J O T T I N G S O F L O U I SI A N A

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I L L U S T R A T ED H I ST O R I CA L SKET CH

O F T H E

MO ST I L L U ST R I O U S L A N DMA R KS

W O R L EA N S N E ,

A nd the O nly R em a ining Bu ildings of Colon ial D a y s .

n nl f f h T hey do ot o y orm par t, o the H istory of t e ” U i ed S a es but al o f F ranc and S ain . n t t t , s o e p

E . WI L L I S J . R O U SS L

N w r a L a e O le ns , .

- r (C o p y rig htc d J a nu a ry 3 d ,

“ r i 5 0 en P c e , C t s .

1 0 5 9 .

E BR O P U BL I S H E M N DO L A S . R S ,

E nnw O R L A N S , L A .

POETICAL J OTTING S or H E H I S O T T R Y or L O U I S I A N A .

BY CH AR LES U A YA R R E

' The follow ing quota-tie ns are taken from the History of Louisian a b a G a arr e y Ch rles y e, the eminent writ r and historian , and will no doubt prove to be a very appropriate preface to this work as “ it a - will dmit a basis of comparison for Louisiana as it is to day . A fter a masterly and graceful preliminary the learned historian said : “ I am willing to apply that criterion to Louisiana , considered both physically and historically ;I am willing that my native .

State , which is but a fragrant of what Louisiana formerly was , should stand and fall by that test , and do not fear to approach I with her the seat of j udgment . am prepared to show that her d history is full of poetry of the highest order , and of the most varie I “ i h . and w t nature have studied the subj ect con amore , . such I reverential enthusiasm , and may say with such filial piety , that it has grown upon my heart as well as upon my mind . To support the assertion that the history of Louisiana is eminently poetical , it will be sufficient to give you short graphical descriptions of those interesting events which constitute the annals . Bright gems

- r they are , enriching her brow , diadem like , and worthy of that sta which has sprung from her forehead to enrich the American con ” stellation in the firmament of Liberty .

H ERNANDO De SOTO . l 1 3 st . 5 39 On the of May , , the Bay of Santa Spiritu , presented

. a curious spectacle . Eleven vessels of quaint shape bearing the broad banner of Spain , were moored close to the shore ;one thousand men of infantry and three hundred and fifty men of the cavalry , fully equipped , were landing in proud array under command of Hernando De Soto , one of the most illustrious ' one companions of Pizarro in the conquest of Peru , and reported ” of the best lancers of Spain . >l< >I< >l< >x<

Among his followers are gentlemen of the best blood of Spain and of Portugal . >k >l<

Chi c k es aw s Now he is encamped in the territory of the , the most ferocious of the Indian tribes . And lucky was it that De

Soto was as prudent as he was brave , and slept equally prepared ' for the defence and for the attack . Hark in the dead of a

3 ’ W i h h the i of N in the of inter s n g t , w en cold w nd the orth , month 1 5 41 January , , was howling through the leafless trees , a simul taneou s u the o howl was heard , more hideo s far than v ice of the a fir brands . m e tempest The Indi ns rushed i petuously with , and the thatched roofs which sheltered the Spaniards are soon on fire , threatening them with immediate destruction . The horses rear a nd a e ing plunging in wild ffright , and breaking loos their lig a the e i i ments , undaunted Spa niards , half nak d , struggl ng aga nst the devouring element and the unsparing foe ;the deep toned “ ” h and o S t . s uts of Jago Spain to the rescue , the demon like k ; over thr ew of the I a shrie s of the red warriors the final ndi ns , i t u the hot pursuit by the l gh of the flaming village , form a pict re t highly exciting to the imagination , and cold, indeed , mus be he who does not take delight in the strange contrast of the heroic

r of h . th n t r in f warfa e c ivalry on one side , and of e u tu o ed co age o r ” man in his savage state on the othe .

It would be too long to follow DeS oto in his peregrinations th a and during two y ears rough part of Al bama , Mississippi f . o o s i Tennessee At last he stands n the banks the Missis ipp , near the spot Where now flourishes the Egyptian named city of

. C Memphis He rosses the mighty river , and onward he goes , up to the White River, while roaming over the territory of Arkansas . Meeting with alternate hospitality and hostility on the part of the a es nt Indi ns , he arrives at the mouth of Red River , within the pr e h limits of the State of Louisiana . There e was fated to close his ” adventurous career .

FATH ER M AR'U ET T E AN D J OLIET .

One hundred and thirty years had passed away since the r DeS oto L ouisiana w 1 thou t appa ition of on the soil of , any further “ n attempt of the white race to pe etrate into the fair region , when, n t 7c of 1 673 u o he July , , a small band of E ropeans and Canadians reached the Mississippi , which they had come to seek from the distant city of 'uebec . That band had two leaders , Father e oli et e Marqu tte , a monk , and J a m rchant , the prototype of two i n great sources of power , religion and commerce , which , the course u of time , were destined to exercise such infl ence on the civilization

' b the of the Western territory , traversed y mighty river which they had discovered T hat humble monkish gown of Father ’ ’ Marquette concealed a hero s heart , and in the merchant s breast there dwelt a soul that would have disgraced no belted knight .

