Result of some Researches among the British archives for information relative to the Founders of New England, made in the years 1858, 1859, and 1860, &c. By Samuel G. Drake. Boston: 1860. 131 pp. HISTORIC students will welcome this volume, which as its simple title shows, embodies the results of the researches of the zealous and capable antiquarian, Drake. Full indexes make its use easy as a work of reference. Miscellany. THE interesting letter from Hon. Charles Sumner to Mr. Jared Sparks, on p. 38, makes known for the first time, in America, the home and resting-place of the immediate English ancestors of Washington. THE REDWOOD LIBRARY AT NEWPORT, R. I.The catalogue of this venerable New England Library, is prefaced by a very interesting account of the institution, from the pen of Mr. David King, of Newport. This historical sketch has also been published separately. Some of the ancient facts are curious and suggestive. The developments, origin, and recent prosperity of the Redwood Library, are identified with the growth and social traits of Newport; no similar instituBoth Sparks and Irving describe their visits to tion is associated with so many illustrious names Sulgrave, the home of a branch of the Washing--if we except Harvard College Library. ton family; and they give copies of the inscription, bearing the date of 1564, over the grave of some of its members. In the genealogical table in the Appendix of Sparks' "Life of Washington," it is mentioned that Lawrence Washington was buried at Brington; but neither Sparks nor Irving, nor, as we believe, any American writer, ever sought out the quiet English parish, and the traces it might show of the Washingtons. The Hon. Charles Sumner, when on a visit, in the autumn of 1859, to Earl Spencer, at Althorp, identified the memorial stones in the neighboring parish church, as being those of the immediate relatives of the Washingtons who emigrated to America. Earl Spencer sought out the quarry, from which more than two centuries ago, the material for these native stones was taken, and had others made, which are exact fac-similes of the originals. These he has presented to the Hon. Charles Sumner, who, as appears by this letter, proposes to offer them to the State of Massachusetts. MR. PARTON is engaged upon the life of Franklin, and intends, we hear, to devote considerable time to it. We shall look for an entertaining and valuable work. SINCE it is announced that Mr. Buchanan will favor the public, after his retirement from office, with a series of sketches of men eminent in political life, of whom there has heretofore been no fitting memorial, it may not be a violation of any confidence to say, that it is believed he will who gives Orders and Directions to the Deputy Superintendents in His Southern District of North America; at present no Deputy or Commissary is appointed for the Mississippi but if one SOME ACCOUNT OF ENGLISH AND FRENCH was ordered there, the service must suffer, if he's LOUISIANA. oblig'd to wait many Months, perhaps the best part of a year for his Orders, and Directions from BY LIEUT. JOHN THOMAS, OF THE ROYAL REGI- Charles Town which I Experienced not from any MENT OF ARTILLERY. As I had frequent Opportunitys for the space of three Years to make my Observations on French Louisiana in North America some of the Particulars are as Follows New Orleans, the Capital, is situated about the Center of the Island; on the Banks of the Mississippi on the East side of that River. Notwithstanding French and Spanish oppression, the Town is in a flourishing state sending forth Indian Traders into all the Interior Parts of British America to the source of the Mississippi, Ohio, Wabash &c interspersing themselves among Various Savage Nations, Even those on the Lakes, Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erio, Ontario &c and have a Communication so far as Cannada, Saturating the Savages with the Notions and Extensive Power of their King and his good Intentions towards them, but from what Political View Time may Discover. Neglect, but from the Intercate Navigation and the few Oppertunitys of forwarding Letters; As that Town has no Trade to New Orleans. If the Town of New Orleans, was in the English Possession; it would be impossible for the Indians to be supplyed, with any Kind of Goods except from a British Markett, Neither would it be practicable for an Enemy (from the Sea) to recover the Place, as a handfull of Troops would be a sufficient for its Defence: The Country is a a fat and Fertile Tract of Land gain'd in the Gulf of Mexico upwards of Sixty Leagues almost Surrounded by the Sea, Lakes, and Swamps, and on Each Side of the Mississippi the Ground has a Gradual Descent, to the Swamps, Lakes and Sea, which is Convenient for the Inhabitants as they may with Ease Cutt the Banks of the River for Sawmills and other purposes as the water may be turned in any Direction. The Floods from the North, Come rushing on The Land on both Sides the Mississippi, from in the Spring of the Year, and continue about the Entrance or mouth of the River belongs to Four Months, and are prevented from overflowthe French for the space of seventy Leagues by ing the adjacent Country: By a Bank of Earth which