Miscellany.

DESCRIPTION

OF THE

MISSISSIPPI.

BY JOHN PINTARD, ESQUIRE.

THE Miffiffippi, pronounced by the natives Mefehafiopi, after a courte of gooo miles, and receiving the tributary treams of the immenfe rivers Missouri, Cumberland, Tenneflee, Ohio, and many others, all which far furpass in extent and magnitude, every river that empties into the Atlantic, the St. Lawrence excepted, difembogues through feveral channels into the gulph of Mexico, in N. lat. 29, 3 and 89, 10 W. long, from Green

wich.

The approach to this river, by fea, is known by an infant change in the colour of the water, from black or dark fea green to whitish, next clayed and laftly a very muddy, frothy water, with founding from 70 to 50 fathoms at about ten leagues from the coaft, gradually diminishing to 4 fathoms at the distance of ten leagues, when the water becomes abruptly more difcoloured and yellow. Directly off the mouth of the river the water refembles dirty foap fuds; every change of colour is frongly diftinguished: you pafs through one into the other in an inftant.

The water at the

mouth of the river is quite frefh. The pilots drink it, fcooping it up in their hands, the ufual mode of allaying thirst by all who navigate this immenfe river.

very diffi

The entrance of the river is cult, there being no land marks along the coaft, which is very low and fcarcely dif cernable at four leagues diflance. Should a veffel fall in with the land on either fide of the narrow or longation of the conti nent through which the Maffilippi palles into the gulph of Mexico, fhe will, in all probability, get embayed and be obliged to wait a change of wind feveral days to beat. This circumftance very frequently happens.

245

ders, and lastly, with afh and other foreft || March and continues about three months.

trees.

The whole country bordering on
the mouth of the Miffiffippi has been thus
made; and the probability is, that all the
land on both fides of the river, from Ib.
berville downwards, a diftance between
two and three hundred miles, has origin-
ated from the illuvious and depofits of this
muddy ftream. It must require a con-
fiderable time ere this new land can be-
come useful. Where the prefent Balife
earth wasbrought to elevate the foundation
is erected, the ground was fo low that
for the beacon, guard and pilot houfes.
The fcite of the old Balife, which was
river, is now more than two miles above.
built in 1734 and at the mouth of the
The prefent Balife was conftru&ted in
1756, by Don Antonia D'Ulloa, on a
fmail ifland near the southeast entrance of

the river; of which about thirty years
before, there was not the leaft appearance.
In converfation with an experienced offi.
Louifiana, on the fubject of this prolonga-
cer in the Spanish navy, a colonist of
tion of the continent, he informed the
writer of thefe obfervations, that in the
fummer of 1800, he remarked a new island
at the mouth of the river. That not ma-
ny years ago, when lying at point La
Hache, between the Bálife and New-Or-
they fent on fhore to make a grave, but
leans, a feaman died on board his fhip-

could not find fufficient firm earth to bu-
ry him. This place is fince become folid
land. He could alfo recolle&t when Pla-

quemines, where the fort now ftands, was
a quagmire. Mr. Vandreuil, formerly
governor of Louifiana, in a letter, dated
September 2, 1752, remarks- There is
infinite difficulty in fettling towards the
mouth of the river Miffiffippi, on account
of the immenfe expence in banking a-
gainst the inundation of the fea and fand
floods. I am against fettling it as yet, and
raifed by the acretion of foil, as it hath
for waiting until the ground be more
been three feet within the space of 15
years.'

Every thing occurs to prove that this river has enlarged the continent nearly 100 leagues. Not a fingle flone, nor even The shores along the coafts are lined a pebble is to be found in all the new with innumerable trees, which are con made ground. The lea repelling that ftantly floating down the Miffiffippi. The prodigious quantity of mud, of mud, leaves, appearance is not much unlike a vast mast boughs and trunks of trees, which the and fpar yard. The trees are very large Miffiflippi is conftantly washing down; and in reaching the mouth of the river, are all thefe materials conftantly pushing driven afhore by the winds and tides; backward and forward collect and bind fome are carried out to fea, and are to be themselves in a folid mafs, which thus met with a great diftance from land. tends to prolong this vaft continent. AnThese trees accumulating, become a other ftriking fingularity, no where else to mound, which arrefts the muddy fedi- be met with, is that of the waters of this ment of the river, in process of time form great river, when once it overflows its numerous fmall iflands, which conftantly banks, never returns within its bed again. increafing and uniting at length become The reafon is this:-The Milliflippi is part of the continent. This new land is annually fwelled by the melting of the firik covered with rushes refembling el-nows in the north, which begins in

This river lies very deep at the upper part, and does not overflow on the east fide until within 10 leagues of the mouth; that is to fay on the low lands fuppofed to be all others which have not yet acquired new ground. These muddy grounds like their due confiftence, bear a prodigious quantity of large reeds, which flop and entangle all extraneous bodies that are washed down the river. The collection of all these fragments, with the flime that fills up the intermediate fpaces, raises in procefs of time, the banks higher than the adjacent ground, fo that the waters once overflowed, are prevented by this obftacle from the poffibility of returning to their natural channels, and are therefore compelled to force an outlet into the fea by another course. The new lands and iflands at the mouth of the Miffiffippi are faid to rife and fall with the fwelling and abating of the waters. This ftory, however, wants confirmation.

