Oracle post — Portsmouth, N.H., 1803-12-20 00:00:00, page 1

4 OF ALL THE DISPOSITIONS AND HABITS
WHICH LEAD TO POLITICAL PROSPERITY
RELIGION and MORALITY ARE iNDIS*NSA
, BLE SUPPORTS. Washington's Legac,^
The
While the earthremaineth,fea- time tybharve ftf^ cold&
heat, ardfunnier and Quintet, arffday and night, (hall
nat cease. holy writ.
AMONG the great buffings and wonders of
the creation, ina^rccldffcd, the regularities
of time and f-afons. Immediately after the flood,
> the sacred prom fJwas made to man, that feed-time
and harv^&ffld and beat, summer and winter,
{day and n¥ffr; should continue to the very end of
all tyings ; accordingly, in obedience to that prom
, rotation is constantly prefeniingtA with frme
ufeful and agreeable alteration ; and all the pleating
~1^7% cf|i~ ,t : f.s risen ttriv no.chaiQ :,
nor are we lets indebted to them for all its fo!H
comforts. It has been frequently the tlk of the
moralist and poet to mark, in podihed periods,
the particular charms and coov< niencies of eve
ry change ; and indeed, Inch dilcriminate oh
< ) fervations upon natural variety cannot be unde
lightful; since the blessing, which every montbbriug3
along with r, i> a frefli infiance of the wifuom an i
Bounty of that Providence which regulates,he globes
of the year. We glow as we contemplate, weauore,
whht we enjoy. In the time of leed-lowinv,usthe
season of confidence ; the grain whirhi he L, ibin.i
nnn truits to the bofam of the earth bull, t^piv,
yield its seven fold rewards : spring pretents us with
a feene of lively expectation; that which before
fowt) begins now to difeover signs of luccefsful veg
etation ; the labourer observes the change, and an
ticipates the harvest : he watches the progress of
nature, and fmiles'at her influence ; while the man
of contemplation walks forth with the evening, a
(1 inidft the fragrance of flowers,and promises of plen
ty, nor returns to his cottage till darkness closes the
feene upon his eye. Then cometh the harv c ft,when
the large with is fatisfied, and the granaries of na
lure are loaded with the means of life, even to a
luxury of abundance. The powers of language are
unequal to the description of this joyous fcafon ; it
is the carnival of nature; fun and (hade, coolness
and quietness, mirth and music, love and labor, u
nite to render every feene of summer enchanting.
And the division of light and darkness is one of the
kindest efforts of omnipotent fugacity. Day& night
yield us contrary blessings, and, at the fame time,
assist etch other, by giving frefh luftre to thedelights
(A of both. Amidst the glare of day and buttle of
h life, how (halrwe deep ? amidst the gloom of dark
refs, how fliall weMabor?
How wife, how benignant, how like a Diety then,
isthe proper division ! rhehours of light arc adapted
to adivity, and thole of darkness to rest. Ere the
^\ -^^ -CT exercise and nature prepare us for the
Inuiowb and by the time that the morning returns,
we are again able tn meet it with a smile. Thus
every season bath a charm, peculiar to itfelf, & ev
ery moment affords some interesting innovation.
Mchnoih.
Important Invention.
A Patent has been granted to Mr. Mafly, for
an instrument for taking soundings at sea, of
which the following is as corred a description as
, the nature of the fubjed will admit:
The Apparatus consists of a founding weight
about 18 inches long, the body of which con
tains a regitler, with two dials—of an iron or
brass rod, 12 inches long—and of a tin buoy, air
tight, about fix inches square and deep. To the
bottom of the buoy is secured a pair of spring
tongs, onefod of which relts on a hook, and the
spring part of the tongs is fixed to a rotator, or
revolving apparatus. —This apparatus is compo
sed of a copper, or other metallic tube, and four
brafs,or other metallic vanes. The tubemuft be air
tight, about 12 inches long, and one inch and a
half diameter,with a conical point about 4 inches
in length. The vane: ire soldered to the tube
in a spiral direction so as to produce a rotatory
motionround theaxis ofthetube when fentinto the
water. On each vane is a regulator, whose of
fice is to make a rotator perform a cerain num
ber of revolutions in a given space correspondent
with the calculations of the wheels of the register.