means, New Orleans may with Propriety thrown up for that purpose, whatever water be Called a Key not only to an Extensive, but Passes over the Banks or thro' outletts never reone of the most Delightfull Country's in the Uni- turn to its former Bed or Channel, but is Disemverse, and except a Particular Scheme takes bogued from the East and West Side into the place Concerning the Savages I am thoroughly Gulf of Mexico. The Deep Stream of this PleasConvinced, that so long as the French remain in ant River glides on in Smooth Silence, with great Possession of that Country that Various Nations Rapidity: by means of the Torrent Battoes, or of Indians, will not be firmly attached to the Vessels Passing up are oblig'd to keep so near the English Interest give them what they please, as Banks as Possible: So that if Battery's of Canon to presents, &c., and if any should be issu'd to was Placed near the River Especially at the these Savages, for the future it should be per- Angles, no Ship or Battoe, could Pass; or bring formed by a Commissary appointed for the Dis-her Guns to Bear, by means of a strong Serpentine trict of the Mississippi only, three Year's experi-Stream, and its Depth. Warping is the Proper ence having Convinced me of the inconveniency Method to pass certain points or Crescents of attending, the Great Distance from Charles Land which I Think cannot be Performed Close Town, South Carolina, it being the place of Res-under the Enemies' Heavy Ordnance, Besides no idence of the Superintendant of Indian Affairs, river on Earth can be better Calculated for sendHIST. MAG. VOL. V. 9 ing Rafts of Fire Down the Stream to destroy the Enemies Shipping. Body of Troops from Marching to the Town Es pecially as a Number of Sloops or Boats, to pass the Lakes must be Built at Mobille or Pensacola, where the lowest Wages for Ship Carpenters is two Dollars p' Day and as it would take some Considerable Time to Compleat them the Enemy being so near must know the design and have Time enough to throw up Works at proper Places and Collect or assemble, their Forces to defend the same. If the Town was to be attacked, an Expedition ordered Down the River Ohio I think would be the safest, and best attended with much less Expence, I Grant that the Banks of the Mississippi commands Vessells and Battoes Beating against the stream but I am certain that Troops coming down the same, may take or pass any Battery they please if Conducted by any Person acquainted with that Country as otherwise the Battoes may fall down with the Current on a Fort or Battery that would Gall them very much, as to Depth of Water a first Rate Man of War may with Ease fall Down the stream, from the River Ohio so far as the Bar or said Balise. The Fort to pass down the River at present on the West side from the Ohio is that of Arkansas Natchezs and Point Coupee, on the East side a Fort on the Banks of Ibberville (near to that of Fort (Bute and a small Fort at the German Plantations all of them Staccado's of little or no Consequence. The Englishman's Turn is about Six Miles below the Town of New Orleans, there the River takes almost a Circular Course, both Sides have already been fortified with Heavy Cannon Lately Dismantled. If Battery's should at any Time be Erected at that Place, No Ships in my Opinion would be able to pass them or Troops on the Land as impassable Swamps, are Close in rear to these Batterys: However in the First Place the Balise or the Entrance, of the River must be Passed. and Individuals may talk as they Please, but as for my own Part I am of Opinion that if Proper precautions were taken by the Troops and Inhabitants, that an Enemy would be much embarrass'd in the Enterprize and not Succeed in the Attempt against a Tolerable Resistance, for it is to be observ'd that Merchant Ships are oblig'd to Lighten, and Send their Goods about Two Miles up the River; the only Swampy Spot for that Purpose, this I experienced as the Captain of his Majesty's Sloop of war Nautilius, was under the necessity of Staveing the Water Cask and send her Guns, and other Articles &c. on Board a Small Sloop of Ordnance Stores which I Commanded Being an Officer of Artillery on Board the same-Suppose a Battery was Erected on the said Spott, or Piles Drove for the Purpose it must have great Effect, upon Ships without Guns, or Boats full of Men passing within Point Blank Shot, in a situation not possible to Land; The Number of Troops for the conquest of as both Sides of the River is a Continued Swamp New Orleans my Superiors undoubtedly would for the space of several Leagues-I have already be the best Judge. But if I may give my Opinobserv'd that the Banks further up the aforesaid ions as an Officer from any Particular ObservaRiver may in a short Time be fortify'd to prevent tions, I think Fifteen Hundred well disciplined Ships from Passing, but if the Country in General, Troops and Two hundred faithfull Indians (which was to remain in the same Defenceless Situation may be Procured) would be sufficient to conquer as in January 1768: The Town of New Orleans all Louisiania, the Ordnance I would recommend would be an Easy acquisition, By an Approach is Light Field Canon, and Eight Inch Howitzers. that might be made. The