BER T AV ALI ER D L - SALLE R O C e a .

Seven years since the expedition of Marquette and Joliet had

n r C - rolled by whe Robe t avalier de La Salle , in the month of

4 1 682 . January , , feasted his eyes with the far famed Mississippi

For his companions he had forty soldiers three monks , and the ”

C . hevalier de Tonti N a '

F ontena c Brought into contact with Count , who was the c Governor of Canada , he communi ated to him his views and projects for the aggrandizement of France , and suggested to him the gigantic plan of connecting the St . Lawrence with the Missis ” s ipppi by an uninterrupted chain of Forts . >I< a 1 5 th 1 678 On the of September , , proud and erect with the c e S onsciousness of success , La Sall tood again in the walls of t he 'uebec , and stimulated by cheers of the whole population , u he immediately entered into the exec tion of his projects . Four 1 682 -in y ears after , , he was at the mouth of the Mississippi , and ‘ the name , (as appears by a Notarial Act still extant) of the most a n e puiss nt , most high , most i vincibl and victorious Prince , Louis G r n the eat , Ki g of France , took possession of all the country wh'i h ' h’ ” e e had discovered . >x< >1<

To - relate all of the heart thrilling adventures which occurred to “ La Salle during the four years which elapsed between the of ' tha t opening and conclusion expedition , would be to go beyond f . t the limits which are allotted to me Su fice it to say , tha at this

- day , to overcome the one hundredth part of the difficulties which ” he had to encounter , would immortalize a man . IB I A I I ERV LLE N D B ENV LLE . “ e d I I I A few years after the death of La Salle , which occurr 1 687 n t , by the hands of brutal compa ions , within he limits of 42 Texas , a French Ship of guns , the Pelican , commanded by n 5 2 Iberville , after sinking an E glish vessel of guns in a naval N ew battle , on the coast of England , and whipping two other 42 vessels of guns each in the same fight , in the beginning of March , 1 69 9 , entered the Mississippi , accompanied by his brother , Bien ville , and Father Anastase , the former companion of La Salle i n his expedition down the river in >x< >l< 1 703 In war had broken out between Great Britain , France a nd f Spain , and Iberville , a distinguished o ficer of the French N avy , was engaged in expeditions that kept him away from the

c . olony It did not cease , however , to occupy his thoughts , and had become clothed , in his eye , with a sort of family interest . Louisiana was then lef t fo r some time to her scanty resources b u t , weak as she was , she gave early proofs of that generous spirit w ” hich has since animated her . >l< >x< a a: >I<

5 Cha tea u e to th Iberville sent his brother , g e colony , accompanied ” by seventeen persons , as immigrants to the new colony . The excitement of this new arrival had hardl y “ s ubsided w hen w as it revived by the appearance of another ship , and it became

a o . n intense when the inh bitants saw a procession f twe ty females , o two b with veiled faces pr ceeding arm in arm , and y two , to the e I house of the governor , who rec ived them n State and . provided them with suitable lodgings . But the next morning , which was c n I i es t Sunday , the mystery was cleared up by the offi iati g p read ing from the pulpit of the mass the follow ing communication from the Minister Bi enville : “ n t he d a His Majesty sends twe ty girls , to be married to Cana i ns , o b n and to the ther inha itants of Mobile , in order to co solidate the a nd colony . All these girls are industrious , have received a pious i u B h and v rtuo s education “ eneficial results to t e colony are ex pec ted from their teaching their useful attainments to the Indian females I n order that none be sent except those of known r n LIN virtue and unspotted eputatio , His Majesty did intrust Bishop of 'uebec with the mi ssi on of taking those girls from such establishments , as from their very nature and character , would Y o u c i put them above all suspicions of corruption . will take a e I i I m arrv to settle them n l fe as well as may be n your power , and to them to such men as are capable of providing them with a commo ” i h m ” d ous o e .

C ONDENSED ITEM S OF INTEREST O F T H E EAR LY H ISTORY.

“ 1 1 S au volle G o f . 70 was the first overnor Louisiana He died in , and was succeeded by Bienville , the second Governor . 1 70 1 a nd a Iberville went to France in , remained bsent from

Louisiana four years .

- Thirty five colonists died of starvation in 1 705 . 1 706 t r In , he French girls brought to the colony we e indignant ed at being f on corn bread , and threatened to leave the colony “ ins u rrec on the first opportunity . This is called the petticoat tion . The three most important personages in the Commonwealt h of o L uisiana at that time were Bienville , the governor , who wielded and w as the the sword , great executive mover of all ;La Salle , the intendant commissary of the crown , who had , therefore , might be t n a u V . called he controlli g power ;nd . the C rate de la ente who w no t t t l n T h c om mi s s arv as sa isfi ed with mere spiri u a i fluence . e f i n l t of the 7t h o e 1 706 a et er Dec mber , , accused Iberville , Bien Cha tea u e ville and g , the three brothers , of being guilty of every f l i i n sort c malfeasances and de a p da t o s . The curate backed La

Salle . ‘ After an ex istance of;nine years ;the population of the colony did not exceed 279 persons . Its principal wealth consisted in

5 0 40 4 8 1 400 200 . cows , calves , bulls , oxen , hogs and hens

1 709 n r '- ea In fami e app red in the colony , and the inhabitants

were reduced to live on acorns .