From the aftonishing length of the Miffiffippi and the vast bodies of water that flow into it, one is led to imagine that it must be proportionably broad. Every traveller is much furprised to find the direct contrary. Instead of entering an open extenfive bay, the mouth of the river is narrow and contracted; and through its whole course to New-Orleans, after paffing La Loutre, fcarcely exceeds half a mile in breadth. Oppofite the city the river takes a confiderable fweep, forming a beautiful crefcent, along which NewOrleans is fituated. At this place it may be about three quarters of a mile wide. The level or embankment which defends the town from the inundation of the Mif. fiffippi, is elevated about three feet above the furface of the country, over which the frethes feldom or never rife.-The difference between the greateft height and loweft ebb of the river is fomewhere about fourteen feet perpendicular. The last two years the Miffiffippi had rifen fo very inconfiderably, as to have excited much furprize and fome conjectures that the waters of the Miffouri had found a new channel to the ocean. This river it is which raifes the former and difcolors its ftream— for before its junction with the Miffouri, it was clear and limpid as the Ohio. The latter, although fubject to great freshes, has but little effect on the Miffiffippi.— The water of this river, notwithstanding its being exceeding turbid, is nevertheless very palatable and wholefome. It is uled entirely at New Orleans for drinking and culinary purposes. It is carted through the city in the fame manner as the NewYork tea water, and fold at the rate of a penny a bucket or half a dollar a hogfhead: deposited in a large earthern jar, it be ufed. When filtered it becomes clear as comes after of a milky colour and is thus

chrifal; to drink it in this ftate is a luxury not commonly enjoyed at New-Orleans. This river water is quite cool and though ufed at all times, and in the highest perfpiration by the boatmen and labourers, no ill confequences enfue-its falubrity is fuch, that the inhabitants who use it, are faid never to be afflicted with that excrutiating diforder the gravel, nor be troubled with that loathfome infection the itch.

State Paper.

LOUISIANA.

MR. LIVINGSTON'S MEMORIAL.

[CONCLUDED.]

-However advantageous New-Orleans might be for the United States, it will be of very inconfiderable alue to France, when the foreign capitals fhall be taken from it, or a rival city fhall be eftablished on the American fide. From the best infor mation, I find that one third of the beft commercial houles employed in New-Or.

military government be established in the country, than all these commercial houses, with the capitals which fupport them, will pafs into the United States, to that place affigned them by the treaty with Spain, or to the Natchez, where every veffel which may go to New Orleans may be received. Large veffels, from France, have already arrived there, and unloaded their cargoes without difficulty, and as the foil is fo much the more advantageous as we pent trate further, there is very little doubt this eftablishment will foon rival that of New. Orleans, when the American capitals fhall have been taken out of it. When the U. nited States thall have declared the Natchez a free port, New-Orleans will be very little as a place of commerce, and only an object of ulelefs expenfe for France, and an inexhauftible fource of jealouly between France and the United States.

ever vigilant the mother country, she will not prevent, at that distance, the vexations which may be exercifed. On the other hand, the government of the United States will not be able, in a thoufand inftances, to restrain the petulance of the near inhabi tants bordering on the limits of the Mislilfippi; to confine their vengeance wholly, and compel them to expect from diplomat-leans, are American.-No fooner witi a ic representation a flow juflice. Hatred will take place between the two people; the bonds of friendfhip will be destroyed, and the government of the United States, which ever thares the fentiments of the people, will be forced, by its fituation, to alter its political relations. Then, for the fake of guarding themselves againft their old ally, for a pretended act of hoftility, they will form a cautionary connexion with England, which will be fedulous in obtaining her alliance, and will excite her refent. ment against France; becaufe in that alliExperience has proved, that two nations ance the will fee the means of preferving could not be neighbors without being ri. her commerce with America, which fhe val; and if this be true of two neighbor-ker colonies to be able, in cafe of war, to now poffelles almoft exclufively, fecuring ing nations, it may be faid with fill more truth of a colony formed by a great and powerful nation, removed from the me tropolis, and of a people bordering on the territory of the other. The reafon of this is plaufible; where two nations are neighbors every thing paffes under the infpection of the fovereign; the quarrels are as foon extinguished as kindled; but when the governor of a colony, calculating upon the protection of the metropolis, is guilty of an act of hoftility, the wound gets gangrened before a phyfician can be called. The offended fovereign, who alfo thinks that the offender will be fo much the more ftrongly fupported, as his nation is more powerful, tries every means, in order to anticipate on the hoftilities which he dreads, ufes reprisals, and both nations are at war before any explanation has taken place.

