able to construct this hospital and make a present of it to the colony [cf. above, p. 10]. There is in this city a convent of nuns who, as I have been told, no longer receive novices. There are, besides, some Capuchins; but they have no convent, merely waiting for the eventual vacancies in the parishes of the colony (p. 7).

The population of New Orleans is to-day composed of as many foreigners, almost, as of Creoles. The latter are nearly all of French origin. The Spanish Government can hardly be detected in this city and in many parts of Louisiana, except from the care they show in choosing citizens of that nation to fill the public offices. In all other respects it would be easy to think it a French colony, so much, in customs, language, manners, and tastes, do they resemble the French. The Creoles are, in general, tall, well-proportioned, active, and they show to advantage their aptitude for pleasing. In the opinion of educated men they are not well adapted to the exact sciences. This inaptitude proceeds purely from the defects of their education. from the dissipation in which they are kept from infancy. and from the lack of application, to which they are not constrained in youth.

The women of Louisiana are nearly all pretty and pleasant, rather than regularly beautiful. They are remarkable for their bright color, which comes and goes; for elegant figures, beautiful eyes and teeth, and specially for their superb suits of hair.

There is at New Orleans no public institution nor hall for literary purposes, nor any other place of reunion for men who would find in discussions of literature, physics, natural history, or politics occasions to disengage themselves from the fatiguing calculations of commerce, which is still limited.

The women have adopted the custom of meeting at tea parties. In imitation of the American women these parties end nearly always with gambling for stakes, higher or lower, but proving that this taste also has made much progress.

About six months ago a college was formed for the education of young men. Such an establishment had been absolutely lacking in this colony. A boarding and day school for girls has also been established. The instruction they receive there seems more carefully conducted than that which the nuns formerly gave, and is therefore preferable. These two institutions-of prime importance-are due to French refugees, who have devoted themselves to public instruction.*

There is only one public school and no college in New Orleans. The teachers are paid by the Government. They teach only the Spanish language. There are very few private schools for children. At most, only half of the inhabitants know how to read and write, and in this number only about a hundred acquit themselves with credit. In general their knowledge does not extend beyond these two arts, although they appear endowed with natural talents and an uncommon facility for everything they attempt.

There is also in the city a convent of Ursulines, who own about a thousand acres of land divided into three plantations given over to farming. The nuns, all French, are only ten or twelve in number. Until a little while ago the same number of Spanish ladies belonged to the order, but they withdrew to Havana when they learned that the country would be restored to France. Those who remain receive young boarding pupils to instruct them in reading, writing, and sewing.

They are always perfectly well conducted, and in general are respected and loved throughout the whole province. With a grant of $600 a year that the treasury makes them they maintain and teach twelve orphans (p. 112 et seq).

IV. To the above extracts we may add one from an account of this region, given by William Darby in his work entitled A Geographical Written from New Orleans July 25, 1801.

*P. 12 et seq.

Description of the State of Louisiana, etc., New York, Olmstead, 1817, second edition. The author had lived in Louisiana ever since its admission as a State, and his statements are therefore based on sound observations.

The germ of the population was Frenchmen of the reign of Louis XIV; consequently many individuals eminent for their talents, virtues, and scientific acquirements composed part of the original establishment, and whose [sic] genius contributed to give many features to the character of the people, which their posterity now preserve (p. VI).

In an inquiry into the influence of the climate of Louisiana upon the health of the inhabitants, to complete the investigation, it will be necessary to establish its effects also upon the mental faculties of persons born within the sphere of its influence. This section we enter upon with a feeling of pleasure. The people of the United States will receive with equal satisfaction a detail, that when admitted as correct, must lessen the prejudices that accident and design have engendered to widen the moral distance between them and their fellow citizens in Louisiana. To an ingenuous mind nothing administers more solid satisfaction than to find man more amiable than expected. The noble enjoyment arising from the exchange of sentiment between enlightened minds is one of the greatest privileges that reason has accorded to man. To open new sources of this sublime fruition is conferring a benefit on human nature. The character of the Creole of Louisiana may be drawn in few words. Endowed with quick perception, his faculties develop themselves at an early age; if found ignorant, it is not the ignorance of stupidity, but arising from an education under circumstances unfavorable to improvement. Open, liberal, and humane, where he is found inhospitable, it is the fruit of a deception he dreads, and to which his unsuspecting nature has led him to be too often the victim. Mild in his deportment to others, he shrinks from contention; a stranger to harshness, his conduct in the pursuits of life is marked by kindness. Legal disputes that seem to form part of the amusements of people of some other parts of the world are instinctively avoided by the Creole. His docility and honesty secure him from injuring others, and he enters the temple of justice with reluctance to demand reparation of his own wrongs. Sober and temperate in his pleasures, he is seldom the victim of acute or chronic disease. His complexion pale, but not cadaverous, bespeaks health, if not a vigorous frame. His strongly speaking eye beams the luster of a mind that only demands opportunity and object to develop all that is noble and useful to mankind. If the Creole of Louisiana feels but little of a military spirit, this apathy proceeds not from timidity; his ardent mind, light, athletic frame of body, active, indefatigable, and docile, would render him well qualified to perform military duty should this part of his character ever be called into action. The peal of national glory was never rung in his youthful ear. One generation has arisen since Spain held this country, and noble was the germ that retained its fructifying power under the blighting influence of that Government. Louisiana has escaped the gailing and torpid yoke; its inhabitants will share the genius and freedom of the empire in which they are incorporated.