. 1 7 1 0 The scarcity of provisions had become such , that in , Bienville informed his government that he had scattered the a rt mon the greatest p of his men a g Indians , upon whom he had quartered them for food . 1 1 o n In 7 2 Anthony Crozat. btai ed from the King of France the I I exclusive privilege , for fifteen years , of trading n all that mmense w n territory which , ith its u defined limits , France claimed as her own under the name of Louisiana . The charter of concessions virtually made Croz at the Supreme Lord and Master of Louisiana .

' I h ' 1 1 7 3 Cadillac is made governor of Louisiana . n The famous banki g company of the Indies , with John Law “ 1 n r a t 1 7 7 . its head , was started in Joh Law was bo n in Edin i n 1 67 1 . burgh , Scotland ,

Bienville was appointed governor of Louisiana , the second time ,

1 7 1 8 u t he a . in , and fo nded city of New Orleans , the same ye r I n 1 24 1 . 7 the white population of New Orleans amounted to 7 00 l i o u a t on to 3300 . souls , and the black p p In New Orleans , there

1 000 tr oo s . and were about souls including p , the persons employed by the government . 1 727 In the beginning of , the spot where now stands New not n Orleans , bei g protected by a levee , was subj ect to annual inu ndation and , _ presented no better aspect than that of a vast sink or sewer .

Mosquitoes buzzed , and enormous frogs croaked incessantly in concert with other indescribable sounds ;tall reeds , and grass and of every variety grew in the street , in the yards , so as to i f interrupt commun cation , and o fered a safe retreat , and places i of concealment to venomous rept les , wild beasts , and malefactors , who , protected by these impenetrable j ungles , committed with impunity all sorts of evil deeds .

1 729 a In the French at Natchez were massacred by the Indi ns . The Indians captured and spared about 300 women and children whom they intended to make slaves of . In 1 733 the French Colony in Louisiana w as scourged by small “ pox and famine . A companion of Bienville wrote : Our planters and mechanics are dying of hunger . The colony is on the eve of

e - being d populated . The colony is in such a state of indigence that , last year , the p eople were obliged , for more than three ” months , to live on the seeds and grains of reeds . 1 h 1 : 5 t . 735 On the of April , , Bienville wrote on the state of the colony : One hundred thousand pounds of tobacco are made at Pointe Coupee ;two women raise silk worms for amusement and succeed ; b the ov the r very well eggs should be sent y g ernment to U sulines , who would teach this industry to the orphans w hose edu c ation

. t n is entrusted to them The cultiva io of cotton is advantageous , but the planters experience great difficulty in cleaning it from ” the seeds . Pitch and tar are made in some abundance . In 1 736 the colony turned its attention to the cultivation of indigo . But lit tle was made from silk through i gnorance of the business .

in 1 728 and The Balize Pass , , had sixteen feet and a half , which _ i s I Bienville represents as filling up rapidly , known n our days as

Southeast Pass .

The Marquis. de Vaudreuil was appointed governor of Louisiana i i 1 n 743 . in place of Bienv lle ,

Vau dreu il : in 1 744 a the De , , comm nded planters to have their i ‘ levee made under penalty of forfeiting their lands to the crown .

T he Mar quis de Vaudreuil marked the beginning of his admin

' iStra tion by following the old and nefarious c ustom of granting monopolies .

In 1 744 the white population of New Orleans was 800 souls ,

“ not l 500 i . inc uding soldiers , and the women and ch ldren A few o f hO u s es or n the were brick , and the greater p tio were wooden b 25 or be n o . uildings , were bricked up twee p sts There were i nhabitants whose property were worth from one hundred thous and to three hundred thousand livres . Almost all the colonists

r one . were ma ried . The most considerable of them was Mr e 5 00 Dubreuil;who own d negroes , several plantations , brick 1 00 kilns and silk factories . At the German coast , there were

and 200 . white inhabitants , negroes Occupations , gardening and

2 400 . . 00 grazing Pointe Coupee , whites and negroes Occupa

i . tion , the cultivation of tobacco and the rais ng of provisions

at c hI t ch s 2 . N o e 60 whites and 00 blacks Productions , cattle , rice , corn and tobacco . The available force for defending Louisiana in 1 746 was 400

5 00 600 200 300 . white men , to Indians , and from to negroes

1 746 1 740 A terrible hurricane in , like that of , destroyed the crops of the colony , and would have reduced the inhabitants nearly to starvati on had it not been for the boats from Illinois that annually supplied them with Flour .

8 In 1 75 1 the Jesuits sent some sugar- canes from Hispaniola to

the Jesuits of Louisiana , and some negroes who were used to the cultivation of this plant . The experiment was abortive , and though cane continued to be cultivated successfully , it was only 1 in 79 5 that the manufacture of sugar was successful .