If there be a fituation in the world which may be attended with thefe confequences, it certainly is that of France, when fhe is in poffeffion of New-Orleans. It is fituaed in fuch a manner as to block up the great paffage towards the fea, from a great number of States, and a very extenfive popula sion which increases rapidly.

invade the French colonies, and especially
of preventing the union of the commerce
and navy of France and the United States,
upon which alone France can engraft her
naval fuperiority.

which I feem fo much to dread for France,
It may be asked, why thofe jealoufies
feffion of Canada ? first, becaufe Great-
have not taken place for England in pof-
Britain has prudently feparated her territo-
ry by a natural limit which prevents the
contact of the two nations. While the
occupied the western pofts, the United
States faw her with jealoufy, and it is be.
yond doubt that hoftilities and a national
haired would have been the confequence
when the increafe of American population
in that part had taken place; when thofe
forts were given up, numerous symptoms
had already manifefted themselves.

exports from the United States, being
Secondly, because the ufual road of the
made, through their own rivers, there is an
important communication between them

and Canada.

But it is chiefly becaufe Upper Canada is inhabited by American emigrants, who, in cafe of a rupture would join, according to all appearances, to the United States, had not the fpirit of their government been to prevent the extending of their limits.

A military government is about to be ef ablifhed on the Ifland. The General, proud, with reason, of the glory of his nation, will cat on every thing that furrounds him a look of fuperiority; commerce will be degraded; and merchants, fubjected to the defpotifm of men who will feek in the laying up of riches, a recompence for their privations in the remote and infalubrious country whither they are fent. The colony prefents no lawful means of growing rich, except thofe (flow and progreffive) of commerce and agriculture-ill-fuited means for foldiers. How-fon,' and the prefents to the Indian Tribes.

But after all, what political or commercial advantage can France receive Iron: the poffeffion of New-Orleans, and of the East Bank of the Miffiflippi, that may balance the lofs, which, in thefe two points of view, fhe will fuftain in the rivalry with the United States? The Floridas are a narrow ftrip of barren land, incapable of defence in cafe of a rupture, and which will coft more than it is worth to guard, garri

The ceffion of Louifiana is nevertheless very important to France, if fhe applies it to the only afe which found policy feems to dictate. I speak of Louifiana alone, and by this I do not mean to comprehend the Floridas, becaufe I think they are no part of the ceffion. As it can, by this cef Miffiffippi, a free trade, if he knows how fion, acquire the right of carrying on the to profit of this circumftance, by a perfect underflanding with the United States, the will find markets for a very great variety of articles, when the has accuflomed the inhabitants of the Western countries to prefer them to the English, which the can only obtain by felling them cheaper, and the the American merchants to fell them, to can only fell them cheaper, by interefting ging the government of the United States have the ufe of their capitals, and by enga to give them the preference. All this can take place only by the ceflion of New-Orleans to the United States, with the referve of the right of entry, at all times free from all other duties than thofe paid by Amer ican veffels, together with the right of navigation on the Miffiffippi. This would give her veffels an advantage over the veffels of all other nations, will retain and even increase the capitals of New-Or. leans, where the provifions for the islands will be bought at the cheapest rate poffible, and where the articles of her manufactures will be introduced in the western countries ;-The United States will have no in

*It is probable this is a condition of the ceffion.

tereft in preventing it for every reafon of A letter received at Peck's Coffee-
rivalry will be removed. Then France houfe Baltimore, dated Cape-Francois, Ju-
will command refpect without infpiringly 1ft, 1803, fays-The American brig
fear to the two nations whofe friendship is Succefs, capt. Novao, arrived here on the
the most important for her commerce, and 26th June from the Havanna, with 540
the prefervation of her iflands; and all blood-hounds,. and the Brigands that have
thefe advantages will be obtained without been taken have been given to them, whom
the expense of establishments which ruin they inftantly devoured. Troops arrive
the public treasure, and divert capitals from daily, but the fever cuts them off beyond
their true object.
all defcription. Jeremie has been clofely
befieged. Four French schooners arrived
here from thence full of inhabitants (wo-
men and children), but an arrival laft night
brings the intelligence that the Brigands
were defeated with lofs."