The rotators are to be adjusted, by experiment in
water, to correspond with the registers to the
greatest nicety, that is, to afeertain the space the
machine will descend by every revolution of the
rotator. By altering the angles and the size of
the vanes, the rotator may be made to revolve in
any desired place.
By this method soundings may be taken in ve
ry deep water, and in water 20 fathom without
the trouble of heaving the veiTel to, although
they may be going at the rate of five miles an
^' 'hour; for as the rotator registers the descent of
the founding weight, there is no occasion to pay
refped to the length of the line out ; so that the
mariner may veer out any quantity of line which
will give time for the machine to defeend.
The prominent objed of this apparatus is to
do away or lessen the errours arising from the
old method of taking soundings, as thechrefguide
for the mariner by that method is to judge of the
perpendicular depth of line out, which is apt to
decieve him, whereas on this principle he is gov
erned by the descent of the founding-weight on
ly, without any regard to the length of the line
r except in case of tiling the reel. The improve
ments in therotators are the invention of the air,
tubes, and the method of udjufting or regulating
it. A rotator on this principle will anfwer
both quick and flow failing, and give the true
diftance without danger of its breaking the regis
ter in quick failing, by holding too much w^ter^
A small Heel guage is attached to the rotator,
which will shew any accident it may meet with.
Lots. pap.
Vol. XIV.]
Important Document,
Communicated to Congreft, by the PreJident of the
United States, on the 13th Nov. 1803.
0- -
An account of Louisana :
Being an abftraft of Documents in the Offices of the
Departments of State and of the Treasury.
[The obje& of the following pages is to consolidate the
information receding the prefect Rate of Louisiana, fur
nifhed to the Executive by several individuals among the
best informed upon that fubjc&.
OF the province of Louisiana no general map, fuffieient
ly correct to be depended upon has been publdhed,
nor has any yet been procured from a private fourcc. It is
indeed probable that surveys have never been made upon so
extensive a fca!e as to afford the means of laying down the
variaus regions of a country, which in some of its parts ap
pears to have been but imperfectly explored.
Bounderier.
The precise bonndries of LpuiGma. weftwardly of the
Miffippi though very extensive arc at prefect involved in
fom: or,fcur::y. Data are equally wanting to assign v^th
precision its northern extent. From the source of the Mif
fidppi, it is bounded east hardly by the middle of the chan
nel of that river to the 31st degree of latitude . •Thence, it
is afferced upon very strong grounds that according to its
limits when formerly possessed by France, it firetches to the
cast as far at least as the river Perdigo which runs into the
bay of Mexico eattward of the river Mobille.
It may be confident, with the view of these notes to re
mark, that Louisiana including the Mobille settlements,
was difeovered and peopled by the French, whose mon
archs made fever.il grants of its trade in particular to Mr.
Grofat, in 1732 and some years afterwards, with his ac
quiefeence, to the well known company projected by Mr.
Law. This company was relinquished in the year 1751.
By a secret convention on the 3d of Nov. 1762, the French
government ceded so much of the province as lies beyond
the Miffifippi, as well as the island of New-Orleans to
Spain, and by the treaty of peace which followed in 1763
the whole territory of France and Spain eastward of the
middle of the Miffifippi to the Sherville, thence through
the middle of that river, and the lakes Maurepas and P#l
-to the sea, was ceded to Great- Britain. Spain
having conquered the Floridas from Great-Britain during
our revolutionary war, they were confirmed to her by the
treaty of'peace of 1783 By the treaty of St Ildefonfo, of
the ift of October, 1800, his Catholic Majeft, promises
and engages on his part to cede back to the French repub
lic, fix months after the full and entire execution of the
conditions and ftipalations therein contained relative to the
Duke of Parma, "the colony or province of Louisiana,
with the fame extent that it actually has in the hands of
Spain, that it had when France possessed it, and such as it
ought to be after the treaties subsequently entered into be
tween Spain and other states." This treaty was confirmed
and*enforced by that of Madrid, of the lift March, I Sox.
From France it passed to us by the treaty of the 30th of
April last, with a reference to the above clause, as descrip
tive of the limits ceded.