- On board the same ships which brought the first sugar cane , sixty girls were transported to Louisiana at the expense of the

King . The girls were married to such soldiers as had distinguished themselves for good conduct , and who , in consideration of their marriage , were discharged from service . Such is the humble origin of many of our most respectable and wealthy families . 1 2 23rd . S 75 On the of eptember , , the Intendant Commissary , R oubillere Michael de la , made a favorable report on the state ” - of agriculture in Louisiana . The Cultivation of the wax tree , “ says he , has succeeded admirably . Mr . Dubreuil alone has made six thousand pounds of wax . Some went to the seashore where

u se . the wax tree grows wild , in order to it in its natural state

It is the only luminary used here by the inhabitants , and it is exported to other parts of America , and to France . In the last three years forty five brick houses were erected in New Orleans ” n a d several fine new plantations were established .

1 K rl r In 75 3 e e ec took possession of the government of Louisiana . 1 75 5 In the Acadian settlement at Grand Pre , Nova Scotia , was broken up by the English , under command of General Winslow , 1 923 and the inhabitants , persons were taken prisoners , and most of them transported to different states . Their houses and barns En lish and were burned by the g , their property confiscated to the crown .

r 1 2 . 3 d . 76 On the of November , , Louisiana was ceded to Spain 1 765 In , there was a considerable immigration to Louisiana A labam on s from the and Illinois districts , which had been ceded to the English , and from the province of Acadia and Nova Scotia . 65 0 t About Acadians arrived at New Orleans , and hey were sent to form settlements in Attakapas and Opelousas , under the command of Andry .

Ulloa , the new Spanish Governor , arrived in New Orleans on the h 1 2 1 5 t . 766 6 of March , , and in February of the same year Aca dians arrived . Ulloa at once ordered the census of the W hole population of : Louisiana to be taken;, and the result was found to be ;men able to carry arms women , married or unmarried female children ; male children ;total The blacks w a s were about as numerous as the whites . But the population s omewhat reduced by an epidemic closely resembling yellow feve r . ' L A conspiracy was formed against the Spanish Government of 1 768 Louisiana in and a general insurrection followed . ’ ’ O R eill s i t y administration under Span sh domination , con inued ’ 1 U nz a a 1 1 one year to 769 . g s administration from 770 to 776 ; ’ ’ ’ G alvez s 1 777 1 784; 1 785 1 789 ;Carondelet s 1 789 to Miro s to , to ’ ’ ’ 1 792 G a s o s 1 793 1 797 Cas a c alvo s 1 798 t o 1 799 S alc edo s o ; , ;y , to , ,

1 801 to 1 803 .

A century has now glided over the ocean of time , since Louisiana was transferred to the United States , and the American flag was first unfurled before the large assembly of people which had ’ D A rm s 2 h e 0t . congregated at the Place , (Jackson Square) on the 1 803 . of December , F The Treaty with rance Was consummated by Robert R .

Livingston and James Monroe , representing the United States , h 1 3ot . 803 upon the of April , , when the entire Louisiana possessions became the property of the United States , for the modest sum of

10

T H E S T . LOU IS CATH EDRAL .

'I V Named in honor of Louis , King of France . A brick and adobe structure was erected upon the space of ground reserved by Jean Baptiste Lemoyne de Bienville , the founder of New

Orleans and governor of the French Colony , for the erection of a Roman Catholic Church of which in 1 72 1 there remained but a — i n 1 723 shed , a wooden church , which was replaced by a brick 1 725 — in structure , in a handsome Cathedral was built f which still remains up to the present day . The latter edi ice was ~ ift of the g the great philanthropist , Don Andres Almonaster v

Roxas . This brief statement covers a period of over 75 years and illus trates the several periods of construction , destruction and recon struction of the Roman Catholic Church , now known as the St .

Louis Cathedral , which has been a silent witness of countless d calamities , ages of famines , pestilence , fire and flood experience n by the colonists until the present day . And its chimes nestli g in the lofty steeples of brick and stucco , have never ceased to sing out in sweet metallic tones the victories gained bv the christian colonists of the old colonial days . The site where stands the present edifice was consecrated to the service of God nearly two centuries ago . Upon this space numerous churches have succeeded one another . The first stru e 1 23 ture was in 7 destroyed by a hurricane , the second was entirely consumed by a conflagration in 1 788 which almost completely devastated the city . This entire edifice was destroyed with h T . numerous valuable records . e last structure which is the St Louis Cathedral of to—day was begun in 1 792 and c ompleted in 1 794 . How much historical importance can be attached to this solemn t edifice which has witnessed the lapse of ages since its cons ruction , up to the present time , the reader can naturally conceive . Don Andres Almonaster y Roxas who was the founder of the

. e St Louis Cath dral , which he had erected at his own expense , was an Andalusian of noble birth who came to Louisiana when it was under the Spanish Rule . He filled many important public positions . He succeeded by j udicious ventures in amassing a very large fortune , of which he made very liberal use , for besides the St . Louis Cathedral he also caused the erection of a Charity R am a rt ' A venu e Hospital then located in p , and the buildings on o each side of the Cathedral , one being kn wn as the Cabildo , now the Supreme Court of Louisiana , and the other the Presbytery of the Cathedral , now the Civil District Courts . He also had constructed the Chapel of Lazarists and the Ursulines Convent . 1 1 Don Al monaster y Roxas was married in 1 787 to Miss Louise L ar nde Delaronde de o , daughter of Pierre Denis , from which b 1 5 b 6th . 79 union was orn on the , of Novem er , an only child , Who ' Celes tiri Micaela Leonarda Antonia , married Joseph avier Delfau Pontalba i n 1 81 1 b de , , and she ecame the Baroness de l Ponta ba . l This notable event which took place at the St . Louis Cathedra f was attended by the most distinguished personages o the Colony . vi S Col . Bernard Marigny de Mande lle stood ponsor for the bride ,

Mac art . d e and Chevalier de y ;L asalle de St Avid , Ignacio Delmo .

h lm . C a et . e , and Mme De Verges St Laurent , signed the marriag records as witnesses . This union recalls a bit of romantic history in which a young

‘ Scotch - Irish youth was made to feel the humble origin of his birth .

