican side, and twenty-five on that of Fl

Reassured by this letter that he was on Iberville returned to the Bay of Biloxi, sit Mississippi and the Mobile-built a fort ther from Pascagoulas-left M. de Sauvole in Bienville as his lieutenant, and returned to I

Thus the possession of the newly-discovere jacent country was taken by France, accor knowledged legal custom of nations. Char remarks that Spain had made no settlemen Ferdinand de Soto had crossed the Mississ once, and was even cast into it after his dea made no establishment. In virtue of the disco Spain had claimed the whole country, from th ico to the great lakes and the remote north;

CHAPTER II.

VALLEY OF THE MISSISSIP

Settlement by Iberville-Progress of the French in St. Lawrence to the Mississippi Valley-Kaska Gravier and Marest, Montigny and Davion-Rel mercial enterprise-Views of La Salle with respe try-Communication between Quebec and the Gul and claim of England-Exploring Expedition on plorations by Bienville and Sauvole-Application emigrants-Bienville prevents the English from tak Mississippi-Belief still entertained of the route b Sea-Also of the existence of gold and silver mines. French views not agricultural-Le Sueur on the Up lacious views as to the natural productions of th Hontan, his travels and discoveries-Mixture of the tic and fabulous-The Illinois country, its extent-T relations to France and England-Grand Council cal The post and settlement of Detroit founded-Other po West-Allies of the English in Wisconsin--Attempt the West-Armed occupation by France of the Miss Chartres, Cahokia, Prairie du Rocher, Kaskaskia-T want of effect-Unsettled questions of boundaries-Lo tribes-The Indians of the North-West--Colony at tl sissippi-Its neglect of agriculture and wild specu copper mine on Blue Earth River-Louisiana made a dent of New France-Change in the political system successful attempts of France to colonize-Boundarie del Norte-Crozat's Patent-Mississippi Scheme-Sl Crozat's monopoly-Population of Louisiana-Ill suc losses; surrenders his patent-Delusive hopes of Wretched state of the French Public Treasury-Joh lief-Paper currency as a substitute for precious m established-Its operations-Declared a royal bank-eial company-Great powers granted to the "Missis Bank of France associated with it-Company of the granted to it-The Mint, and Taxes of the nation f

52

II.

ISSISSIPPI.

Comptroller General of France-Emigrants to Louisiana, their characterRoutes from the St. Lawrence to the Lower Mississippi-The great bubbles burst-Consequences extend to the settlements of the Mississippi Valley-Similarity of Credit System of 1719 and 1834-Delusion as to the mineral wealth continues-Mining on the Upper Mississippi-War between France and Spain-Chain of forts established on the MississippiSite of New Orleans selected-Le Sueur's fort on St. Peter's River-He takes possession of the upper country-Fort Chartres built-Population of the Illinois country-Posts of Michillimackinac, Green Bay, Chicago, St. Joseph's, Sault St. Marie, and Detroit-English and French trade with the Indians-Influence of France unbounded over the Indians, except the Iroquois The Five Nations-Ottagamies adhere to the English-Attempt to destroy Detroit-Siege of Detroit-Defeat and great loss of the Ottagamies-Their hostilities and depredations-French expedition against them under Louvigny-Stronghold at Butte des Morts-The Foxes capitulate-Hostages delivered-Treaty not complied with by the Foxes-They renew their depredations--Expedition under De Lignerie unsuccessful-Progress of settlements in the West-Villages in the Illinois country-The Natchez nation, their destruction-The "Company of the Indies" surrenders its charter-War against the Chickasaws-Artaguette · and Vincennes-Their death-Situation of the Illinois country-Ambitious views of France as to the Great West-Resisted by the English coloniesGeorge Washington-His mission to the French commander-First signal of the war of the Revolution-Death of Jumonville-Washington capitulates-France in possession of the whole Valley of the Mississippi-English and French encroachments, although with the same intent, not so regarded by the Indians-Peace in Europe, but war in America-Boundaries between English and French possessions the cause-War of 1756-Braddock's defeat; Wolfe's victory; surrender of all Canada-Disaffection of the Indians-Rogers takes possession of Detroit, and other western posts-Pontiac-He orders Rogers to stop in his march-Protects him on condition-French power in the West forever overthrown-Feelings against the English-Henry, the English trader-His interview with an Indian chiefAttachment of the Indians to the French; its causes-State of settlements in Wisconsin-Carver's account-Prairie du Chien-No establishments west of Greenbay-Traders alone in the country-Sacs and Foxes, their depredations and chastisement-Expeditions against them-Lake Superior, settlements there-Ancient mines-Indications of ancient work.

French in Settlements from y-Kaskaskia, Peoria-Fit vion-Religious zeal and Eth respect to the Illinois d the Gulf of Mexico-Jeal dition on part of Englandplication of French Protes from taking possession d ⇒ route by water to the er mines, &c., in the cour n the Upper Mississippi-l ns of the country-Bart are of the true, and the ro extent-The Five Nations ouncil called by De Calliers -Other posts growing up, int -Attempt on Detroit-Trad the Mississippi Valley-it askia-Treaty of Utrecht, aries-Localities of the Ind ony at the mouth of the ild speculations-Le Suer made a government indepe l system of the colony-l oundaries of Louisianaeme—Slavery authorized: -Ill success of Crozates of wealth, in Fran ry-John Law proposes ecious metals-Law's Ba bank--Becomes a comme "Mississippi Company" of the Indies-Monopolis

THE establishment of Iberville was the foundation of the Commonwealth of Mississippi. Although immediate prosperity was highly improbable to the infant settlement, having the Spaniards on its flank, and the Indian tribes around, with