The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-29

for Crosat and not for themselves. they woul
not work at all. and accordingly things wer
from bad to worse. The yearly shipment {
girls continued. but there was dlificulty I
finding husbands for them. The reason va
expounded BY Buclos. the 1ntendant, who re
ported the arrival OF an invoice OF twelve IS
ugly that the inhabitants are In no hurry I
take thom." The Canadians. who forme
the most valuable part Of the population
much preferred Indian sauaws. 1t seem
to me-" pursues the Intendant that II
the choice Of girls good looks should be NOR,
considered than virtue" This latter requi
site seems. according to our historian. to hnv,
obtained no moro attention than the other
since the candidates for matrImony were
drawn from the Partisan hospitals and houses
OF correction. from the former OF which Croza'
was authorized to take one hundred girls a
year In order to increase the population
| Finding IL impossible to enforce his mo opoy
| OF trade. Crozat. at tho end OF five years. gave
| up his charter. and Louisiana was soon trans
ferred to tho new Mississippi Company OF
which the presiding genius was John Law.
Crozats successor said that when he resigned
his charter the whole number Of whites. men.
women. and children. in Louisiana was not
above 400. The Mississippi Company began
its work by sending to Louisiana three
companies OF soldiers and sixty-nine colo
nists. Its wisest act was tho reappointment OF
Bienvillc. who Immediately sought out spot
for a permanent station on the Mississippi
The feeble foundations OF New Orleans we're
now laid. and for tho first time Louisiana had
the germ OF capital Not long after the col
lapse Of the speculation in tho shares OF tho
Mississippi Company tho directors reported
that they had shipped 1920 white persons to
the colony besides the 400 already there when
they took possession. and that 5.42O still re-
NAMED. Besides this importation OF whites.
they had also brought GOO slaves from Guinea.
There seems to have been some Improvement
also in the quality OF the emigrants. In 1920
1t was ordered by royal edict that no more
vngabonds nor criminals should be sent to
Louisiana. Nevertheless tho edct touched.
apparently. only one sex. for In tho next year
eighty girls wero sent to the colony from the
Partisan house Of correction called tho Sal
petriare. There had Teen n more or less con-
slant demand for wives. rs appears by letters
still preserved in the French archives. the fol-
lowing extract from ono Of which is rcmurk-
abo for the freedom with which the writer
addresses Minister OF State: You see. Mon
seigneur. that nothing is wanting now to
make q solid settlement in Louisiana but a
certain pieco OF furniture which one often re-
penis having got. and with which shall dis
pense till tho company sends us girls who have
at least sono show OF virtue II there hap
pens to DO any young woman OF your acquaint-
ance who wants to make the voyage for love
of me. should be much Obliged to her. and
would 10 my host to show her my gratitude"
In 1881 tho Directors Of the Mississippi
Company declared that they could no longer
ear the burden Of Louisiana. and begged the
King TO take it or their hands. The white
1,fi Ind rutt, IL mi HnI . L..
creased during the preceding twelve years.
while the blacks who had lately conspirod to
massacre all the French along the Mississippi,
,ad multiplied to 1000. In compliance with
he petition OF the Directors. the colony was |
from the mercantile autocracy OF |
he company to tho pnternal despotism OF |
he Crown. 1t prolltcd by the change, |
because commercial monopoly was abol-
she'd Trade between France and Louisiana
vas now not only permitted. but encouraged
" bounties and exemption from duties;
nd instead OF paying to the company
90 por cent. OF the profit on Indispensable
upplies. the colonists now got them at a rea-
enable price, With the help OF industrious
ursing Louisiana began at last to strike roots
nto the soil and to show signs OF growth. La
'alle's dream OF planting u firm settlement Mt
he mouth OF the Mississippi and Of turning
o account by means OF 1t the resources Of the
asst interior. was after half century In some
measure realized. New France had now two
eads-Canada and Lousiana-one looking
pom the Gulf OF st. Lawrence and the other
Don the Gulf Of Mexico.
Most persons will learn for tho first time
rom tho second OF Mr.. Parkman's volumes
ow resolute was the French eearch for tho
aciflc. and how remote point they reached
! their westward exploration. As early rs
71G plans were laid before the Regent Orleans
)r reaching the western ocean by land. 1t
as urged that the best hope was in sending
n expedition across the continent. seeing that
very attempt to find westward passage by
hudson Bay had failed. As starting points
nd bases OF supplies for the expedition. it was
roposed to establish three posts. one on
10 north shore OF Lake Superior one at
hat is now called tho Lake OF the Woods and
third at Lake Winnipeg. 1t was reckoned
lat IN overland way to the Pacific might DO
,und for about ten thousand dollars, The
egent approved the scheme so far as to order
10 preliminary stcr to be taken by establish.
lg the three POSTS, and in tho same year.
ZIG. tho work was begun by building stock.
10 ut the mouth Of the KaministiCuia. on the
orth shore OF Lake Superior Little moro
as done. however. for some years, and the
r western extension OF French outposts and
scovery was mainly due to the Verindryo
'mily. Tho father. Pierre de Ia Verindrye.
al by 1870 explored vast region. hitherto
Unknown. diverted great and lucrative fur
ade from the English at Hudson Bay, and
,curcd possession OF it by six POSTS
auely. Fort st. Pierre. on Rainy Lake: {
ort st. Charles. on tho Lake OF the
Gods; Fort Maurepas at the rnouth M th,