Dtvifonj of the Province,
The province as held by Spain, including a part of
Weft-Florida, is laid off into the following principal divi
sions ; —Mebiile, from Bilife to the city, New-Orleans,
and the country on both sides of lake Foncharcrain,
firft and second German coafls, Catahanofe, Fourche, Ve
nezuela, Iberville, Galvez Town, Baton Rouge, Points
Coupee, Atacapu., Opcloufcs, Ouachita, AvoycHas, Rap.de,
Natchitoches, Arkansas, and the Illinois,
in the Illinois hi^rc arc comuianLiite, •< Nc^ hi,;,;;
St. Genevieve, New Bourbon, St. Charles and St. An
drews, all subordinate to the commandant general.
Baton Rouge having been made a government, subse
quently to the treaty of limits, &c. with Spain the polls of
Manchac and Thompson's Creek, or Feliciana were added
to it.1
Chapitoulas has sometimes been regarded as a separate
command, but is now included witbin the jurifdi&ion of
the city. The lower part of the river has likcwife had oc
casionally a separate commandant,
Many of the present eftabliihments are separated froml
each other by immense and trackless deserts, having no
communication with each other by land, except now and
then a solitary instance of its being attempted by hunters,
who have to swim rivers, expose thcmfelves to the inclem
ency of the weather, and carry their provisions on their
backs for a time, proportioned to the length of their jour- ,
ney. This is particularly the case on the weft of the Mif
fitippi, where the communication is kept up only by water, !
between the capital and the diflant settlements ; three
months being require^ to convey intelligence from the one;
to the other by the Miffifippi. The usual diftahce accom-,
plifhed, by a boat in afeending is five leagues per day.
The rapidity of the current, in the spring fealon efpecially,'
when the waters of all the rivers are high, facilitates the
defeent, so that the fame voyage by water, which requires
three or four months to perform from the capital, may be
made to it from twelve to sixteen days. The principal
settlements in Louisiana are on the Miffifippi, which
begins to be cultivated about twenty leagues from the sea,
where the plantations are yet thin and owned by the poor
est people. Afeending, you fee them improve on each
fide, until you reach the city, which is Situated on the east
bank, on a bend of the river, 35 leagues from the sea.
Chapitoulas,fiefl and second German coafis —Catahan
o/e — Fourche and Iberville.
The bed and most improved are about the city, and
comprehend, what is there known by the Paroiffe de Cha
pitoulas Premier and second Cote des Allemande, and ex
tend 16 leagues.
Above this begins a parish of Catahanofe, or firft Aca
dian settlement, extending eight leagues on the river. Ad
joining it and Bill afeending is the second Acadian settle
ment or parish of the Fouche, which extends about Six
leagues. The parish of Iberville then commences, and is
bounded en the east fide by the river of the fame natoe,
which though dry a great part of the year, yet, when the
Miffifippi is railed, it communicates with the lakes Maure
nas and Ponchartrain, and through them with the sea, and
thus forms what is called the island of New-Orleans. Ex
cept on the point just below the Iberville, the country
from New Orleans is fettled the whole way along the riv
et, and presents a feene of uninterrupted plantations in fight
of each other, whose fronts to the Miffifippi are all cleared,
and occupy on that river from 5 to 25 acres with a depth
of 40,"f0 that a plantation of 5 acres in front contains 200.
A few Sugar plantations are formed in the parish of Ca
tahapofe, hut the remainder is devoted to cotton and pro
visions, and the whole is an excellent foil incapable of be
ing exhausted. The plantations are but one deep on the
island of New-Orleans, and on the oppotire Side of the river
as far as "the mouth of the Iberville, which is 35 leagues
above New-Orleans.
Bayou De La Fo&rcbe—Atara,as, and Opeloufas.
About 25 leagues from the last mentioned place on the
weft fide of the Miffifippi ;he creek at Bayou of the
Fourche, called in old maps. La Rivier des Chiramaches,
flows from the Miffifippi, and communicates with the sea
to the weft of the Balife.—The entrance of the Miffifippi
is navigable only at high water, but will then admit of
eraft of from 60 to 70 tons burthen.—On both banks of
this creek are settlements, one plantation deep, for near 15
leagues, and they are divided into two parishes, The fee
tiers are numerous, though poor, and the culture is univer
sally cotton. On all crocks making from the Miffifippi,
ORACLE POST.
