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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02305 2381
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/historyoflouisia02fort
A HISTORY OF LOUISIANA
Y.2
BY
ALCEE FORTIER, LITT. D.
PROFESSOR OF ROMANCE LANGUAGES IN TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA, PRESIDENT OF THE LOUISIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
IN FOUR VOLUMES
VOLUME II THE SPANISH DOMINATION AND THE CESSION TO THE UNITED STATES 1769-1803
GOUPIL & CO., OF PARIS ART PUBLISHIERS MANZI, JOYANT & CO., SUCCESSORS 170 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK 1904
1764728
ÉDITION DE LUXE
There have been printed of this Edition of A HISTORY OF LOUISIANA One Thousand Copies Numbered 1 to 1000 No. 284 2
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٠
A HISTORY OF LOUISIANA
VOLUME II
ـه
د
مصـ
سيه
CHARLES III, KING OF SPAIN 1716-1788
To whom Louisiana was ceded by Louis XV in 1762. Hand-finished Water-color Facsimile, from a painting by Antoine Raphael Mengs in the Prado Museum, Madrid.
F 876 .305
FORTIER, ALCÉE, 1856-1914. A history of Louisiana ... 4v.
Paris, Goupil, 1904.
Contents .-- v.1. Early explorers and the domi- nation of the French, 1512-1768 .-- v. 2. The Spanish domination and the cession to the United States, 1769-1803 .- v.3-4. American domination.
165795-98
CHILI CAM: NL 38-7102
Copyright, 1903, by MANZI, JOYANT & Co.
All rights reserved
165796
THE DE VINNE PRESS
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PAGE
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. ADMINISTRATIONS OF O'REILLY AND UNZAGA.
O'Reilly abolishes the Superior Council-Organization of the cabildo-Other officials-First meeting of the cabildo- -Unzaga installed as governor-Laws of Spain introduced -O'Reilly's regulations-O'Reilly visits settlements along the river - Names of commandants - Census of 1769 - O'Reilly's acts approved-Departure of O'Reilly; his name execrated in Louisiana-Unzaga's tact and ability-De la Torre, captain-general, and Estecheria, colonel-Hurricane and cold in 1772-Father Hilaire and Father Dagobert- Father Cirilo attacks Father Dagobert; Unzaga defends him -Unzaga defends the French friars and praises the people of Louisiana-Arrival of teachers from Spain in 1772- Shipwreck of French officials and soldiers-Unzaga's wise measures-Death of Louis XV-Sympathy in Louisiana for the English colonists-Oliver Pollock-Unzaga's adminis- tration soothes bitter feelings against Spain
CHAPTER II. FRANCISCO BOULIGNY'S MEMOIR ON LOUI- SIANA IN 1776.
The Bolognini or Bouligny family-The D'Auberville, D'Aymé de Noailles, and De Coulange families-Services of Francisco Bouligny-Importance of Francisco Bouligny's memoir-Exact description of the province of Louisiana- Island of Orleans-The Mississippi-Towns and settle- ments in Louisiana-Lands in the rear of New Orleans- The lands from the mouth of the river to Pointe Coupée- Settlements that may be made-Facilities of transportation - Products - Forests - Crops - Peltries - Meat and tallow -- Fruits, vegetables, and flowers-Mines-Manners and customs-The Creoles-The planters-The houses-Prefer- ence for country life-Three classes of people-The negro slaves-No beggars-Present commerce and decline of the colony-Commerce and progress of the English at Man- chac-The Indians-Boldness of the Indians-Influence
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of the English over the Indians-The Indians prefer the Spaniards to the English-What is the most advantageous commerce for the state, and for the province, with regard to its present situation ?- Commerce at Manchac should be ruined-Advantages of protecting the province-Establish- ment of a general superintendent of the Indians and of new settlements - Settlers - Redemptioners - Schools-Ser- vice in the Battalion of Louisiana-Day laborers and hun- ters-Duties on peltries and furs-Plan of fortifications essential for the defense of the country-Frigate in the river-Batteries at English Turn-Forts-Walls and bas- tions at New Orleans-Introduction of negro slaves
CHAPTER III. THE ADMINISTRATION OF GALVEZ-HIS WARS AGAINST THE ENGLISH.
Galvez begins his administration-English traders treated severely-Operations of the Americans-Willing's attack on the English-More liberal regulations about commerce -- Alcaldes for 1779-Oath of allegiance to the King of Spain-Families from the Canary Islands and from Malaga -Settlement of New Iberia-Galveztown-Storms in 1778- The Isleños-Declaration of war against England-Cap- ture of Baton Rouge-Julien Poydras's poem-Expedition against Mobile-Correspondence between Galvez and Durn- ford-Capture of Fort Charlotte-Galvez sails from Ha- vana-His fleet dispersed by a storm-The convoy-Gal- vez obtains an army and transports -- The expedition sails a second time from Havana-The troops land on the island of St. Rosa-Brisk firing from the English-Attempt of the fleet to enter the channel-Colonel Ezpelcta marches to Perdido River-Galvez crosses the bar on the Galvestonn -The squadron follows-Galvez's threatening letter to Campbell-Campbell's answer-Letters of Governor Ches- ter-Letter to Chester-Expedition of the Pio-Siege of Fort George-March of the army-The Indians driven into the woods-Galvez wounded-Surrender of Fort George- Surrender of Fort Barrancas-Number of the prisoners- The Louisianians take part in the War of the Revolution . 56
CHAPTER IV. END OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF GALVEZ -BEGINNING OF MIRO'S.
