and, added to the certainty of this valuable increase, various very opulent members of the community at home will undertake, on their own entire risk, to collect emigrants from Germany, from Italy, and different foreign States, particularly the Greeks, and other distressed inhabitants on the Mediterranean, to cultivate the banks of the English Mississippi, where the luxuries of their respective Countries, which now take immense sums annually in specie from Great Britain, may be raised as in any part of Europe.

Perhaps it may be remarked, that our American colonization is already sufficiently extensive, and that there is no possibility of erecting new settlements without an essential injury to the old ones: it cannot on this account be too frequently enforced, that the establishment proposed by no means interferes with the interest of the other Provinces; its chief excellence consists in producing what they are not at all calculated to produce, and in furnishing those silks, fruits, wines, and different delicacies which we are now unavoidably compelled to purchase from strangers, to the incredible injury of our manufactures. For this reason, while the luxuries of life materially constitute the springs of commerce, it is doubtless good policy to procure them on the most profitable terms; it is doubtless good policy to convert them into the means of opulence for the colonist abroad, into the means of employment for the artisan at home. On such a principle extravagance itself is made a secondary virtue in the state; whereas, when we suffer ready money to be taken from us by foreigners, for articles which our own Dominions are able to supply, we sustain an accumulated loss—we lose not only the value of the commodity bought, but the labour of a subject who could raise it; we undermine the pillars of our national strength, and build the greatness of a rival upon the ruin of our evident prosperity.

But if the silk, the oil, the wines, and the numberless other articles of luxurious consumption, which promise such a liberal reward to the hand of industry in Louisiana, are not sufficient to exalt the country in our esteem, let us turn to the growth of hemp, an object materially necessary for the use of the British Navy, in which the chief strength of the British Empire is universally allowed to consist. Hemp is so indispensably requisite for the purposes of trade and navigation, that foreign Powers sell it to this Kingdom at their own prices, and are consequently able at any time,

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have already obtained lands on the British borders of the River, from a full persuasion that we cannot long continue insensible to the advantages of so valuable a territory.

To Governour BROWNE:

SIR: As you are at the eve of leaving this Province, and returning to England, we, possessors of lands on the borders of the River Mississippi, take the liberty to make you our representations, requesting, Sir, you would be pleased to submit them to the British Government, and to take any steps in this affair you shall think convenient.

The River Mississippi is now well known; the very great advantages which would result from a settlement on it are likewise so. A very extensive and beneficial fur trade would inevitably fall into our hands. This object alone deserves the highest consideration; besides which the wholesomeness of the climate, and its natural richness, makes the planters certain of reaping a very great benefit from their industry. And notwithstanding all these advantages, we dare not undertake any settlement.

The want of a civil Government, supported by the military, is the only obstacle to this settlement, which would certainly be obviated by the assistance of a Court of Justice and one Regiment; which, if once granted, form that instant our unwearied zeal in settling on the borders of the River would manifest itself. And this is certainly an epoch which numbers of good subjects wish for with impatience, in order to come over to His British Majesty’s Dominions; as well those who have lands, as those who want to purchase, of whom there is a great number, would soon, by their industry and labours, render this a flourishing Province, and, in time, of great importance to England. The greatest part of the French, Acadian, and German planters are determined to free themselves from the Spanish yoke; this makes them very desirous to see our settlements on the border of the River in a condition fit for them to settle there with safety, and where they would find a place of refuge to cover them from the oppressions and evil treatment they daily experience from their new masters. Were it practicable for them to remove their effects, they would long since have fled to Mobile or Pensacola; but their flight would have been their inevitable ruin. Their taking refuge in this settlement is very different, as they can execute it without being perceived or molested by the jealousy and tyranny of the Spaniards. Certainly no like enterprise could ever meet with more favourable circumstances than these which offer; this settlement could not possibly be formed in a better time. For, besides what has passed between the French and Spaniards, which plainly proves with what reluctance the former bear the yoke of the latter, which they endeavour to shake off, it is to be considered that the Spaniards are detested by the savages, who will always continue sincere and faithful allies to the French, to whatever place they retire, which must strengthen the English alliance with the savages.

To all these considerations we shall add one, which does not seem to deserve less attention. The settlement in question once formed, we could erect warehouses, with goods of English manufactory, not only fit for the use of His British Majesty’s subjects, but likewise for that of the Spaniards themselves, or such inhabitants as should remain under their subjection, (French ships are no longer admitted, they are forced to set off without unloading,) who would certainly come to be supplied therewith. No dry-goods are allowed but such as are brought from Spain; this circumstance enhances the prices about ninety per cent. We could supply them much cheaper.

Your disposition to oblige and assist all those who request it, joined to the personal interest you have in common with us in this affair, assures us, Sir, that you will do all that lies in your power to procure the success of this settlement.

