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

D"S W 81. DcIbdiu anu adjacent country,
can give no right 10 France to that bay
ana country, they being already onder
Tie dominion OF the Crown of Spain. In
fact, what right could France have TO ex-
tend herself, from her remote COLONY of
canada, 10 those territories? But Franc e
only authorized La Sale 10 search for tie
mouths OF the Mississippi, doubtless i'll
The belief that this river was not within
the spanish possessions. also stated TO
you, thai the most effectual measures
were instantly taken by the vice ROY Of
Mexico and the Spanish government. 10
drive i,ic French from any position they
might have occupied in the Gulf of Mex
leo, or IN the inferior. This vas one of
The special objects of the successive ex-
pediiions OF Alonzo de Leon, Domingo
ieran, and Gregorio Salinas--I say that
Tins was one of The objects of these expe-
dit'onss, because they were likewise cl,arx-
ed with forming different establishments
~ The Province of Texas OF OF the Asiiiais,
anu securing the whole coast from any In
cursIon OF foreigners. They executed tile
object OF their missions that the French
made no further attempts from that time
TO he expedition Of IbervilIe, in 1893, the
period when The French first esta bIisbed
themselves an the Golf of Mexico. Ibes-
vile, an experienced seaman, who had
distinguished himself by his fortunate ex-
pediiiom T. Budson's Bay, i'm 1897, APP
peared of Pensacola with his squadron
bat, discovering thai The Spaniards we're
occupied in ior,ifl ing thai place, he shap-
ed bis course for the river Mobile. He
entered u on the 2d of February Of the
same wear, and took possession of Massa-
ere island, which b.. called Dsuphin ISL
and. On The ID of March, 1850, he en-
tered the Mississippi, and assembled rs
high as The Bluffs; he there received
letter from the Chevalier Fonti, BY which
he asceitaineh thai this was really the
Mississippi, and that the Indian nations
which he had communicated Will, show
ed a very favorable disposition 10 trade
with the French. lie then returned to-
Mobile, and, leaving thai place in the
charge OF Sanvole and Bienville, proceed
ed to france 10 give AN account of his ex-
petition. The court OF Spain, haviag
been already informed Of these en;erpri-
SEES, determined 10 expel the French for
ever from those positions, aud from all the
Cult of Mexico but, this being about to
be executed, the death OF Charles the Cd
occurred, and the Duke of Anjou sue
cerded TO The crown, under the name of
Philip5ib. Spain being then embarrassed
with the war of successioR, and united by
close friendship With France, overlooked
The establishment al Mobile In January.
1900, lberviIle returned there, but made
no progress IN lis projects, from the want
of means and the badness of the climate.
This feeble colony continued TO lanyuisli.
without any prospect OF realizing the ex.
travagant expectations at first formed by
the French. Louis l4,b, setting little
value on il, conferred The entire property
of II on CroZat, i'll i7i2. Its unnecessary
now 10 point oui the errors and absurdi-
lies contained in the grant of Louis l4ih
TO CroZai, as have already stated them
to YOU in detail: shall, therefore, only
have TO speak of the second period--tlat
OF the establishment Of this colony, aud
show IFS progress. La Mette- CoRdiIlac
being appointed governor, and Duclois
attendant, of this famous esta tIishmenf,
they formed, with Crozat, a supreme fri.
bunal Tor all civil and criminal cases.--lt
was at that time that the excursion of the
FrenchmaD, ST. Dennis, inio the interior
OF New Spain took place, i'll which he
passed through various Indian nations,
from the Mississippi TO the Rio Grande.
In my former communications, j stated
What appeared 10 be necessary on the
character and movements of this cele-
braicd adveniurer. shall only add here,
the establishment of traffic with The peo-
pie oil New Spain, yet it merely served 10
cover the design of exploring the Spanish
territories, and of extending the settle-
incnls of his counirymen therein. As
soon as his views were discovered, mea-
surPs were taken in Mexico 10 conuteract
them, and vigorous orders issued by lie
court Tor the same purpose. II was this
incident which produced the vigorous
measures OF the vice roy OF MeXico, the
Duke of LiDares, and Tie dispatch Of the
troops and missionaries 10 the province
of Texas, forming the filth expedition of
The Spaniards to that province; fact
" hicl serves as Il complete reflIfaiion Of
all that has been advanced by Dupratz
aud other French writers. AlobZo de Leon
informed lie Spanish governor, Alarcon,
FROM Texas on the 2Ist of MAY, l7l7, that
lie had just founded two establishments
there, one Of them wnhia ten leagues Of
the NaiclIiloos, and that he was about TO
| proceed to- the Cauuoches, IN consequence
of having received information iiai the
| French we're endtavoring 10 make set
ilemcnl there, and that there were already
| ten men of his nation among the Match
| iions. The chief object in forming This
| Spanish settlement was 10 observe and
check The French; and II was soon alter
| Increased by The constructions OF fort
called san Miguel de los Adaes, which
was garrIsoncd by a competent force.
| 81. Dennis promoted the settlement Oi
several FrcuchmcD amougthe NalcIlitoos,
for the purpose of serSias - an intorme.
diary point in his journeys 10 lie Rio
Grandc. lie called this settlement San
| Miguel, and this gave rise 10 tie error oi
| Champigny, who has contounded this pal
lry establishment with that Of tic Adaes
That which was formed by the French