Views of Louisiana : containing geographical, statistical and historical notices of that vast and important portion of America

1817·15.8 MB·English

by  Brackenridge, H. M. (Henry Marie), 1786-1871

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VIEWS
OF
LOUISIANA
CONTAINING
GEOGEAPHICAL, STATISTICAL
AND
HISTORICAL
NOTICES OF
THAT VAST AND IMPORTANT PORTION
OF
AMERICA.
Br H. M. BRACKENRIDGE, ESQ,
BALTIMORE:
FEINTED BY SCHAEFPER & MAUND.
1817.
—
:
District of Pennsylvania, to wit
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-fourth day of
November, mthe thirty-eighthyearof the Independenceof thd
United States of America, A. D. 1813, Henry M. Bracken-
HiDGE,ofthe saidDistrict, hathdepositedin thiso—fficetheTitle
ofaBook, therightwhereof heclaims as Author inthewords
following, towit:
" ViewsofLouisiana; -withaJournalofa voyagev.p the Mis-
sotin. ByH.JM.BrackenridgCy Esq.
InconformitytotheActof theCongressof theUnitedStates,
entitled, **Anactfortheencouragementof Learning, bysecur-
ing the copies of Maps, Charts andBooks, tothe Authors and
Proprietorsofsuchcopiesduringthetimesthereinmentioned."
Andalso theAct entitled, *•AnAct supplementary to the Act
entitled,"AnactfortheencouragementofLearning,bysecuring
thecopiesof Maps, Charts and Books, totheAuthors and Pro-
prietorsof suchcopiesduringthetimesthereinmentioned," and
extending thebenefitsthereof to thearts ofdesigning, engrav-
ing, andetchinglustoricalandother prints."
D. CALDWELL,
ClerkoftheDistrict ofPennsylvania,
TO
EXCELLENCY
HIS
THE CHEVALIER
JOSE CORREA, DE SERRA,
MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY
OP
M. F. Majesty^
jff.
THE KING OF PORTUGAL AND THE BRAZILS,
A PLAIN republican, to whom high names, offi-
cial dignities, or vast riches, command no awe or
veneration, but who willingly acknowledges as his
superior, the man of mind, whatever may be his
station, humbly dedicates, his performance, un-
worthy as it is, TO ONE of the most enlighten-
ed FOREIGNERS THAT HAS EVER VISITED THE
United States-
The giddy world, too often assigns tlie highest "
places in the temple of fame, to mighty conquerors
and warriors, who aremorefrequentlytheenemies,
than the friends ofmankind, whileits real benefac-
tors, are but slowly, are never fully appreciajted.
The few, on whom nature has bestowed the choice
giftofacapaciousmind,whichthey havestoredwith
knowledge for the good of their fellow creatures,
should ever be regarded as blessings to the people
among whom they have been cast. They are to be
received like the angel of Milton, who came down
to instruct our first parents in wisdom and virtue.
As an American, I am proud that mycountryhas
been thechoiceofasage, acknowledgedbothby Eu-
n
rope and America, as one of the most enlightened
.
ofhuman kind; who after having gathered from
every field ofscience in the old world, has brought
his ample store as a present to tlie new.
Sir, youramiablesimplicityofmanners, andcom-
municative temper, restore to us our Franklin ; in
every part of otir country, which you have visited
s
(for -you liave nearly seen it all) your society has
been as acceptable to the unlettered farmeras to the
learned philosopher the liberal and friendly man-
;
ner, in whichyou are accustomedto viewevery thing
inthese States, the partialitywhich you feel fortheir
welfare, the profound maxims, upon every subject,
which like the disciples of Socrates, we treasure up
from your lips, entitle us to claim you as one ofthe
fatkers of our country^
To none, therefore, could I with more propriety
•dedicate my " Views of Louisiana," than to you
whose favourite study isthe American government,
manners, and soil; and who (I say it without hesi-
tation) have in the short space of five years, ac-
quired a knowledge of this country, as critical and
extensive,asanyofitsmostintelligent citizens. But
if any additional motive were necessary, tojustify
•the liberty I havepresumedto take in thus address-
ing you, I could allege a sense ofgratitude, for the
commendations you were pleased to bestow^ upou
A 2
;
6
this work, while yet in the shape of newspaper
essays
Pollioamatnostram, quamvis estrusticamusam,
amiitis in a great measure owing to those commen-
dations,that it has assumed itspresent form.
Accept, sir, the expressions of the high venera-
tion of one who esteems it as among the most feli-
citous circumstances of his life, to liave personally
known you, and to be able to subscribe himself,
Yoursincere and
ardent admirer,
disciple, and friend,
a. M. BRACKENRIDGE.