Insurrection against Spain at Natchez-Sufferings of the fugitive insurgents-Trial and pardon of the insurgents-
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CONTENTS
Terrible hurricane-Sympathy of Intendant Navarro-Gal- vez wishes to conquer the Bahama Islands and Jamaica- Important commercial privileges-Treaties of peace-Con- troversy about navigation of the Mississippi-Alexander McGillivray-Intense cold in 1784-Departure of Galvez- Royal schedule concerning Galvez-Death of Galvez-Gov- ernor Mirò-Juez de residencia-Census of 1785-Arrival of commissioners from Georgia-Letter of Mirò to the com- missioners-Help to honest debtors-Bando de buen gobi- erno-Navarro's wise suggestions-Census of the Acadians -Don Diego de Gardoqui-Terrible conflagration-Schools -Census of 1788
CHAPTER V. GOVERNOR MIRO'S DEALINGS WITH THE IN- DIANS AND WITH THE WESTERN PEOPLE.
Presents to the Indians-Trade with the Indians-The Choctaws-Captain de La Villebeuvre and Mirò meet the Indians-McGillivray's answer to Pickens and Matthews- McGillivray's letter to Mirò-Foundation of New Madrid- General Wilkinson-D'Arges in the pay of Spain-Pro- duct of Wilkinson's tobacco-Memorial of Colonel Morgan about New Madrid-Oliver Pollock-Death of Charles III -Expulsion of the commissary of the Inquisition-Wilkin- son's letter to Gardoqui-State of Frankland-Mirò district -Failure of Mirò's plan-Communication of the cabildo to the King about the slaves-Arrival of comedians from Santo Domingo-Departure of Mirò from Louisiana-Authenti- city of the Spanish documents-Don Pascual de Gayangos
CHAPTER VI. CARONDELET'S ADMINISTRATION.
Governor Carondelet-Regulations about the slaves-Wil- liam Augustus Bowles-Extension of commercial franchises - Internal improvements - Fortifications - The parochial church - The Carondelet canal - Intendant Francisco de Rendon-The "Moniteur de la Louisiane"-Genet's schemes -Terrible conflagration-Sugar-cane-Étienne de Boré- The ecclesiastical jurisdictions-Treaty with the United States-Grants of lands to French royalists-Insurrection of slaves-Fort at the Great Osages-War against Great Britain-Epidemic in 1796-Capture of the Balize-New Orleans lighted and patrolled-Application of Indians for lands-Inundation-Surrender of Natchez to the Americans
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120
149
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CONTENTS
PAGZ
CHAPTER VII. THE LAST YEARS OF THE SPANISH DOM- INATION-THE TREATY OF ST. ILDEFONSO.
Governor Gayoso de Lemos-The Duke d'Orléans and his brothers-Fort Adams-Concordia-Intendant Morales abol- ishes the "right of deposit" at New Orleans-Quarrels of Gayoso de Lemos and Morales-Important despatches of Morales-Death of Governor Gayoso de Lemos-Governor Casa Calvo-Sentence against Carondelet by the " judge of residence "-Slaves from Africa again admitted-Census of Upper Louisiana in 1799-Louisiana retroceded to France -Failure of the French expedition to Santo Domingo- Treaty of Amiens-Bernadotte-Victor and Laussat-Sys- tem of government for Louisiana
170
CHAPTER VIII. CONDITION OF LOUISIANA IN THE BEGIN- NING OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY-MEMOIR OF COLONEL JOSEPH XAVIER DELFAU DE PONTALBA, SEPTEMBER 15, 1801.
The Pontalba family-Settlement of Kentucky-States of Kentucky and Tennessee-Transportation across the moun- tains-Importance of Louisiana with regard to Mexico- Ambiguity in treaty of 1783-District of Natchez attached to West Florida-Spain compelled to yield Natchez-Two ways of assuring a rampart to Mexico-Efforts of the west- ern districts for independence-Attempts to form an alliance with Spain-Emigration from Kentucky arrested-Congress gains the affection of the Western people-Propositions made by Spain-Spain grants free navigation of the river -Treaty with the Indians in 1783-McGillivray's treaty not approved-Orders to receive all emigrants-Louisiana the key to America-Unlimited freedom of commerce- Loans to emigrants-The United States attempt to settle the northwest-Defense of New Orleans-Louisiana the key to Mexico-Importation of negroes forbidden-Cultivation of the sugar-cane-Indigo-Tobacco-Cotton-Peltries and lumber-Louisiana a burden to the metropolis-The memoir sent to General Bonaparte by Minister Decrès
CHAPTER IX. NEW ORLEANS IN 1802 AND 1803, AND THE TRANSFER TO FRANCE.