The cordiality with which the Louisianians hailed their introduction into the United States Government has received a check from the conduct of too many Americans. The moment the change was effected a host of needy adventurers, allured by the softness of the climate, the hopes of gain, and inflated by extravagant expectations, spread themselves along the Mississippi. Many men of candid minds, classical education, and useful professional endowments have removed and settled in Louisiana, but some without education or moral principle, prejudiced against the people as a nation whom they came to abuse and reside amongst. Too

ignorant to acquire the language of the country or to appreciate the qualities of the people, this class of men have engendered most of the hatred existing between the two nations that inhabited Louisiana. The evil of national animosity will gradually subside as a more numerous and orderly race of people become the improvers of the public lands (p. 27 et. seq.).

*

*

*

I have reserved, to close the subject, the examination of that part of the people whose moral character has, in every civilized region of the earth and in all ages, most deeply influenced that of man. It needs no other criterion to judge of the rank that nations may be entitled to occupy in the scale of civilization than the state of their women.

The women of Louisiana are with few exceptions well formed, with a dark, piercing eye. Their movements bespeak warmth of imagination and a high flow of animal spirits, while their features indicate good nature and intelligence. Tender, affectionate, and chaste, but few instances of connubial infidelity arise from the softer sex. With too often example to excuse and neglect to stimulate, the most sacred of human contracts is fulfilled on their parts with a fidelity that does honor to their sex. In all parts of the earth and in all ranks of society women are more virtuous than men. From some cause that operates everywhere the moral sense is more deeply felt and more uniformly obeyed by women than by men; more temperate in their enjoyments, their passions are more under the guidance of reason; decent in their deportment, they continually counteract the predisposition in man to vulgar sensuality.

As wives, sisters, and mothers, the Creole women hold a rank far above their apparent means of education. Frugal in the expenses of life, they seldom lead their families into distress by gratifying their pleasures or pride. Rigid economy that may be called a trait in the Creole character is more prominent in the conduct of women than in that of men. Very seldom the victims of inordinate desires in any respect, their dress is regulated by neatness, decency, and frugality.

That this picture is neither the effect of a warm imagination that delights in clothing objects in false colors, or that of flattery, will be admitted by generous, candid, and observing men of all nations, who have had the honor to possess the only means of forming a judgment-converse and acquaintance with the objects of the inquiry. If the women of Louisiana are found deficient in mental endowment, the reason is obvious-want of the means of acquirement. But the minds of the Creole women, remarkably active and tenacious, are much less ignorant than is generally supposed. Should a general taste for reading be infused into society, if a judgment can be formed by the strength of mind, intuitive perception, and clear discrimination evinced by the fair of Louisiana, their rank in the scale of intelligence will be respectable, if not exalted. At this moment politeness, ease, hospitality to strangers, tenderness to their relatives, and indulgence to their slaves, attended by a mild, unobtrusive decency of deportment, mark the conduct of the Creole women. Exceptions may be found, but the general outline is just (p. 276 et seq.).

Chapter II.

THE BENEFICIARY PERIOD.

1803-1845.

We have seen how slight was the educational equipment of Louisiana under the French and Spanish régime, but the desire for culture must have been strong and active, for one of the earliest acts of the legislative council of the Territory of Orleans was one creating a university.

UNIVERSITY OF ORLEANS.

AN ACT to institute an university in the Territory of Orleans.

PREAMBLE.

Whereas the independence, happiness, and grandeur of every republic depend, under the influences of Divine Providence, upon the wisdom, virtue, talents, and energies of its citizens and rulers;

And whereas science, literature, and the liberal arts contribute in an eminent degree to improve those qualities and acquirements;

And whereas learning hath ever been found the ablest advocate of genuine liberty, the best supporter of rational religion, and the source of the only solid and imperishable glory which nations can acquire;

And forasmuch as literature and philosophy furnish the most useful and pleas ing occupations, improving and varying the enjoyments of prosperity, affording relief under the pressure of misfortune. and hope and consolation in the hour of death.

And considering that in a Commonwealth whose humblest citizen may be elected to the highest public office, the knowledge which is required for a magistrate should be widely diffused.

SECTION I. Be it enacted by the governor of the Territory of Orleans, by and with the advice and consent of the legislative council thereof, That an university be, and is hereby, instituted within this Territory, to be called and known by the name or stile [sic] of "The University of Orleans;" that the regents thereof shall consist of the governor of this Territory, the judges of the superior court thereof, the judge of the court of the United States for the district of Orleans, the mayor and the recorder of the city of New Orleans, the president of the legislative council for the time being, who shall always be regents of the said university in virtue of their respective offices; and the following persons, to wit: The Rev. Patrick Walsh, Paul Lanuffe, Joseph Faurié, Peter Derbigny, Lewis Kerr, Joseph Laid, Dr. Fortin, Dr. Robelot, Dr. Montegut, Dr. Le Duc, Dr. Dow, James Brown, Edward Livingstone, James Workman, Evan Jones, Mons. Boré, and Mons. Destréhan; and that the places of such of the said regents as are not hereby declared to be regents in virtue of their office, and who shall resign or die, shall from time to time be supplied by the legislature of this Territory; that the said regents, as soon as may be after the passing of this act, shall convene at such