But if, on the one fide, France keeps New-Orleans by attempting to colonize Loui fiana, fhe will become an object of jealoufy to Spain, the United States and England, which powers will not only dif courage her commerce, but will compel her to make expenfive eftablifhments to fecure the pofleflion of it.

In the foregoing obfervations I have confined my felf to obfervations which prefented themfelves, without having recourle to fubtilties, which only ferve to millead the judgment. I have expofed fimple facts with candour and all the fimplicity of language. If a reply is made, it will be by pursuing a contrary courfe. With elo quence and fophiftry they may be combatted and obfcured; time and experience will demonftrate their folidity.

Be it our weekly task,
To note the passing tidings of the times.
Hudson, August 2, 1803.

INTERESTING DECISION.

[Evening Poft.]

Arrived at Alexandria on Wednesday laft, the brig Active, Capt Haines, in 12 days from Cape Francois-When captain H. failed, the Cape was clofely befieged on the land fide by the Brigands, within a mile of the town, and blockaded by four English 74 gun fhips, a frigate, brig and fchooner. It was fuppofed they would furrender the Cape to the British in a few days. Gen. Rochambeau had established his Head-quarters there. The Mole and Port-au-Prince was fo clofely hemmed in by the Brigands, that the inhabitants could not go half a mile out without being murdered.

The war is carried on between the French and Brigands with every fpecies of barbarity their favage minds can invent. When the brigands take a prifoner they put him between two planks and faften him with cords fo that he cannot move, and then take a crofs cut faw and faw him nearly affunder in different places fo as to terminate his exiftence in the most barbarous manner and the French in their turn when they take a prifoner tie him neck and

they have a parcel of half starved blood-
hounds to be torn to pieces by them.

[Ibid.]

LONDON, MAY 25.

The first act of the war on the part of the Firft Conful has been, not to meet us manfully at fea, not to carry on hoftilities in the way adopted between civilized nations; but to make an attack upon the perfons and

commiffion under his Britannic majefty, who is at prefent in France, fhall immedi. ately be confidered prifoners of war, to anfwer for fuch citizens of the French republic, as fhall have been detained and made prifoners by the veffels and fubjects of his Britannic majefty."

In confequence of the above decree, Mr. Talbot, the fecretary to the British legation, who had arrived at Calais on his re-. turn to this country, was not allowed to embark. The Earl of Yarmouth, Sir James Crawford, Mr. Cobourn, and two other Englifhmen, are alfo detained at Calais. We have not heard whether they have been fent to prifon or rot. The captain of the Auckland packet, which returned on Saturday afternoon from Calais, bro't over difpatches from Mr. Talbot, informing his majefly's minifters of his detention.

In the cafe of David Dennifton vs. Den-heels, and throw him into a place where nis Cole, both of the county of Orange, the defendant having been arrefted and held to bail in the fum of 480 dollars, cited the plaintiff before his Honor Judge Gardener, to fhew caufe of action. The Plaintiff, in the ufual manner, inade out his affidavit; But Fish, counfei for defendant, objected to Mr. Denniston's oath, on the fcore of his principles, having underflood that he neither believed in a Supreme Being nor in a future ftate of rewards and punish-liberty of thofe whom he was bound by all ments. The plaintiff was then afked by the Court on thefe two points; to the first he faid he did believe in a Supreme Being; the fecond queftion he declined anfwering -By the Court: The oath cannot be taken-let the defendant be difcharged from the arreft on filing common bail.-Rofs for plaintiff, Fifk for defendant.

the laws of hofpitality to refpe&t-He has
feized and imprifoned all our countrymen
and women in France !!!

The mails between the two countries having been ftoped, a packet failed on Friday from Dover as a flag of truce. When fhe arrived at Calais, fhe found that two of the English packet boats had been seized, We understand that the Theiftical Sociand the men imprifoned. She was informeties of this city have had an extra meetinged alfo, that the First Conful had iffued on the above, and have voted to refift the decifion to their utmoft, as an attack upon their religious principles! [Ev. Poft.]

decree to the following effe&t:

a

"That every British fubje&t of an age not under 18 nor exceeding 60, or bearing a

At Paris, it is faid by fome, that the English gentlemen have been fent to the Temple, the Conciergerie, and other prifons, and the ladies to Fontainebleau. Other accounts flate, that both men and women have been ordered to repair to Fontainebleau. At Dunkirk all the Englifh, we understand, have been put in prifon. MAY 28.

A Letter of this morning from Portfmouth, flates the arrival yesterday of the fquadron under Sir Roger Curtis from the cape of Good Hope, and of that fquad. ron having taken yefterday at noon, a French East-India fhip, eftimated at one hundred thousand pounds value. The fame letter brings an account of the capture of the Hazard floop of war, which event Sir Roger Curtis learned from La Minerve at fea.