New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-06-09

NUMBER sEvENTY-oNE.

|
denominations or appellations perpetuate the rec
objections of past historical events. There is a
street running parallel to the fine EspIanade street
| which forms the dividing line between the Second
and Third Districts, The street called Kerlerec,
after the name of the last French governor under
the colonial regime recalls to the mind of Louisi-
anians one of the most melancholy epoohs of the
establishment of their country. Governor Kerlerec,
one Of the most patriotic of public men, whose
memory has been preserved in the colonial annals
was, if we err not, of Canadian origin, though the
family may have been from the old northern pro-
vince Of France called Brittany We find it stated
I that in 1856, just before the declaration of war
between the mother country and Great Britain,
under George II, and when a great number of the
! French Inhabitants had been expelled from the
British part of Nova Scotia, OF Acadia and sought
refuge in the other colonial possessions of France
Governor hererec received a number of these
Acadian families, who had descended the Missis-
sipp and landed on the leyee in front Of the often
mentioned Place d'Armes.
| Under the thenlax government of France, it vas
most arduous task for the colonial administration
| to come to the suecor of these unfortunate and
helpless compatriots. Still, everything was done
in their power to relieve the immediate necessities
Of these wanderers, and after awhile homes were
provided for the greater part Of this hardy popula
ton, upon what now is called after their name the
Acadian coast. This was before the outbreak of
the war. But when in 1853 Quebec, the capital Of
Canada had fallen into the hands Of the British
power, another strong immigration took place
from that country! and the upper regions Of the
Mississippi the Illinois and Wabash, consisting of
native Canadians who were unwilling to live under
the British flag and preferred coming down to the
delta Of Louisiana, and settle among Their
countrymen. All these were equally well received
by Governor KerleTec and yariously distributed in
settlements along the coast Of Baton Rouge, Point
Coupee, AVoyelles, the Attakapas and Opelousas.
The descendants Of these settlers now form in
those regions the bulk of what is called the Creole
population, some Of whom possess very considera
BILE estates, but very great many continue their
small cultures, or live upon the revenues of stock
raising pastures.
After having thus been of great service to the
country of Louisiana, this worthy governor, upon
some frivolous accusation, was ordered to France.
and upon his arrival there put as prisoner of
state in the French Bastle. Being then already ad.
yanced in years he fell victim to this cruel and
harsh treatment, although having been released
from confinement when matters had been cleared
up, as it were, to the ChoiseuI ministry
u is not stated what the exact nature Of
the charge brought against him was, but
we may surmise that his very patriotism was
thorn in the eye Of the French administration,
who, soured with the i'll success in that disastrous
war had already resolved upon abandoning the
whole cooRy, All complaints, therefore, from
this side of the ocean were received with the ut
and fzr
from the mother country, under these crcnm-
stances, they found dead ear and were regarded
as the most annoying of opportunities Indeed
that epoch, preceding the downfall Of the great
French colonial system, is full of the most neIan.
choly "reminiscences. So with respect to the forts
and Notifications held under the French flag, in
Mobile, Natehez and Manchac: when these had to
be given up to the British authorities after the
peace in 1853, and the French flag had been
lowered from all these strong points, held mostly
for the purpose of dominion over the surround
ing Indian nations-the powerful Chcasaws and
Choctaws in those times-there was great conster-
nation among the coonists and much wondering
among the Indian tribes who could not explain to
themselves what had brought about this great
detection of their former proud protectors. We
shall Leave however, for the moment this subject.
and revert back to Kerlerec street. which in one
of its extremties was formerly called History
street, that towards the riyer whilst the other ex-
hemity towards the forest is still awaiting its
opening OF issue, being obstructed by some private
gardens, whose owners, doubt, are unwilling to
cut up their property for the sake of rectifying
somewhat obscure or hidden street in the Third
District. Let our readers bear in mind that in
olden times the only street or road then known
and opened was the Bayou Road upon that street
stood on both sides the country farms and private
residences, whose gardens and fields then extended
through the plains, at present traversed by num-
ber of streets and openings. Now, although we
cannot vouCh for the absolute certainty of the
tradition we will point out, in the vicinity of Ker-
ierec and Esplanade Streets and fronting formerly
on Bayou Road, but now masked in that direction.
the ancient abode of the country seat belonging
to Governor Kereree or his family. That same
old piece of property of a most venerable look, |
although nearly hidden by the masses of orange
and other fruit trees is constructed entirely of the
old cypress materials, of which we have men
toned in former statements the enduring Qualities.
When contemplating this antiquated structure
from Esplanade street, between Roman and Prleur. |
one cannot help thinking through how many sin.
guar vicssitudes this old relic has passed and how
often its owners have been changed For long
time it belonged to the ancient creole family of
the Pedesolave, the last owner being the late |
Hughes Pedesclaye, deceased since few years
before which it had been in the family of LeDacs,
and, as oral tradition has it, was even the identical
residence of old Kerlereo. Our readers are,
perhaps, not aware that it is some |
what difficult matter to ascertain the origin
Of the most ancient properties. This arises
from various reasons, the principal one of which,
however, is that the notaria records as well as of
the "real hacienda do not reach higher than
is, to the year preceding O'Reilly's
bloody advent in 1863. We find the following
notices:
Protocols of real hacienda from 1910 to 1900.
Notarial records of Joseph Fernandez I76S to
1870.
Notarial records of Andres Almonester, ITO to
1852.
Eotaral records of Rapel Perdome, 1882 to 1890.
Notarialrecords of Carlos Ximenes 1870 to 1906
Protocols of war from 1897 to 1905.
Hence it is difficult to ascertain the exact origin
Of some old properties, dating from the time of the
French colonial possession. These documents NAV
no doubt be found in the archives of the mother
country or at Versailles and if we are not much
out of the reckoning, our legislature long years
ago authorized some agent to procure from thence
Ill the ancient titles and documents relating to |