Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1859-12-10
THE DEMOCRAT.
Special Correspondence Of the Democrat
New ORLEANS, Nov. 30, 1859,

New ORLEANS, Nov. 80, 1859.
EDITOR DEuocRAr:--~
The country bordering upon the Mis-
sissippi river from the Yazoo to the Man
chac was denominatcd West Florida b1
the British, while in their possession
The town of Baton Rouge was called
New Richmond. The grandfather ol
one Of your parishioncrs, Louis Carpcn
ter, was one Of the first cmigrants tc
that beautiful section Of country. Hc
was Il merchant and trader, having cs
Establishments at Pensacola, Manchac and
Natchez. He owned the plantation now
known as the " Hope Estatc,' late prop
erty Of Col. ?. Hickey, parish of East
Baton Rouge. Being a Quaker, he
erected a small chapel for worship, which
was standing in the yard fronting the
dwelling, when Col. II. took the place.
| think it probable this was the first and
only Quaker chapel ever erected in Lou
lslana. Among the papers left by Mr..
Carpenter was found memorandum of
trip in l.15 from the mouth of the
Mississippi to Natchcz, a portion of
which | will transcribe:
" From the entrance Of the river to the
first eight leagues the lands on both sides
are low and swampy, and absolutely un-
cultlvablc. From this hut to what is
called the FIRST Habitation, three leagues,
the lands are similar to the former.
From this habitation to the Concession,
fourteen leagues, the lower part of the
lands is also somewhat similar to those
last mentioned, and is consequently very
tllnly inhabited and badly cultivated; !;
but the upper part is pretty thickly set
tied by the French and Dutch inhabi-
tants. Few of these have any negroes,
none perhaps more than half dozen: ::
they are chiefly engaged in the cultiva-
ton of corn and rice, and raising stock
and poultry; such part whereof as they
can spare from the support of their fam
lilies, they sell to the vessels trading up
and down the river, and by that means
supply themselves with some little lux
uries and nccessarics. From the Con-
cession to the town of New Orleans, six
leagues, is q tract thickly settled on
both sides of the river by French inhab
ltants, and in the highest state of cult
walton. Indigo is their chief object,
tho there are here and there some saw
mills for making cypress lumber, and
these planters may be considered
wealthy, generally possessing from ten
to fifty slaves, which from the amazing
fertility of the soil, in the produce of in
ilgo, yield them a very comfortable and
genteel revenue. The French settle
ments continue, On both sides of the
river, for eleven leagues above the town
OF New Orleans. These lands are also
in the highest state of cultivation; indi-
go being the sole object of the planters,
some few Of whom possess over one
hundred slaves. The Dutch settlements
Join those of the French, and extend
about six leagues further up the river,
and are getting wealthy, going princi-
pally into the cultivation Of indigo. The
Acadian settlement joins those of the
Dutch, about eighteen leagues up on
both sides of the river, and as high up
rs the lbcrville on the eastern side; and
rs the inhabitants are Industrious they
have met with great encouragement from
the Spanish Government, and are wholly
in faising corn and stock.
From the termination of the Acadan
on the west side of the river
to Pointc Conpee, twelve leagues, the
country is uninhabited, with the excep-
ton of two Or three scattered huts.
Pointe Coupee, one of the Oldest settle
ments on the banks of the river, is per-
haps the most beautiful, as well as the
most fertile spot contiguous to the Mis-
sissippi Though these lands have been
in constant cultivation for forty years
past, they do not appear to have suffered
the least degree of diminuton in the