Mc D ono h b O rleanian John g , whose memory is revered y every , had not llk e the lovely Micaela Almonaster inherited a title of h is s nobility from ancestors , nevertheless , he loved and wooed thi c harming maiden . He was a gentleman of wealth and nobility w as of character with a grandeur of heart , and j ustly felt that this sufficient to deserve the hand of the daughter of the proud Don e Almonaster . He sought the privilege to ask her hand in marriag from her father , but the proud old Spanish nobleman indignantly “ : e rej ected the suit , exclaiming That a daughter of his noble rac would never be allied to a poor plebian tradesman .

“ Mc D ono h m ortific ation g was stung to the heart with grief and , “ and swore . he would labor until he would accumulate more wealth than all the A lm onas ters put together ;and his name would live to ” posterity when their proud titles would be cast into oblivion .

Mc D ono h - of John g was of Scotch Irish birth , and a native

. 1 Baltimore He was well educated . And in 800 he came to the New Orleans where he engaged in commercial pursuits . At and time of his sentimental aspirations he was a gay young man , and a favorite in social circles . He lived at the corner of Chartres

Toulouse streets , where he was surrounded by luxuries , and

to . attended by a retinue of slaves . After the failure of his suit a wed the lovely Mic ela , he at once determined to change his mode his of living and habits . In his anger he sold the contents of magnificent residence , and moved to a small house on his planta ‘ Mc Dono hville e , tion in g on the opposite _ side of the river wher m easle for half a century he led the life of a y , coldhearted miser , whose only ambition in life was the amassi ng of large wealth . d : Wherever he passed he was pointed out as an old miser , He die 1 85 0 e in , leaving his entire fortune to be divided share and shar

b . s alike , etween the cities of New Orleans and Baltimore Thi

1 2 princely legacy which has been exclusively devoted to the building c and repair of public s hools , amounts now , with accumulated

e . inter sts , to a fund of over a million dollars

As to his prophecy it certainly fulfilled his fondest wishes . Over thirty school buildings constructed from this fund are scat tered in almost every district of the city , and all bear the simple “ ” n h inscription of his name Mc Do og .

N0 condition was attached to the legacy , except that the little children of the public schools should come once a year and strew fl his grave with owers . However, his remains have been removed “ a to his native city , B ltimore , according to his desire , but Mc ” D onogh Day has been sacredly kept throughout all the public i schools , where the children annually partic pate in memorial honO r W exercises in his , hile the handsome statue erected in the park , opposite the City Hall , from the mite contributions of the school children , as well as the various bust statues of the great philanthropist , to be found in every public school are decorated f with handsome floral o ferings . ’ A lm onas ter s Don titles of nobility and name have vanished , “ D h ” Mc ono . but the virtues and name of g , will live forever O rleans on Don Andres Almonaster y Roxas died in New , the 1 798 t he 73 . of April , , at age of years He was interred within a crypt , to the right of the Cathedral , directly in front of the altar n y n of St . Antho . Over his last resting place appears an imposi g W marble slab upon hich is inscribed his Coat of Arms , and in

Spanish the record of his life , titles and services , which translated reads a s follows : HERE LIE THE REMAINS

' DON ANDRES ALMONASTER y RO AS ,

A Native of Marena ,

In the Kingdom of Andalusia .

He Died in the City of New Orleans . 2 h 1 6t . 798 . On the day of April ,

Being 73 years of age .

A Knight of the Royal and Distinguished Order of Carlos III . t Colonel of he Militia of this Department . Alderman and Royal Lieutenant of this Corporation

Founder and Donor of this Holy Cathedral .

Founder of the Royal Hospital of St . Charles and of its Church . th Founder of e Hospital for Lepers .

Founder of the School for the Education of Girls .

Founder of the Court House .

All of which he had built at his own expense in this City . i c P Re'u es at in a ce . 1 3 To the left side of the church are also buried under the ' marbl e “

altar . of floor before the Lady of L ourdes , three illustrious

Knights of the old regime .

c . Upon the marble slab overing t heir remains. is inscribed in French the following epitaphs which translated reads : FRANCOIS PHILIPPE de MARIGNY de MANDEVILLE

. o A Knight of the Royal and Military Order of St L uis , and Port

Commandant of New Orleans , Born at Bayeux in 1 1 N ov . 2 d 7 8 . Normandy , die in this City , ,

N E Y ‘ A TOIN PHILIPPE de MARIGN de MANDEVILLE ,

A and “ Knight of the Royal Military Order of St . Louis , and n Captain of Infantry i the service of France . Born in 28th 1 75 2 Mobile , February , , died in New

6 1 779 . Orleans , November ,

Y PIERRE PHILIPPE de MARIGN de MANDEVILLE , s A Knight of the Royal and Military Order of St . Loui , Captain

of Infantry under the Spanish Government . Born 1 3 1 75 7 1 80 . in this City on June , , and died in 0

The Marigny s de Mandeville were very wealthy and influential during both the French and Spanish r egime .

