This extraordinary coolness in a latitude which is so very warm on the eastern continent, it is difficult to account for on any known principle. It will be noted that these observations equally apply to all North America; but does that supersede the necessity of their insertion in this place? Many, though convinced that in Pennsylvania, and in other more northern states, the inhabitants experience the temperature found in Europe in latitude 50° N. yet believe the shores of the gulph of Mexico as warm as Morocco.

The fact of those boundless regions of open plains, which oppose so few obstacles to the north winds, and the non-existence of any very elevated chain of mountains, whose course is east and west, will open new fields to philosophical inquiry. Causes deserve an explication, that give within six degrees of the tropic of Cancer, a climate attempered to the medium of that found in Europe and western Asia, in lat. 40° north. If we except Olonetz and the Ural chains, and the Dofrine Alps, between Sweden and Norway, all the great ranges of the eastern continent run in lines not greatly inclined to east and west. The Pyrenees, the Alps, Carpathian mountains, and Haemus in southern Europe, the vast Caucausian, Altaian, and Thibetian chains in Asia, and the Atlas in Africa, are each strong elucidations of the assumed position. The mountains of America are remarkably the contrast of those in the east. The Andes, and the chain that divides the waters that flow south-eastward into the gulph of Mexico, or N. E. into Hudson's bay, from those that run westward into the Pacific ocean, and the Alleghany, all wind, (if we except the latter,) but little inclined to north and south. It will be seen, however, that the small inclination of the North American mountains, from a me

ridian line, tends to confine the current of air towards the gulph of Mexico. The Alleghany and the Chippewan chains open upon each other at an angle of about 60°. This circumstance carries the wind as it were into the vortex of a funnel.

The above facts are stated as found in nature, without comment; the mind of the reader is left to form conclusions upon the data.

The south-western part, or the province of Texas, is perfectly similar to other parts of Louisiana, of the same relative position; having a range of low sea-coast, much of it marshy; with small islands enclosing bays of more or less extent; and the country imperceptibly rising to the northward, becomes broken, dry, and healthy.

Such are the great features of Louisiana; a country, that in the course of human events, is perhaps destined to be amongst the most remarkable upon which the happiness or misery of mankind have ever been, or will be felt. It is the most extensive, unbroken, continuous body of productive soil on the globe.

The climates, the surface, and the animal, vegetable, and mineral productions exhibit an endless variety.

The circumstance, however, that renders the political and moral picture of this country peculiarly distinctive, is, that almost the total of the production of the industry of its inhabitants, must flow to one common center. New-Orleans alone will be for ever, as it is now, the mighty mart of the merchandise brought from more than a thousand rivers. Unless prevented by some great accident in human affairs, this rapidly increasing city will, in no very distant time, leave the emporia of the Eastern world far behind. With Boston, New-York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, on the left, Mexico on

the right, Havanna in front*, and the immense valley of the Mississippi in the rear; no such position for the accumulation and perpetuity of wealth and power ever existed.

* By careful and repeated admeasurement upon the best constructed maps, the Mississippi river and its tributary streams drain more than 1,400,000 square miles. If this expanse was peopled only equal to Connecticut, in 1810, or about 60 persons to each square mile, the aggregate would be 84,000,000. It cannot be rashness to assert, if the present order of things continues to operate, that, at a period not more than two centuries distant, more than 100,000,000 of human beings will send the surplus fruits of their labour to New-Orleans.

STATISTICS

OF

LOUISIANA.

CHAP. III.

STATE OF LOUISIANA; NATURAL AND PAROCHIAL DIVISIONS.

THE

HE state of Louisiana is naturally divided into three sections ;-The S. E., S. W. and N. W. The S. E. composed of the Parishes East of Atchafalaya, and south of the 31° N. lat. The S. W. section west of Atchafalaya and south of 31° N. lat. and the N. W. section west of the Mississippi and North of the 31° North latitude. This natural division is pursued in this work.

The legal division of the state of Louisiana into parishes is laid down upon the map. The counties and judicial and military districts are not delineated. So much confusion would have been superinduced by so many conflicting subdivisions, that it was judged more conducive to perspicuity, to place upon the map only the parochial lines, and to give the verbal description in the same manner.

The state of Louisiana is divided into twenty-five parishes, whose natural positions are; six north of 31° N. lat.; three south of 31° N. lat. and west of Atchafalaya river; and sixteen east of Atchafalaya. Their respective extent in square miles, and population, in 1810, is exhibited by the following Table:

STATISTICAL TABLE of the extent of the Parishes of the State of Louisiana, and their Population, in 1810.

Parishes.

Sq. Miles.

Acres.

Arpents.

Population in

1810.

48,220 30,860,800 36,463,964 86,556

The S. E. section lying upon the Mississippi, its connecting waters, and in West Florida, is as yet the most important from population and wealth; and will merit the first place in a statistical review.

Before entering upon a detail of its parochial divisions and productions, I have given a view of the Mississippi river, together with a general sketch of the country included in, and contiguous to, the Delta. The mere geographical features have been less attended to in this place, because every circumstance respecting the egress of the Mississippi will be more appropriate under the topographical survey of the coast of the gulph of Mexico.