Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-01-02

fr+nci, got footing in thai part of the
Spanish dominlons, and how they pro-
ceedcd Ia form the COLONY 10 which they
gave the name of Louisiana
But. to form a just idea of The esiab.
lishnient of that colony, and of its pre-
else extent and boundaries, il is necessa-
~ TO take view of il. at three different
periods; LIST, under the dir. ctIou oftbe yoy-
ernment of France; second, under that
ct Crozat and of the French Western
Company and, thirdly, under the gov
eminent of the crown of France.
ITO not deem il necessary now to de-
IaiI, nlnulc!y, the first attempt of The
French on the old Florida, in 1862. II is
well known, that John Rivant, to whom
ne conduct Of the expedition was COM
,niii"d, through the influence of Admiral
CoIi4ny, Was completely routed by the
Spaniards, uUdcr General Nlenendez de
Abyles.. This General liaving attacked
ne French III their fort of Carolina, all
those who escaped the assault, were niady
PRISONERS OF war: and having pursued
HER ssel, he, and stormy weather nut
an end TO the wrctched remains Of tins
French expedition. Abyies founded the
castle and forts of ST. Augustine. which
then became the Capital OF all Florida.
established various other posts, and en-
forced respect for the dominion of Srain
over all the coast and territories of that
vast region. The French never anaiu re-
turned there until the last attempt OF The
celebrated La Sale, who, towards the
close OF 1854, sailed from France with an
cNprdiilon ~ discover the mouths OF the
Mississippi; al this period, The French
had already established Themselves i'm the
lower part of Canada.
Fearful of fuRctIt,U fafo t,t,a 81. &
Kivaui. they avoided an Interference with
The countries belonging 10 The crown or
SPAN, ana confined their Embellishments
TO The coasts OF the Atlantic. The Sava-
ges, or Aborigines of Canaia. had Il know
ledgeOt other Indian nations inLal,iiipg
beyond The lakes, and of very remote
country, watcred by a great river, which,
as they said, ran neither 10 lie easi. 10
lhe west, nor 10 the north, bun which
might probably run To Ike south. and
empty into the Gulf of Mexico. Ii was
they who, in lG6o, gave The French Of Ca
NADIA an IDEA of this country and river.
although very limited, vague and OBJ
scurc, ana excited in the mind OF Joliet.
an inhabl'ani Of Quebec, and of the Mis-
sionary Marquette, tho project OF crossing
the takes, ann penetrating into the said
country, 10 explore il and The river. They
realized their project, embarked on Lake
Michigan, assembled the river Zoras 10 IFS
source, afterwards travelled by land, and,
returning to The entrance of the same ri
yer, navigated 10 the wcstv ard, and OH
The 2d June, 1873, they struck the Mis-
slssippi. They then descended This ri
YER, as low as Tie Arkansas in 33 deg.
north latitude, but, fearful 81 falling i'll
10 the hands OF the Spaniards, they al.
forwards reireated 10 Canada, and, on
their return, passed through The couH-
try Inhabited by the Illinois, whom they
found disposed 10 trade with The French
Of that Colony
This excursion produced no resul,
whatever, and would have been wholly
fnrgotien at The death of Marquette, bui
the famous La Sale, an enterpiising and
resolute man, who bad come To Canada
with the design of exploring IA passage
from thence 10 Japan, or China, having
heard ut JoHets narrative, conceived Tbs
project OF repeating The same jcurney.-
lie embarked for France, aud on his ar
rival al Paris, proposed his plan TO the
Prince OF Conii-patronized by him, and
HE government, he returned 10 Quebec
viii company Of thirty associates, and
the Chevalier Fonfr, ii brave AVID expe-
rienced officer. Al Quebec he was Join
ed by Father HeDnrpIu, and al Tie head
OF this party, set oui on the Journey for
merly made by Joliet and Marguerite.
Having encountered extraordinary diff
cullics, lie employed several wears IN ac-
comprising It,. On the 4iii of March,
1851, lie arriv ed at the Arkansas in April,
OF Tie following year, lie proceeded AZ
low down as the mouth of tie Mississip.
pi, and IN the spring of 1858, he returned
10 France la give an account of his dis
cO,erlrs. With all due ceremony. he
took possession Of the Arkansas and the
Mississippi, III the name of the Crown OF
France, although il was well known, that
all those countries were under the domi-
ii:nn OF SPAN. In performing tl.ls Jour
ney La Sale did 10 more than explore
distant countries, and HAT in a clandcs-
tine and secret manner, being under iI,e
necessity OF defending himself both a.
gainst the Spaulards and the English,
" no repeatedly fell in with and attacked
him.
La Sale having given an exaggerate
account OF his discoveries III This part Of
America, was authorized Nv lis court lo
search for The mouths of the Mississippi,
and occupy some position on IFS banks.
This was the object of flc maritime ex-
petition, with which he sailed from
France, under the command OF Bcaujour,
for the Gull Of AlcNiro, which he entered
OH tie 10Th of December, 1854. In tie
| notes lately addressed YOU at Washing
ton, | stated the result OF this expedition
| and The abOrs oi La Sale. Driven on
| the coast OF the province oi Texas, il vas
with difficulty this distinguished advcn-
turer found safety in the Bay Of ST. Ber-
nard lie crossed by lie Trinity river,
aud constructed a rcdoubl 10 defend him
self against the Indians bur, not being
able TO defend if, he determined on abaB-