Town is a neat Stac- I know a nation of Indians that I would Engage cado, about Two Miles and half in Circumference to bring over to the English Interest, they are containing about Four Thousand Souls (Including the Invirons at least Ten Thousand) Without Platforms or Canon mounted for Service and about Three Hundred yards of the West Curtain has lately been taken Down. Two Miles from the Town there is a Creek about four Miles in Length, which has a Communication to Mobille and Pensacola, thro Lake Ponchartrain, Between the Lake and Creek, There is a Small Fort Erected on an Artificial Bed of Earth which Commands the Entrance, that will admit Small Craft only to Pass this very Narrow Lagune or Creek, Both sides of the same is a Swamp, as is the skirts of the whole Country for the Space of Eighty Leagues, as already mentioned, Bordering on the Lakes and Sea on each side of the Mississippi, which might Prevent a not Inferior to the Warlike Chickasaws either in Number or Valour. I had the management of Indian Affairs on the Mississippi near three years. Tho a French Officer was order'd to receive my Salary Earn'd at the Hazzard of my Life I have Particular Reasons for mentioning my Notions of the Savages, as I am well convinced that if Proper methods was taken, that a strong Barrier might be formed not only to prevent the French or Spaniards from sending Troops up that River to Commence Hostility's but as a Check to the Savages in their Interest.-The Two hundred Indians I would Chuse to have employ'd on an Expedition to New Orleans is not from the Nations. I Propose to be adopted But those Indians I mean should in my Opinion be march'd over Land to the Natchezs and their wait for the little be a great Encouragement for Planters from Various Parts to settle on the Banks of the Mississippi as they would be able to send the Produce of their Farms to Mobille and Pensacola, where it would be very acceptable: Suppose some Families arrive at either Place they would have Thirty or Forty Leagues, By sea to the Balise or Entrance of the Mississippi, after that the Passage is often so Tedious as to require three Weeks or a Month to New Orleans where they must Purchase or Hire a Boat or Battoe to take them to the Ibberville it being the nearest English Ground, about Seventy Leagues up the River, this I pre Army from Fort Pitt as the Savages could subsist themselves by Hunting thro' the Woods, and at that Place Six Weeks Provision For Fifteen hundred Men at the First Embarkation from Fort Pitt, I think would be sufficient as the Troops may be at the Nitchezs in three Weeks and from thence to New Orleans in three Days where all the Country is well stock'd with Indian Corn and Plenty of Cattle that cannot be Drove far into the Country by means of its Situation among Swamps. Where the Savages would not only be of use in procuring these Cattle but would throw a general Panick throughout the French Colony which would answer its desired Ef-sume would be too Expensive for New Settlers. fect. The Number of French and Spanish regular Troops in January 1768 did not exceed three Hundred Men from the Illinois to the Entrance of the River and most of the former absent from their Duty On trading Voyages &c. The Inhabitants are under most dreadfull Apprehensions of being under the Spanish Yoke and have come to a resolution to Oppose the Landing of any Troops from that Nation for the Future. . . . . . It is said that Gen' Orely is sail'd from the Havannah with four thousand Men in order to bring the French under Proper subjections, but if they should continue in the sane resolution its my Opinion that the Gen' will not succeed in his Expedition for no Country can be better situated for its Defence against an Enemy from the Sea. If the said Channel was cut there would be an easy Communication thro the Lakes from Mobille to Ibberville, and I should not in the least be surpriz'd if the whole Torrent of the Mississippi was to Pass that Way as the soil of the Country is accumulated from Oo'z and is of a slimy substance without the least Obstruction of Riseing Ground Pebbles, or Stones of the smallest Seize. It is well known this River chang'd its Channel, at Point Coupee by meer Accident as two or three Men comeing Down the River in a Cannoe stopt at a Place where a small stream passed over its Banks in order to Proceed down the same a shorter Way; but as the Entrance of this little outlett was Choak'd up by Logs of Wood or some other obstruction these men fell to Work, and soon Clear'd Enough for the Cannoe to Pass after The Plantations on both sides of the Mississippi that the Current had such effect that the Missisare very Good and Pleasantly situated on the sippi forced its Channel thro that very Place and Banks of its Serpentine Course haveing Orange continues its Course to this Day the old Bed of Trees as Avenues to a Number of Houses for the the River Remaining a Piece of stagnated Water Space of near thirty Leagues, and Stragling Hutts with the Plantations still Keeped in Repair on much further the whole Country is well stock'd the Banks thereof I am strongly of Opinion that with Cattle Horses, Mules, Sheep, Poultry &c. if New Orleans was in Possession of the English the Soil