Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-02-11
CWHoLE No. aos.l

from landing 70 find the object of his ro-
mantle search. He returned TO Porto
Rico, and there died. =.
In 1899, Ferdinand de Soto, whohad
served under Pizarre and had been IN.
vested with the government Of Cuba. ssiIs,
ed from the HAVANA with considerable
force, and landing on the coast Of Flori.
da, travers'd most. Of the the rivers which
fall into the Gulfof Mexico. This OF.
Ger attemptedto travel by land, SOUTH
westto Mexico, but meeting many obsta-
eles relinquished the enterprise. He,
came NJ length to one of the great Rivera.
discovered by De Soto and after hume.
rous hardships and Difficulties, with his
army arrived n the sea irri544. )
An obscure and unsatisfactory account
Of the remarkable adventures and extern
sive> discoveries of Ferdinand de. Soto.
may be found in a History Of Florida,
compiled by William Roberts, or in the
Spanish Of Garciasso de le Naga. This
proved barren enterprise to the Spani-
ards, who acquired by it no more thatC
the empty fame ofbeing the FIRST discover
ers Of the river Mississippi. Though ex-
tendingtheir discoveries and conquests on
the neighbouring coasts, which are washSs
ed by the Mexican sea, yet they did not
even approach the mouth Of that mighty
river, or pursue the path opened BY the
adventurous spirit of De Soto.
E*was in the reign Of Lewis 18th, 10
fertile in great men and magni6cent
schemes Of ambition, and under the direc.
ton Of that able minister Of the marine,
Colbert, that new activity was given 10
the commerce and naval enterprise Of
France. Had the plans formed during
the reign Of that monarch. and which were
pursued by his successors been a. fortu-
nate As they were great and splendid,
France would, At this time; have been in
acondition to control the destiny Of tho
two hemispheres. @>>>s, IT. -.-. I. --:
+ No nation has equaied her h the wis.
dom Of her system Of colonization. Her
ministers, aided by the powerful and sa-
gacioes societyof Iesuits, found no dii6-:
Guilty in uniting the most distant and sa-
wage nations in friendly intercourse with
her traders, andthe activezeal Of the mis-.
sionary, served to rivet the chains Of sub.
lection which were prepared q bind all
the wandering tribes Of North America,
to the government Of France.
These schemes are not Forgotten, and
man is now in the place Of Die Bour..
bons, who, If he had equal resources,
would be capable Of executing plans, Of
equal magnitude and importance. -
The spirit Of colonization, which had
been for many years relaxed, begantore..
viye al the close Of the 18th century,
From 15oa to 1870, various voyages
were prosecuted to that par. Of North A
merica now called Nova Scotia, and the
settlements, of Acadia and Quebec were
made, which laid the foundation Of the
subsequent power ofthe French in Cana.
da. The countrywas called New France.
andanew commercial companywss fcrm-
ed, under the direction Of the Cardinal
de Richlieu and cthers, for carrying on
the trade and managing its internal con-
cerns. Il
New France had been increasing in po-
Pulation and strength for many years,
when, in 1870, under the government of
the Count de Frontenac. and the inten-
dance of M. Talon, some Frenchmen un-
dertook to make discoveries to the west-e
ward. These adventurers, learned from
the natives, that there was great river
to the west, called BY some Michassipi,
and by others Mississippi, and which,
whereeveri it might empty itself, did NOT
run 70 the north or to de east. From
this informationit was concluded thar dis
river either slowed south and emptied IL
self into the Gulf Of Mexico, or, taking
q western direction was discharged into !
the South Sea. IS IS Z.
Conceivingthe advantages whichmight
result from the navigation Of this river,
M. Talon determined before his return to
France, to ascertain point Of 90 much !,
importance. He.sccordingly dispatched
Father Marqnettee, = jesuit, who had