We most sincerely wish you a prosperous voyage, and a happy arrival at England. And we do assure you we should be rejoiced to see you once more among us, and vested with new honours.

We have the honour to be, &c.

Signed—Pierre Rouchon, Pere, H. Lagautrais, Fils, Gerome Metulick, Jaques Durade, Jean Durade, D’Oraioire, E. Bernard, —Timmermans, P. Rouchon, Fils, — Lagoutry, Fils, — Bichie, Vincent La Combe, Dennis Du Faud, B. Boulomois, Joseph Milon, Jean Baptiste Cornillieu, — Fourdas, Charles Blanchard, Lagoutrey, Pere, Monsanto, Line, D. Milhet, J. Vincent, Locquet Delapommeraye, Vicenzo Corona, P. Aostion, Pere, Baptiste Olis, P. Hochoit, J. Monsanto, Freres, J. Monsanto, Freres.

To MOUNTPORT BROWNE, Esq., Governour of West Florida, &c.

To prove the certainty still further of foreign American, settlers removing to the British Dominions on the Mississippi, the reader is presented with the following extract of a Report made to the Government by Engineer Cambell, on the subject of Louisiana;

EXTRACT OF A REPORT MADE TO GOVERNMENT BY ENGINEER CAMBELL.

I was treated by the French and Indians every denomination with hospitality and friendship. Their regret on our posts being deserted was apparent and unanimous, and declared that were they at present occupied, they would all remove to our side; even their Priests expressed a desire of becoming British subjects. One of them assured me that were our settlements re-established, and admitting them the privileges of religion, he would engage at a short notice to remove three hundred French families into the Province of West-Florida, and attach the different tribes of Indians to us in the strongest manner. I visited Humas, Jansaws, and Alabamas, among whom I distributed the few presents sent with me; they showed me every mark of friendship and distinction in their power, and solemnly promised an inviolable alliance towards us. The Indians are to the full as civilized as our peasants, are very industrious, and have been very useful to the French, under whose direction they are entirely. Most of them speak good French; and I am fully convinced that their hatred to the Spaniards is very pleasing to the French, the latter using their influence to heighten it, and at the same time to attach them to us; they tell them the French and English are one people, friends and brothers. They very much encourage and establish religion among them, and the Indians are in general very devout. On their hearing the arrival of the Spaniards, they assembled and waited on Mr. Aubrey, and in presence of General O’Reiley, demanded the reason why the French permitted the Spaniards to possess the Province of Louisiana. He answered them that as he had but few troops, the Spaniards were too powerful for him to oppose; whereupon O’Reiley showed them the Spanish Troops under arms; they replied, his troops were of no consequence, for that if the French chose to resist or expel, they would engage to supply a sufficient force for that purpose. The most reputable of the French, Dutch, and Acadian inhabitants desired to know if I could give them any assurance when our posts could be re-established. I told them they might rest assured that it would happen very soon, and referred to my instructions from Government, and the motive of my being sent up the River, as a confirmation of it. This created a general satisfaction among them.

The establishment of proper posts would undoubtedly draw away most of the inhabitants of Louisiana, many of whom are rich, experienced planters; and as to the few that would remain, we should have all their produce on the most advantageous terms, in exchange for the produce and manufactures of Britain; as Spain will never think of supplying them on any other terms than she does her other American Colonies. Thus, while we preserve our right to a free navigation, and give a necessary protection to our subjects, it is impossible to fail in carrying off not only the produce of the country, but also the money sent by Spain to defray their Government expenses, without the least violation or infringement of treaty on our side; for in this Province the Spaniards’ necessities compel them to meet us more than half way, and run every risk to be supplied by us.

We have an immense tract of the most fertile land on our side of the Mississippi, the produce of which does not interfere with that of Great Britain. French wines have flourished in as great perfection there as in any part of France, on which accounts the inhabitants of Louisiana were restrained under severe penalties from cultivating vines. This shows that we might be supplied with a sufficient quantity of wins from West-Florida, the growth of that country, in exchange for our commodities. I am likewise, with certainty, assured that it is capable of producing the best silk in abundance. These are advantages well worthy that spirit of trade, from which the wealth and happiness of our State in general derive their source. To expatiate further on this matter is needless; the benefits to be derived from such an establishment are too obvious to be further enlarged upon.

But I must add, that no other country produces better or greater quantities of indigo, cotton, rice, Indian corn, tobacco, and hemp; which, together with the fur and peltry trade, which can be easily secured to ourselves by prudent management, are, in my opinion, advantages infinitely superiour to those of the Spanish mines.
Thus far Engineer Cambell.

Engineer Putnam, who lately visited Louisiana, and published an account of his expedition, coincides entirely with Mr. Cambell, and naturally enough ascribes the impatience of the French under a Spanish Government, among other causes, to the tyranny of General O’Reiley, who, without any process whatsoever, ordered six of their chief inhabitants to be executed upon his taking possession of the Country.