- I n the center aisle , at the foot of the stairway leading to the main altar designated ' by a large cross of slate colored marble slabs im beded in the flooring also beyond the railing “ in the center

of the sanctuary , _ at the foot of the central altar , are subterranean vaults In which have been buried the most deserving dignitaries

b . of the Church , such as bishops , arch ishops , etc The last to be interred there was Reverend A rchbishop Francis Jansens . He was buried in the vault situated in the sanctuary .

The archives of the St . Louis Cathedral which are kept in a

fir e- of large proof vault , located on the ground floor the Rectory in St . Anthony Alley , also presents curios in documentary specie .

Some of them are so old that they are crumbling with age . We find therein that the first marriage performed within its sacred N D au lu na walls was that of Pierre Sinton to icole y , which occurred 1 1 2 s t . 7 0 on July , , and the first Christening that of Catherine

l . 1 1 D ePerrier on Ja nuary s t 73 .

The interior of the St . L ouis Cathedral is ornamented with beau tiful fresco paintings by the eminent artist Casanova , whose name w has been handed do n to posterity , and the artistic execution has

caused this work to be classed as masterpieces , which with the

flight of time have been sacredly preserved up to this present day .

1 4

T H E CABILDO .

' There is not a structure which stands to - day upon the American ni th Continent from the Pacific Slope to the Alleghe es , and from e. of f Atlantic Coast to the Gulf _ Mexico , which o fers more attraction “ at T he to the World large , than this edifice , variously known as ” Cabildo , or Capitol , or Casa Curial .

a e t t he Its m j s ic walls which have stood the ravages of elements ,

during a period of more than a century appear to - day in almos t b 1 9 . the same gar with which it was adorned when erected , in 7 4 It should be conceded that this illustrious structure does not

simply belong to our history , but to that of France and Spain , both nations being intimately associated in the History of the b k i Louisiana Colony , for oth countries have ta en an act ve part in the government and development of this territory ;by the purchase of which the United States of America gained added

power with vast commercial and territorial expansion .

the Shifting from the subj ect , and gleaning from the history of the Louisiana Purchase , we find that the region comprised in

‘ cessation by France included all the country west of the Missis s S sippi , not occupied by pain , as far north as British Territory , comprising the whole or part of the present States of A r kan

sas , Colorado , Dakota, Iowa , Idaho , Kansas , Louisiana , Mon

tana , Minnesota , Missouri , Nebraska , Oregon , Washington , k in O la o a . Wyoming , Indian Territory and h Territory 26 1 804 By an Act of Congress dated March , , the territory was the divided into two governments , that of Orleans including t present Sta e of Louisiana west of the Mississippi , and a portion i i east of that river , and that of Louisiana compr s ng the country north and west of it . 1 81 2 the In April , , the Territory of Orleans was admitted in 1 81 2 Union under the title of the State of Louisiana , and in June , the Territory till then known as Louisiana had its designation . altered to Missouri . a n We lso learn that from this vast extent of virgi prairies , swamps and woodlands west of the Mississippi arose numerous . W a States and Territories , but a ilderness then of the Louisian

s - Posse sion , which to day has great commercial and social impor n ou r ta ce . Depict to yourself the marvelous achievements of the t forefathers , who by opening of the gates to the great Northwes to developed this vast territory to the Pacific Slope , and added the Union new riches that lay hidden Within the soil of these v irgin states . Think of the vast resources of the south and west , as they stand unfolded to us at this present age of progress and c hi s ivilization . The Red Skin has almost vanished w le his arrow

1 6

a nd tomahawks are entombed . A more genteel and civi lized

racial order , more progressive and enlightened now rules , and from its management new fields of commerce and industry are the r t daily explored . To this purchase is due iches of our coun ry ,

and the independence of our people , which has caused the admira

tion and astonishment of every nation of the world . The United

‘ ‘ f' A m eric a of — States o to day is no longer a settlement , but a v country commanding the respect of e ery nation . Returning to the old historical landmark which has been the i ma n and silent witness of the days of reconstruction , secession , o t conquest and rec nquest , we find a massive edifice erec ed by the n liberality of Don Almonaster y Roxas , a Spanish ge tleman of e m a nobl birth , who i migr ted to this country when Louisiana w as under Spanish R ule .

1 i The Cabildo s of an ancient Spanish arch tectural style , and in I t appearance distinct from any modern buildings . stands facing the Jackson Square , and is bounded by Chartres , Exchange T h . . e Place , Orleans Alley and St Peter street ' structure is of i n i . e o brick with stucco fin sh Its facad is r amented w th deep , ' low arches supported by classic columns and broad arched w i n b a of dows . The upper floors are reached y a winding st irway I b solid marble leading from the large ron front door up to a lob y , from which entrance is gained to every department In the building .