■ l| .'..-. 1 . .'...'.* ■■— ^Kg^,!LBLw «l»J!!i!^ .ail 11
TUESDAY, ffCEMBER 20, 1803.
r——l— MM ■ « WI" »■■ 11 "rrraMiwamiaMaariama^^nm—w
the Soil 's the lame as on the bank of the river, and the
,lorder is the highefl part of it, from whence it defeends
gradually to the swamp. In no place on the low lands is
there depth more than fuffices for one plantation, before
come to "' '° w grounds incapable of cultivation,
this creek affords one of the communications to the two
populous and rich settlements of Atacapas and Opeloufas
Untied on and near the small rivers Teche and Vermilen
", flow into the bay of Mexico. But the principal and
so fr ft communication is by the Bayou or creeks of Pla
<p toines, whose entrance into the M.ffifinpi is 7 leagues
up on the fame fide, and ,2 above N,w.Orlc'ans.
settlements abound in cattle end horses, haw a large
(,f tty of good land in their vicinity and may be made of
{ ! lit importance. A part of their produce is sent by sea to
/so Orleans, but the greater part is carried in batteaux
tithe creeks above mentioned.
Baton Rouge and its dependencies.
hn^ediately above th: !beivlie, and on both sides of
f Miffifippi lies the parish of Manebae, which extends
h[ r leagues on the river, and is well cultivated. Above
ijpmmences the settlement of Baton Rouge, extends about
pl agues. It is remarkable as bring the Gift place,where
til 1 gh lard is contiguous to the nver, and h.re it forms
"\.,~™ d°*°v I'etalive the great ftrtfoct±eriver,
'^.i,.*c ictu nr.no vXfeju rosusu/'t'ri; w^k on the
&Sf,n ; i.nd :W ,30^. has that of T'l" nfon's creek, anlj
Bayou Sara subordinate to it The mouth of cne firlt of
these creek is about 49 leagues from New-Orleans, and that
cf the latter 2or 3 leagues higher up. They run from
north east to fouth weft, and their head waters are north
of the 31^ degree of latitude. Their banks have the bed
foil and the greatest number of good cotton plantations of
any part of Louisiana, and are allowed to be the garden
of it.
Point Coupee and Faufee Rivers,
Above Baton Rouge, at the distance of 50 leagues from
New Orleans, and on the weft fide of the Miffifippi h
Pointe Coupee, a populous and rich fcttlcment, extending
8 leagues along the river. Its produce is cotton. Be
hind it, on an old bed of the river, now a lake, whose out
lets are closed up, is the fcctlement of Fauffe Riviere, which
is well cultivated.
In the space now described from the sea as high as and
ioclu liug the lift mentioned fettlcment, is contained three
fourths of the population, and seven eighths of the riches of
Louisiana.
From the settlement of Pointe Coupee on the Miffifippi
to Cape Girardeau above the mouth of the Ohio, there is
no land on the weft fide, that is not overflowed in the
fpriag to the distance of eight or ten leagues from the
river, with from two to twelve feet of water, except a
small spot near New -Madrid, so that in the whole extent
there is no possibility of forming a canfiderable settlement
contiguous to the river on that fide —The eastern bank
has in this refpedl a decided advantage over the weftern as
there are on it many filiations which effectually commend
the river.
Red River and its settlements.
On the weft fide of the Miffifippi, 70 leagues from New-
Orleans, is the mouth of the Red river, on whose banks
and vicinity are the settlements of Rapide. Avoyelles and
Natchitoches, all of them thriving and populous. The
latter is situate 75 leagues up the Red river. On the
north fide of the Red river, a few leagues from its junc
tion with the Miffifippi, is the Black River, on one of
whose branches, a considerable way up, is the infant settle
ment of Onachita, wh ch from the richness of the foil, may
be made a place of importance, Cotton is the chief pro
duce of these settlements, bat they have likewise a consider
able Indian trade. The river Rogue or Red River, is used
to communicate with the frontiers of New Mexico.
Concord, ArLanfar, St. Charles, and St. Andrew, trfc.
There is no other settlement on the Miffifippi except the
f rtß :;called Concord, opposite to the Natchez unt 1 yob
cone to tile n-rhangej xirct, WOurc LUVULh io Qv i^-B—ro
above New-Orleans.