likewise Produces Sugar, Indigo, Cotton that it would be absolutely necessary to cut a Tobacco Rice and Indian Corn all in great Per-Channel for a Navigation from Ibberville to Mofection and it is my Opinion that the Country would Answer extremely well for Breeding Silk Worms as the Mulberry Trees are in great abundance and in the season bear most excellent Fruit. If New Orleans is to remain in Possession of the French or Spaniards I think it would be absolutely necessary to cut the Banks of the Mississippi near the River Ibberville as there is descent enough to make a free Navigation to Mobille and Pensacola as I am certain that such an Undertakeing might be Executed if the Channel for that Purpose was to be cut in a Proper Drection. If some such Plan does not take Place the Indian Traders will of Course carry their Peltry (Collected in Various Regions) To New Orleans but if the said Channel was cut it would not only be of Service to those Traders in sending their Goods to a British Markett but would bille but not by throwing a greater Quantity of Water into that Ditch (commonly call'd the River Ibberville) which is only fill'd when the Floods come Tumbling from the North at which time only New Orleans is an Island; for the surface of the Mississippi is at least Twelve Feet lower than the Bed of Ibberville in the Winter which is chang'd as I have already observ'd by the Swell of the Great River which mounts to the Height of Twenty Five Feet Perpendicular. Fort Panmure at the Natchezs is about Fifty Leagues above the Ibberville situated on a cominanding Hill in a most Delightfull Country from which the Prospect is extensive and Charming to the Eye to see a Number of Hillocks and Fertile Valleys covered with strawberrys so as to make the Country seem as if it were lined with Crimson with little Clumps of Trees agreeably Intermixed thro the Land there you behold the } Flat sands of Rose Island, at the Point and I think that the Cheapest and best method would be to Sink the Platforms, in the Sand, so that the muzzle of the Guns should be so near as Convenient Horizontal with High Water Mark with merlons in the Intervals. Buffalo, Surly Bear and Rambling Deer stragling As to the Post of Ibberville three years experience convinc'd me that no object was there to attract the Sight, to any amuseing View, Even Debarr'd from the comforts of a Rural Life, our Hand Spikes, and Arms indeed were often handled by Savage Alarums & the occupied Spot of Ground was about four Acres cover'd with Large Trees Thrown Down crossing each other and the skirts of the same surrounded with Lofty Trees whose Intervals are fill'd up with impregnable Canes that intercept the faning Breeze when exposed to the scorching Heat of the Sun and the Burning stings of tormenting Insects confin'd within the narrow Bounds or wrapp'd up in Hutts very insufficient for any Season of the Year as other Officers, was frequently reliev'd it may naturally be ask'd how, I come to remain so long in the Woods, the obvious Answer for Good of the Service, as an Artillery Officer acting in a civil as well as military Capacity: as it was the Case I appeal if my Salary, or Pay dont and ought to take Place accordingly at least I hope the Humane and Benevolent Reader will think my Claim to be Just and reasonable. The Fort at Pensacola I must beg leave to take Notice that it is not Tenable neither is it well situated or will the Foundation Answer for a Proper Fort by which means I think it would be needless to Erect one on the Spot it now Stands on. The Landlock'd Bay is spacious enought to well for a Fort to be Erect'd and that Guns to A Fort likewise ought to be fix'd on the other Lieu. of the Royal Artillery. N. B. As The Government has thrown the Expence of the Indian Department on the Provinces, certain it is, that West Florida, in its Present State of Infancy, cannot afford any thing of the Kind. But as a Boundary Province I think it ought to be supported in the Expence of a Commissary of Indian affairs, for the Mississippi. Likewise the Presents he may Be authorized, to Distribute among the Savages, For if the French or Spaniards, on the Banks of that Extensive River should Play their Political Game with the Indians, without some Person in the English Service to Counteract the Effect of such Proceedings, the Consequences in all Probality, may be Severely Felt in the Remotest Colony's of British America. [The foregoing curious account bears no date, but was evidently written after January, 1768, a date which he mentions, and before the arrival of Don Alexander O'Reilly, on the following year; for though Thomas alludes to him, he had not yet heard of his arrival and his severe measures at New Orleans. Our kind correspondent, E. B. O'Callaghan, Esq., gives the following note as to the services of the writer: "John Thomas entered the Royal Artillery, January 1, 1759, as lieutenant fire worker; on May 1, 1765, was appointed second lieutenant in the 1st battalion of that corps; and first lieutenant, January 1, 1771, in the 4th battalion, which in 1775-6 was in America. "His name is not in the army list for 1778. It is hence inferred that he fell in some of the engagements of the American campaign of 1777.”] |