narration and description, he has presented, to the extent of his power, things as they really

are.

A period of near eleven years has now elapsed since this work was first undertaken. Most of that time has been employed in the collection of materials. The moment of its introduction to the public has now arrived; and stands with all its errors, defects, and excellencies, (if it possesses any,) exposed to censure, or entitled to applause.

B

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

SINCE the first publication of this work, much useful matter has been collected by the author. Important additions have been made to the Map, and some errors have been expunged.

The political relations of part of the country represented, have changed within the current year. The western part of the late Mississippi Territory has become a State, and the eastern has been created a Territory, by the name of Alabama.

In the work as first published, only the region included in the State of Louisiana, was detailed in the Statistics. A review is now taken of the countries included in the State of Mississippi and Alabama Territory. The reader can now, with the aid of the Map, extend his inquiries to the State of Mississippi and Alabama Terrritory, as well as Louisiana.

A stream of emigration is daily pouring into the country adjacent to, and included in the Delta of the Mississippi, that is every moment giving strength to the political and moral associations that have and will arise in those invaluable countries.

The salutary effect of the accession of Louisiana to the United States, is developing by every event in which the country itself is concerned; and demonstrated by effects that are

apparently extraneous.

It would be useless,

however, to dwell upon inductions obvious to every mind. It is sufficient to observe, that the machinations of foreign states have been deprived of a secure position upon which to operate ; whilst the industrious citizens of the United States have opened to their enterprise an almost unlimited field. Rivers whose sources and efflux to the sea are in different and distant climes, now traverse in their long courses portions of the same sovereignty. One system of laws, one rule of human conduct, similar moral precepts; and what is, perhaps, to human happiness of equal, if not more consequence, one language will be spoken from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean, from the Canadian lakes to the Mexican Gulph.

NEW-YORK, JUNE 17, 1817.

WILLIAM DARBY.

ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER.

THE introductory chapter contains nothing more than a collection of the leading facts that occurred in the first discovery and settlement of Louisiana. So much sameness must exist in the maugre events of all colonial establishments, that a lengthened detail of their history must present a series of disgusting repetition.

From the final establishment of Louisiana until its cession to the United States, there occurred but few events of importance in its history. The cession from France to Spain, left the province in the same state of dependance as formerly. During the long and imbecile reign of Louis XV. in which France lost her North American colonies, Louisiana only demonstrated in a more striking manner than any other of her foreign possessions, how far France had then departed from true national policy. In fact, that Louisiana is now an integral of the United States, may be classed amongst the few instances where substantial good has arisen from the madness of courts. To a respectable people has been given the inappreciable advantage of self-government; and a widely extended space is opened to science, and human happiness.

The exposition of the data upon which our claims to that country are founded is extraneous to the original intent of this work ; but whilst the first edition was in the press, the Spanish ambassador set up the claims of his sovereign to West Florida. I first published in the Aurora, and afterwards as an appendix, the matter that now composes the introductory chapter. The first publication was crude and undigested; a more connected form is now given to the subject. As nothing is presented but the most important facts, I trust there are few readers who will not comprehend clearly, and remember distinctly the principles of the title of the United States to Louisiana,