but some hopes of silk were still entertained."[1] Two years later, the Board of Trade having recommended a form of government, John Reynolds was sent out as governor. The legislature was similar in its construction to that of other colonies under the Crown. The genuine Southern spirit of hospitality prevailed in Georgia, as in other colonies; yet, although the people were now favored with the same liberties and privileges enjoyed by their neighbors under the royal care, several years more elapsed before the value of the lands in Georgia was known, and that spirit of industry aroused, which afterwards diffused its happy influence over the country.
| CHAPTER VI. |
1698—1753.
COLONIZATION AND PROGRESS OF LOUISIANA.
Lemoine D'Iberville—Colonists led by him—Enters the Mississippi—Importance of the movement—English jealousy—Ships sent by them—Outwitted by Bienville—D'Iberville charged with various projects by the government—Ascends the Mississippi—Losses by sickness—D'Iberville's death—Settlement at Mobile—Condition of the colonists—Slow progress—Kept alive by help from abroad—Grant to Crozat—Cadillac governor—III success—Depressed state of the colony—The famous Mississippi Company—John Law and his career—His schemes in financial matters—Their effect upon France—Colonists sent out by the Company—New Orleans founded—War with Spain—Military and ecclesiastical establishment—Population in 1727—Massacre by the Natchez Indians—Retaliation by the French—War with the Chickasaws—Difficulty in the way of subduing this brave tribe—Bienville leaves Louisiana—Administration of the Marquis de Vaudreuil—Kerlerec appointed governor.
For some years after La Salle's untimely death (p. 141,) the whole region of the lower Mississippi remained undisturbed. The peace of Ryswick, however, opened the way for fresh efforts on the part of the French to carry out their favorite project of establishing an uninterrupted line of communication between Canada and the Gulf of Mexico. Lemoine D'Iberville was chosen as the leader in this 'rnportant enterprise. He was well known as a brave and skilful naval officer, and stood high in the esteem of his Canadian countrymen.[2] On the 17th of October, 1698, he embarked, with two frigates and some two hundred settlers—mostly disbanded soldiers—to plant a colony at the mouth of the Mississippi, which as yet had not been entered from the sea. Early in February, 1699—the Spaniards having prevented his entering
- ↑ Hildreth's "History of the United States," vol., ii., p. 453.
- ↑ Mr. Gayarré, in his interesting work, "Romance of the History of Louisiana," vol. i., p. 30–-36, gives a very spirited and graphic account of a sea fight off the coast of New England, in which D'Iberville succeeded in gaining the victory over three English ships which attacked him at the same time.
