Litchfield enquirer., 1833-05-09


 two thirds are swamp. The coast is that part of the bottom, or low alluvial soil, which commences with the first cultivation, about 10 miles below New Orleans, and which extends about 15O miles above it, secured on both sides of the river by le- wee, from 4 to feet high, and sufficiently broad, for the most part, to serve as fine highway. The levee extends somewhat higher on the west, than on the east side of the river. The coast is from one to two miles in width, and consists of tract of land believed to be as rich and fertile as any that is to be found on the globe. The market place adjcins the levee. The mar ket IS said to be abundant and cheap. The quantity of peas, salad and vegetables was very great in March, when was at New Orleans. Peas are very general here dur ing the whole winter. Strawberries were in the market, but not in great quantity The general hour of the market is about 7 inthe morning. Negroes, mulattoes, French, Spanish, Germans and Americans, are all crying their several articles in their pecu- liar language. The women of color seem very strong here, carrying baskets of bread and every thing upon their heads.
 The streets of the town are not SO we'll cleansed as they ought to be, considering that even in the month of March, the ther- mometer is above 70 deg. and that in the summer months the heat becomes intolera- be. Only a few of the streets are paved. The cleaning of the streets is performed under the direction ofslaves chained togeth- CT, and with scarcely any clothes upon their backs, sent for the purpose at the discre- ton of their masters, as a punishment for some delinquency, whether real or suppos- ed. Even females are frequently employ ed in this way. The masters generally re- ceive about one shilling sterling per day for each slave thus employed. Females frequently walk about the streets of New Orleans without bonnets, merely with a small cap or piece of muslin over their heads. This was even more generally the case before New Orleans was ceded 10 the Americans. The number of French and of American inhabitants is supposed to be pretty much the same, but the French pre- dominate in the old town. In the old town almost all the sign posts are in the French language, and very many of the storekeepers are unable to speak English. Nothing can be got done here without a considerable payment in money. l had to pay a quarter of dollar for sewing tie silk part Ofan umbrella.to to one of the whale bones as much for sewing button on a coat-and a dollar per dozen is charged for washing clothes, no matter what they be, whether shirts or pocket handkerchefs.- The object of all seems to be to make money and to spend it. The legal in.eres of money in this State is at ten per cent The number of billiard rooms, gambIiDs houses, and lottery offices is numerous. The lotteries have singular names. There is the French Evangelical Church Lottc- ry, the Baton Rouge Church Lottery, and the Natchitoches Catholic Church Lottery.
 There is both French and an Ameri- can Theatre. The French Theatre is al- ways most crowded on Sunday evening i; and although the admission to the boxes and pit was at this time two dollars {; it was fil- led 10 excess. The weather was so fine in moonlight evenings, that not carriage was to be seen at the door of the theatre. All the ladies walked home, many of them un- covered. Ladies dress very smartly at New-Orleans. had heard great deal of the beauty of the sex here, and of the interesting appearance and grace of the Creole, as well as of the Quadroon popu- la,ion; but i. did not appear to me that more female beauty was to be seen here than at New York. The complexions of course, owing to the greater influence of the sun, are in general very sallow. Much has been written, especially by British travellers, which would lead me to expect more looseness of manners among the peo- pie, than either observed, or have any reason, from what have heard, to believe. Excepting only the appearance of lottery offices and billiard rooms, vice is much more prominent in London, and even in Edinburgh, and suspect in most of the European cities than at New o rleans. Fe- males of light character are no where seen in the public resort, or at the doors, or in the Hobbies of the theatre and there seem- ed to me to be more perfect propriety of conduct at the theatres here than at any public place of that description in Britain, and more general attention to dress here than there. In fact every body who goes to the French theatre must dress in the same way as if going to the Opera house in London. The tales which have been told of the assemblage of beauties on the ievee at sunset, where the mother or fe-
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