Here there are but few families, who are more attached
to the Indian trade (by which chiefly they live) than to
cultivation. There is no fettloaent from this place to New-
Madrid, which is itfelf incfnfidefable. Afeending the riv
er you come to Cape Giradeau, St Genevieve and St Lew
is. where, though the inhabitants are numerous, they raise
little for exportation, and content themselves with trading
>with the Indians and wroking a few lead mines This cou,
Itry is very fertile, especially on the bank of the Missouri,
where there have been formed two settlements called
St Charles and St Andrew, mostly by emigrants from Ken
tuckey The peltry procured in the Illinois is the bell sent
to the Atlantic marker, and the quantity is very confidera
;ble. Lead is to be had with ease, and in such quantities as
I to supply all Europe, if the population were Sufficient to
Iwork the numerous mines to be found within two or
jthree feet from the furface in various parts es the country.
I The settlements about the Illinois were firft made by the
/ Canadians, and their inhabitants still resemble them in
' their aversion to labour, and love of a wandering life.
IThey contain hut few negroes compared to the number of
, the whites, and it may be taken for a general rule, that
! in proportion to the dillance from the capital, the number
of blacks diminifli below that of the whites, the former
abounding most on the rich plantations in its vicinity.
General defoiptwn of Upper Louisiana.
When compared with the Indian territory, the
face of the country inUpper Louisiana is rather more
broken, though the toil is equally fertile. It is a fad
riot to be contested, that the weft fide of the river
foffefles some advantages not generally incident to
ihofe regions. It is elevated and healthy, and well
watered with a variety of large rapid Breams cal
culated for mills & other, water works. From Cape
Girardeau, above the mouth of the Ohio, to the
Mdlouri,tbe land on the east fide of the Miffifippi
is low and flat, and occasionally exposed to inun
dations; that on the Louisiana file contiguous to the
river, is generally much higher, and in many
places very rocky on th< Afore. Some of the heights
exhibit a feene truly paurelque. They rife to a
height of at leaf! 300 feet, faced with perpendicu
lar lime andfiee /lone carved in various fliapes and
figures by the hand of nature, and afford the appear-,
ance of a multitude of antique towers. From the
tops offhefe elevations, he land gradually slopes back
from the river, without gravel or rock, & is covered
with valuable timber. It may be laid ui:h truth,
that, for fertility of foil, no part can exceed the
borders of the M ffifippi: The land yields an a
bundance of all the neceiLries of life, and ahnoft
Ipontaneoufly ; very little labour being required in
the cultivation of the earth. That part of Upper
Louisiana which borders on North Mexico, is one
immense prairte; it'prouuces nothing br* giafs: It
is filled with bufcloe, deer and other kinds of game.
The land is reprefente 1 as too rich for the growth of
sorest trees.
It is pretended that Upper Louisiana contains in
its bowels many filter and copper mines, and var
ious specimens of botharc exhibited. Several trials
have been made to ascertain the fad ; but the want
of (kill in the artists has hitherto left the fuoj.a un
decided.
The salt works are pretty numerous ; feme be
longingfo individuals ; others to the public. They
already yield an abundant supply fur the evnfump-
tion of the country; and if properly managed,
might become an article of more general exporta
tion. The ulual price per bufhe jis one dollar and
•an h^lf in cath at the works.
This price nil! be still lower as soon as the manu
faaure of the fait is aflumed by tile government, or
patronized by men who have "large capitals to em
ploy in the business. One extraordinary fait rela
tive to fall male not be omitted. There exiils
about 1000 miles up the Miffburi, and not far front
that river a fall mountain ! The exigence of such
a mountain might well be queflioned, were it not
for tefttmony of several refpc&able and enterpr zing
traders, who have vdited it,& exhibted several bufh
,els of the fait tothe curiosity of the penpl of St.Lou
is,where some of it still remains. Asp cimeo of the
fme fait has been lent to Marietta. This Moun
tain is said to be 180 miles long, and 43 in width,
computed of solid rock salt, without any trees, or
even shrubs 011 it. 3ahfprogs are very numerous
be-eato the iurtace of this mountain, and they flow
through the fill ires and cavities of it .Caves cf
!Glt-petrc are round io Upper Louisiana. though at
f.me dT., ;e 1 ZT. the LuJ&k n. c^
a trading voyage, lately hrtcuvered one, Several hun
dred roues up the M.ffouri. They Ipent five or
fix weeks in the 0 auulaaure of this artic e and re
tu^ed to St. Louis with 400 weight of it. It prov
ed to be good, and they fold it for a high price.
