"The temperature of Louisiana is that of the countries most favoured by Nature.

"The Louisianians have begun to understand better the riches of the soil which they possess. The sugar now made in the ceded territories is adequate to the consumption of almost half the United States. The other productions of the territory have been proportionably advancing. Heaps of furs of every kind are now to be seen on the quays of New Orleans. The ermine, the martin, and the beaver, are brought there from the high lands on the north shores of the Mississippi; and the store-houses in which they are deposited likewise receive the sugar, the tobacco, and the cotton, that are grown on the southern borders of this river. The increased facilities of intercourse with Europe have diminished the price of all kinds of merchandise which the colony receives from thence; and it pays for them by its own crops of corn, cotton, and sugar. Some of its riches are obtained without effort, viz. horses, cattle, &c. which only cost them the trouble of bringing them to market. The lands in the interior, which were sold at an insignificant price under the French dominion, acquired immediately after the cession a considerable value. The lead mines of St Genevieve, on the Mississippi in the State of Missouri, are so abundant, that veins and heaps of the metal are obtained by only digging a few feet in the ground.

"France, in forming this colony, had imposed on it all the shackles which the jealousy of commerce is capable of forging. She had even forbidden the raising of corn. The Louisianian planters can now culti

vate their lands according to their own interest or caprice. They have themselves proclaimed the happiness which they enjoy. It was after an experience of more than twenty years that the House of Representatives expressed by an unanimous resolution—its veneration for Mr Munroe, and its gratitude for the part which he had taken in the proceedings that united Louisiana to the American confederacy;' and the legislature of Louisiana, on the 16th of March 1827, passed the following

act:

"Thomas Jefferson, after a life devoted to the service of his country, and of human nature, has died, leaving to his children as their only inheritance the example of his virtues, and the gratitude of the people whose independence he has proclaimed to the universe. The legislature of Louisiana, a state acquired for the union by his wisdom and foresight, owes to him her political and civil liberty; and, to perpetuate the remembrance of profound respect for the talents and virtues of this illustrious benefactor, it is enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Louisiana, in general assembly convened, that 10,000 dollars be transmitted to Thomas Jefferson Randolph, for the benefit of the family of Thomas Jefferson.'"

The weather was hot, that is to say, the thermometer was about and above 70° during almost all the time that I remained at New Orleans;-even the fog from the river was hot. When the weather was windy, there was so much dust that it was blown in heaps to the very tops of the houses.

Ohr 1830

CHAPTER IX.

Steam-Boats on the Mississippi-Passage from New Orleans to Louisville in the Constitution, commanded by Captain Paul—Establishment of the Boat-Character of Captain Paul-Description of the Boat Provisions-Discrepancy between this description of a Mississippi Steam-Boat and that recently given by a Lady explained— Mr Bullock's Account of a Mississippi Steam-Boat-Leave New Orleans on the 5th April-Ardent Spirits at the command of every body in the Boat-Stopping-Places for Wood-Detailed Account of the River - Depth-Current-Annual Flood-Turbidity-Narrow in relation to its Depth-Comparison of the Features of the Mississippi with the River St Lawrence-Bends of the Mississippi—Islands— Planters and Sawyers-Dreadful Accident from a Boat striking a Snag-Pilotage of the Mississippi-Navigation of the River previously to the introduction of Steam-Boats-Flats-Boatmen-First part of the Voyage from New Orleans-Baton Rouge-Red River -The Raft Region-Current-Passengers in the Boat-Gambling -Natchez-Houses at the Landing Place devoted to Debauchery— Beauty of the Town-Pride of India Tree-The Natchez Newspaper

Robbery of a Kentucky Farmer-Thunder Storms-Situations for Sugar Cultivation-Cotton-Apples-Sweet Orange Tree-Olive Tree-Evergreen Oak-Mrs Tyler's Plantation-Quantity of Wood used per day in the Constitution-Vicksburgh-Dinners in the Constitution-Arkansas River-Montgomery's Landing-Occurrence in the Territory of Arkansas-Murderer summarily executed-Western People carry large Knives-Melancholy occurrence-Murder of Descartes-Memphis-Upright Shaft in the Constitution brokenDisputed Possession of a Plantation in the State of Missouri-Bar

STEAM-BOATS-CREWS.

275

barous Manners of the People-Musquitos-Wolf Island-Mr Hunter, occupant of Wolf Island - Gorman's Plantation - Want of Churches-Camp-Meetings-Mr Timothy Flint's Account of oneStatement of Mrs Trollope as to Camp-Meetings - Irreconcilable with Mr Flint's Account.

THE steam-boats that navigate the Mississippi are very various in their kinds, their accommodation, and management. Accidents are so numerous upon the western rivers, that great care should be taken to select a vessel in which the captain and mate, and engineers and pilots, are well known to the public to be skilful and trust-worthy persons. The rest of the crew in a steam-boat generally consist of hired slaves. It is frequently not very easy to get a passage in a steam-boat in which the accommodation is good, the passengers well attended to, and the vessel a safe one, and carefully managed. I was advised by a friend at New Orleans, to whom I had been made known, to go up the river in the "Constitution," commanded by Captain Paul. The establishment of this boat consisted of the captain and mate, two engineers, two pilots, two stewards, a female steward, and ten firemen, who were hired slaves. Captain Paul is rough, or more properly blunt, in his address, and, like the southern people in general, never opened his mouth without swearing,—as unlike in his manners to the captain of a steam-boat on the Hudson, as the captain of a British man-of-war at the present day is to one of the commanders who circumnavigated the globe with Commodore Anson more than a century ago. But he was frank and good-hu

moured, and most assiduously attentive to his duty; so much so, that I believe he never slept an hour at one time during the twelve days which I spent with him on our voyage to Louisville, on the Ohio. The Constitution is of the burden of about 400 tons, and of 130 horse power. On her lower deck were the engine, the engineer, and the firemen. The second deck, which only extended from the stem of the boat three quarters of the way, that is, 90 feet out of 120 to her bows, was the cabin for the passengers, surrounded by a gallery or veranda. Above the passengers' cabin, was the A cabin for the deck-passengers, as they are called, that is, for persons who pay comparatively a trifling sum of passage money,-who bring provisions with them, and cook them themselves in their cabin, and in general are bound to give assistance in carrying wood for the firemen and furnace into the vessel, at the various stoppingplaces on the river. A part of the passengers' cabin next the stern of the vessel is partitioned off for the ladies. In the sides of the gentlemen's cabins are their state-rooms, twenty in number in this vessel, each of which has a window at the side of the vessel, and of a size so much larger than a state-room in an ordinary sailing packet, that there is sufficient space for a desk and a couple of chairs. The water being perfectly smooth, I found reading and writing in my state-room, with the window open during part of the day, very pleasant, and had no fault to find with the accommodation of the vessel in any respect but one, the substitute