Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-09-29

on tour vessels, with men ard stores. He
sailed in 1854; but missing the mouth Of
the Mississippi, landed on the 18th of Fe
bruary in the Bay OF ST. Bernard. Here
lie made two successive establishments.
All, vi this time the Chevaler Tonti,o
descended the mouth Of the Mississippi,
and OH ascending the river formed per-
manent settlement on the Arkansas. Not
long after this period several other small
sellements were made by enterprising
l. renchinen.
In 1859 war commenced between
France and Spain. which lasted till 1857,
during which period nothing appears 10
have been done by France To succou her
colony. In 1908, NJ. D. Ibery!le was dis.
! patched as Governor. He established
two Settlements, one at I.le Massacre,
which he called lie Dauphin, aud the o.
thar at Mobile. II may be proper to OBJ
serve that during the war, in 1896, Spain
had taken post al Pensacola.
From these faGl, ii follows tha, France
enjoyed the actual and undis;wbed pos
session of the coast from the Mobile to
the Bay OF 81. Bernard, and from the
mouth of The Mississippi to the Illinois,
which, together with otter territorv. com.
prises what is now called West Florida,
but which then, toge her with the country
as far as Canada, went by the common
name OF louisiana.
J In this condition things stood, when
Louis XIV. by letters patent, on the l4,h
Sept. l7l2, granted to NJ. Crozat, the ex-
| elusive Commerce OF this country FOR If
I teen years. This document is important,
as 1t appears TO contain The first lo mai It,
/ cognition OF the extent of the French pos
! sessions. The extracts in point, are as
fol ows;
Louis by the grace of God, King of
France and Navarro: To all who shall
see these Letters, Greeting. The care
we have always had 10 procure thu welfare
| and advantage oil Our subjects having in
duced US Notwithstanding the almos; con-
tinual wars which we have been obliged
10 support from thebeglnnirg Of our reign,
10 seek for ali possible oppor unities fen
larging and extending the Iade Of our A.
merIcan colonies, sue did ia he year 1858
give our orders TO undertake discovery
oil the countries aud lands which are situ-
aed in the Northern part or America be-
( tween New France and New Mexico.
Aud the Sieur de la Sale, 10 whom we
committed that enterprise, having had
success enough 10 Coz firm belief that a
communication might Re SetfLrd J,om E. ezy
France 10 tie G~Hh Of NIerico by means
OF large rivers; tins obliged us mmed-
alcly after the peace of r. swck % < We o, =
. ders for the establishing COLONY there, &
=, h., ..
firese, Ued tie I,psSession we hrd taken In
The very year 1858 OF The land, coasts and
islands which are situated in the Culph of
Mexico bef7cee. Carolina he Ea,f, ami
Old and .NrgU MEXICO on tie Hest. Blu,
a new war having broke out in Europe
shortly after there was no possibility, Ill.
now, ofreaping from iha, new Colony he
advantages that might have been exDeS,-
adj from thence because The private men,
who are concerned in the sea trade were
all under engagements with other colonies
which they have been obliged TO follow :
IND WHEREAS upon the Information
we have received concerning The DISPOSE.
ton and situation Of the said (oun,ries
&Ho7on at Present by the name IF he Pro
rinee Of Louisiana. we are of opinion that
there may be es abllshed therein consi-
derable commerce, so much the more
advantageous TO our kingdom in hat there
has hitherto been necessity OF fetching
from foreigners the greatest part of the
commodities which may be brought from
thence, and because in exchange thereof
we need carry thithcr nothing Blu, COM
modiies OF the growth and manufaelu,e
OF our own kingdom; we have resolved
to grant the commerce Of the country Of
Louisiana TO the Sleu Anthony Crozat.
our Counsellor, Secretary Of the HOUSE
hold, Crown and Revenue, TO whom we
entrust the execution of this project. We
are the more readily inclined hereunto.
because his zeal and the singular know =
ledge he has acquired in maritime COM
merce encourage us to hope for as good
success as he has hitherto had in the di-
vers and sundry enterprises he has gone
upon, and which have procured to our
kingdom great quantities gold and silver
in such conjunGlures as have rendered
them very welcome TO us.
" For these reasons, being DESTROYS to
shew our favor TO him, and 10 regulate the
conditions upon which we mean to grant
him the said commerce, after having d.