The geography of tire Miffifippi and MiJouri and
their contiguity for a great length of wav, are but
little known. The traders assert that 100 miles a
bove their junaion, a man u y walk from one to
the other in a day; and it is also averted, that 700
miles ftill^ higher up, the portage may be eroded in
four or five days. Lots portage is frequented by
traders, who carry on a considerable trade with some
of the Missouri , Indians. Their general route is
thr ugh the Green by, which is an arm of lake
Michigan; th y then pal's into a small lake con
neßed with it, and whi h communicates with the
Fox River; they then crof, over a fliort port to go
into the Olifconling river, which unites with the
Miffifippi fume dillance below toe Falls of St. An
thony. It is afo said, that the traders communicate
with the M ffilippi .bove theft falls, through lake
Superior ; but their trade in that quarter is much
lets confiaerable.
Canal of Carondelet.
Behind New-Orleans is a Canal about one and
a half mile long, which communicates with a
creek called the Bayou St. Jean, flowing into
lake Ponchartrain. At the mouth of it, about
two and an half leagues from the city is a small
fort called St. Jean, which commands the en
trance from the lake. By this creek the com
munication is kept up through the lake and the
Rigolets, to Mobile and the settlements n Weft
Florida. Craft drawing from 6to 8 feet wa
ter can navigate to the month of the creek, but
except in particular swells of the lake cannot pah
the bar without being lightened.
St. Bernardo.
Or . the Fast fide of the Miffifippi, about fir
ic^grre^ ^citt rfvw-CuIQU) ana at the head of
the English bend is a settlement known by the
names of the Poblacion de St Bernard or the
Terre aux Boeufs, extending on both sides of a
creek or drain, whose hedges is contiguous to the
Miffifippi, and which flowing east ward after a
course of 18 leagues, and dividing itfelf into two
branches, falls into the sea and lake Borgne.
This settlement consists of two parishes ; almost
all the inhabitants of which ale Spaniards from
the Canaries, who content themselves with rais
ing fowls, corn, a&d garden fluff for the market
of New-Orleans. The lands cannot be cultivat
ed to any great distance from the banks of the
creek, on account of the vicinity of the marsh
behind them but the place is susceptible of great
improvement and of affording another commu
nication to small craft of from 8 to 10 feet
draught between the sea and the Miffifippi.
Settlements bel^v the English Turn.
At toe dillance of fifteen leagues below New-
Orleans, the settlements on both banks of the
river are of but small account.—Between these
and the fort of Plamquemines, the country is o
verflowed in the spring and in many places is
incapable of cultivation at any time being a mb-.
rafs almost impffaable by man or beast. This
small tongue of land extends considerably into
the sea, which is visible on both sides of the Mif
flifippi from a fhip's mast.
Country from Plaquemines to the sea and efea of the
Hurricanes.
From Plaquemines to the sea is twelve or
thirteen leagues.—The country is low, swampy,
chiefly covered with read, having little or no
timber, and no settlement whatever. It may be
necessary to mention here, that the whole lower
part of the country from the English Turn down
u ard, is fubjed to overflowing in hurricanes, ei
ther by the recoiling of the river or reflux from
the sea on each fide ; and on more than one oc
casion, it has been covered fiom the depth cf two
to ten feet according to the defeent of the river
whereby many lives were loft, horses and cattle
swept away and a feene of deftrudion laid. The
last calamity of this kind happened in 1794;
But fortunately they are not frequent. In the
preceeding year the engineer who Superintended
the erecting of the fort of Plaquemine was drow
ned in his house near the fort, and the workmen
escaped only by taking refuge on an elevated
foot in the lore on which there were notwith
standing two or three feet of water. These hur
ricanes have generally been felt in the month of
August, their greatest fury lasts about twelve
houis. They commence in the south-east veer
about to all points of the compass ; are felt more
severely below, and seldom extend more than a
few leagues above New-Orleans. In their whole
courle they are marked with ruin and desolation.
Until that of 1793, there had been none felt from
the )ear 1780.
Pages or Mouths of tie Miffififfi.
About eight leagues below Plaquemines, the
[No. 10.