The large hall to the right of the lobby is now , and has been for a number of years , used by the Supreme Court of Louisiana It i s there where the Chief J u s ti c e and his four A ssociate Justices sit in final j udgment over the judicial proceedings originating from im all the lower courts of the State . The hall is spacious and posing , while its massive walls are adorned with oil paintings of e the great jurists of this State that once pr sided , but have sub m i tted to the inevitable conclusion of life. As you reach the head of the s tairw a v vou face the entrance . e' ’ which leads to the j ustic s private consulting room, to which no and r due b one is granted access , whe e all decisions after deli era finall tions are reached and y agreed upon . To the left of the ' k ’ the Cler s and . lobby is the entrance to Office , Record Room In the upper floors are stored old records covered with the dust of a century . The lower floor at the corner of St . Peter street is the

Second City Criminal Court , while the corner of Orleans Alley is a Police Station .

At the left , upon the other side of the Cathedral , is another structure which was first designed as a Presbytery of the Church ; 1 8 1 3 this is an imitation of the Cabildo , it was built in , during the

American rule and is now called the Civil District Court Building . In general appearance it resembles the old Cabildo nearly twenty

1 7 ' e is ver y ars its senior , but in workmanship and construction r y much inferior; T he French mansard roof and cupolas were added u 1 to both b ildings in 85 0 . Upon the cornice of the Cabildo also r the appea s American Eagle , ornamented with cannon balls . u n When this alteration was made there is no record , but it was f o f doubtedly e fected during the period American reconstruction , and intended to repla c e ornaments that were interposed at the time of the Spanish rule .

We . find by referring to the early history of this country , that 1 2 o the inception of the Spanish rule was in 76 . Carl s III , then ’ n D n O R eill . o Ki g of Spain , despatched Gen Alessandro y with 3600 picked Spanish troops , who took forcible possession of l ’R ill Louisiana then under the F renc h ru e . O e y upon his arrival abolished the old French Superior Council and established instead l the Spanish Cabildo . The French Counci had been founded in 1 71 2 u 'I V , ; by Lo is , for the government of his young colony ' h e r w n inde endent which had by t is tim g o p and powerful , and by a desperate attempt at self—government had made a bold act i n ’ i n the i resent g King s cess on of Louisiana to his Spanish cousin ,

. U Ulloa , the first representative sent over by Spain lloa was ignoniinou sly overpowered and returned b ack to Spain . The s i x leaders of this revolt against the Spanish dynasty , were , ’ v c b l howe er , promptly exe uted y the orders of O Rei ly , h is I who thus began reign and ended the S uperior Council , n bloodshed .

’ t w as then O R eill I that _ y , who had by this act incited the Was b . hatred of the people , esta lished the Cabildo It presided ex c ribano over by t;he Spanish Governor of Louisiana , aided by his; , or clerk four elective officers , two alcades ordinarios a sindico procurado general ;a maj ordomo de proprios ;and six perpetua l a re idors regidor , First among the g stood the A lferez Real or da ' Royal Stan rd Bearer , which title was acquired by Don Almon aster y Roxas , and which position he held during his lifetime . I The Cabildo met every Friday , n the large hall now occupied by the Supreme Court . The Spanish language was exclusively u I f I sed n all governmental a fairs , and it is not uncommon when n I search of old records , to find them written entirely n the Spanish n la guage . The surroundings of the Cabildo differed somewhat from i ts present aspect . The Plaza de Armas was very much different — from the Jackson Square of to day , with its beds of flowers and verdant shrubberies . Up to fifty years ago , it was still known ’ D A rm es i 1 71 8 e as the Place , the original name g ven to it in , wh n New Orleans was founded under the direction of Sieur Jean i U Baptiste Lemoyne de B enville . pon each side of the square

1 8 ro u l A l were two ws of one story brick b i dings , put up by Don n monaster in the last ce tu ry . These buildings were used as shops w s and reta il stores . This a then the center of the fashionable 1 B r nn ss P n lb a . 85 0 a o e o ta a qu rter However , in , the de , the only o child and heiress of Don Almonaster , had these shops t rn down and replaced them with the tall brick struct ures known as the D ’A m F a . r es ont lba Buildings The Place was also modernized , and wide walks and flower beds substituted for the old elms which g rew in abundance . Later came the erection of the statue of 1 81 5 General Jackson , the hero of the battle of New Orleans in , ’ which caused the alteration of the name of Place D A rm es to

- Jackson Square , and which name it bears to day .

The Cabildo is certainly the m ost interesting landmark in all h the istory and development of New Orleans . It has witnessed the dim candle lighted town gra du ally ' s u c c eeded by the stree t a a l mp , while the l mp lighted streets gave way to gas and electric w h the ity . It has it stood decay of the first few factories which have been forgotten , and were superseded by the hundreds of — great factories which exist to day . The beautiful senoritas with h t eir heads prettily dressed with mantillas , and with their short a skirts , w lking to balls , followed by slaves bearing their slippers , f has made place or more Parisian elegance of dress and equipage .

The almost nightly duels are things of the p ast , and also the roar the of evening cannon shot , that commanded the sailors , soldiers n - a d black slaves to be indoors for the night . The old night w a tchm an no longer sing out the hours of night and condition of “ ’ ” “ ’ h and the weat er ;Ten o clock Cloudy , Twelve o clock and the w eather Fair . All these customs have vanished , yet this silent ’ witness has gazed down upon all of Louisiana s changes of rule .

an 1 803 Upon the ch ge of dynasty , when in , the flag of the Spaniards was lowered a nd that of France replaced once more ’ D A rm es h h h upon the Place , t is owever , but for a s ort duration of h twenty days , as the Frenc colors were superseded by those of h the American purchaser . Thence fifty eig t years later when Lo uisiana swore allegiance to the flag of the Confederacy ;and her agony came when amid the roar of cannon and at the point of n a d h . bayonets the stars stripes were once more oisted Again , it has witnessed the c omplete fraternal reconstruction of the North s and South , when under the ame colors they foug ht side by side the a to free the Island of Cuba from Sp anish rule . Within v st to hall of the Cabildo , Louisiana was transferred by Spain France , and th - subsequently by France to e Unit ed States .

w as the It from windows of this edifice that the French , and th w then e American rule as p rocl aimed to the assembled people . The Cabildo also witnessed the ceremonials accorded to Andrew

1 9 1 81 5 i Jackson in , for his victory over the Br tish , in the Place ’ D A rm s w as e , where he crowned with laurels by pretty maidens . th 1 8 6 t e . e In 2 it served as h residence of Marquis de Lafayette , who was the guest of Louisiana during his tour of the United

A d . S ta tes of America . n he was granted a reception almost

; . the equal of that of Gen . J acks on France w as a friendly nation and the sale of Louisiana to f the United States for francs by Na poleon Bonaparte was not o nly a boon to the Ameri n serve as s a . r c people , but d a etaliatory measure of France toward vi — a . t . England We , who are li ng o d y , can now fully appreciate

h . f o ru t e value o the pr phecy of Bonaparte which has proven t e . e : He said , at the tim of the transfer “ This accession of t erritory strengthens forever the power of U a nd d m _ the nited States ;I have 'ust given to Englan a mariti e ' rival that will sooner or later humble her pride The day may come when the cession of Louisiana to the United shall render the Americans too powerful for the continent ” f Eu r o d pe .

L F L A G U BER NAT OR IA STAFF O OU ISI N A .

L GOVERNORS OF LOUISIANA UNDER FRENCH RU E .

Marquis de S au volle

Jean Lemoyne de Bienville .

Lamothe Cadilla c . ’ D L Epinay Jean Lemoyne de Bienvill e B i i o sbr ant (Ad interim) .

Perier .

Jean Lemoyne de Bienville .

Marquis de Vautreuil . l Baron de Ker erec .

GOVERNORS UNDER SPANISH RULE .

1 — 1 Antonio de Ulloa 767 768 . ’ i — Alexander O R e lly 1 768 1 769 . n — 1 1 . Luis de U z aga . 7 70 776 — Bernardo de Galvez 1 777 1 784 . Estevan Miro 1 785 — 1 78 9

1 1 2 . deC . 789 79 Francisco Luis Horter , Baron arondelet

Gayoso de Lemos 1 793 1 79 7 . ’ Sebastian y Cassa Cal vo y O F arri ll 1 798— 1 79 0 — 1 Juan Manuel y de 1 801 803 .

G OVERNOR OF THE TERRITORY OF ORLEANS .

‘ W l 4— 1 1 2 . C . Claiborne 1 83 8 . G R OVE NOR S OF THE S TATE OF LOUISIANA .

C . W C . Claiborne Jacqu es Villere h o n n T mas Boling R obertso (R es ig ed) .

Henry S . Thibodeaux , President of the

n rnor . Se ate , Acting Gove

Henry Johnson . Pierre Derbigny (Died in Office)

A . Beauvais , President of the Senate , A c ting

Governor . Jacques Dupre Andre Bienvenue Roman

Edward White . Andre Bienvenue Roman Alexander Mouton

Isaac Johnson .

Joseph Walker .

Paul O . Hebert Robert Charles Wickliffe Thomas Overton Moore

G “ Gen . C . F . Shipley , Military overnor Al t Henry Watkins len , Under Confedera e 1 4 Government . 86 . 1 4 . 86 . Michael Hahn , Under Federal Government m Ja es Madison Wells , President of the

Senate , Acting Governor . James Madison Wells i Benj am n F . Flanders , Under Military

Authority ” r h t Joshua Bake , Under Military Aut ori y Henry Clay Warmoth John M c Enery (Counted out by the Re turn ing Board) :

. . . r P B S Pinchback , Lieutenant Governo ,

Acting Governor .

William Pitt Kellogg , Governor de Jure . i h ll Francis T . N c o s .

Louis Alfred Wiltz , (Died in S am u el D ou las Mc Ener G ov g y , Lieutenant n r er o S . , ucceeded him as Governor En r Samuel Douglas Mc e y . .

Francis T . Nicholls u M rphy J . Foster .

W . W . Heard

Newton C . Blanchard .