Life in New Orleans-Merchant vessels-Advertisement of a school-Houses and plantations for sale-Foreign com-
186
CONTENTS
. merce-John McDonogh-D'Hebecourt's school-A book- store - Confectioners and dentists - Miniature-painters - Imports and exports-Laussat arrives-Rigid police regu- lations-A professor of drawing-Two new schools-Com- missioner Casa Calvo-Names of streets in 1803-Cession of Louisiana announced to England-A teacher of mathe- matics and navigation-Governor Salcedo-Addresses of the inhabitants of New Orleans and of the planters of Loui- siana-News from Santo Domingo-Extracts from Laus- sat's letters-Transfer to France-Laussat's proclamation -Laussat establishes a municipal government
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216
CHAPTER X. THE CESSION TO THE UNITED STATES.
Withdrawal of right of deposit-Absolute need of the Missis- sippi - Livingston's prophetic words - Excitement in the United States-Jefferson's message-James Monroe sent to France-Address of Ross in the Senate-Debates-Bona- parte renounces Louisiana-Livingston's conversation with Talleyrand and Barbé-Marbois-Bonaparte prepares article third of the treaty-The treaty signed-Spain objects . . 248
CHAPTER XI. THE RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY OF CESSION, AND THE TRANSFER TO THE UNITED STATES.
Bonaparte ratifies the treaty-Jefferson calls an extra meet- ing of Congress-Debates in the Senate-Opposition of the Federalists-Boundaries of Louisiana-The transfer to the United States-Laussat's " Memoirs "-Message of Jef- ferson-Claiborne's proclamation and address-Census of 1803 269
CHAPTER XII. UPPER LOUISIANA-ST. LOUIS.
Kaskaskia and Fort Chartres-The six early settlements- The British take possession of Fort Chartres-Expedition of Colonel Clark in 1778-Territory east of the Missis- sippi ceded to the United States in 1783-Foundation of St. Louis-The Spaniards arrive-The early houses-Cus- toms-Fortifications-Floods-The government mansion- Laussat authorizes Captain Stoddard to take possession- Arrival of the American troops-Address of De Lassus to the Indians-Population in 1803 and 1804-Conclusion of the history of colonial Louisiana
304
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
FACING PAGE
CHARLES III, KING OF SPAIN, 1716-1788, to whom Louisiana was ceded by Louis XV in 1762. Hand-finished Water-color Facsimile, from a painting by Antoine Raphael Mengs in the Prado Museum, Madrid Frontispiece
DON ALESSANDRO O'REILLY, 1735-1794, second Spanish Gov- ernor of Louisiana, known as " Bloody O'Reilly " on account of the execution of the chiefs of the Revolution of 1768. From a contemporary miniature owned by Madame Pierre Lanaux, New Orleans, La.
24
DON BERNARDO DE GALVEZ, 1756-1786, fourth Spanish Gov- ernor of Louisiana, who defeated the British at Pensacola in 1781, and after whom the city of Galveston is named. He was afterward forty-ninth Viceroy of Mexico, where he died at the age of 30. From a contemporary painting in the Na- tional Museum, Mexico
56
MAP OF LOUISIANA, French Colony, showing the course of the Mississippi, then known as the St. Louis River, and its tribu- taries, the Indian tribes, the French establishments, and the mines. Reproduced from Le Page du Pratz, " Histoire de la Louisiane," edition of 1757
76
DON ESTEVAN MIRO, 1744-1795, fifth Spanish Governor of Louisiana. He afterward rose to the rank of Lieutenant- General in the Spanish army. From a contemporary portrait in the possession of Baron Edouard de Pontalba, Senlis, France
110
GENERAL JAMES WILKINSON, 1757-1825, Commander-in-chief of the United States army and one of the commissioners of the United States to whom Louisiana was transferred from France
xi
.
xii
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
FACING PAGE
. in 1803. From a contemporary painting belonging to his great-grandson, Mr. Theodore Wilkinson, New Orleans, La. 132 DON FRANCISCO LOUIS HECTOR, BARON DE CARONDELET DE NOYELLES, SEIGNEUR D'HAINE SAINT PIERRE, 1747-1807, sixth Spanish Governor of Louisiana and afterward Viceroy of Peru. From a contemporary painting belonging to the Duc de Bailen, Madrid, one of his lineal descendants 152
,
NAPOLÉON BONAPARTE, FIRST CONSUL, 1769-1821, who made the treaty with Jefferson for the transfer of Louisiana to the United States. From a painting by Baron François Pascal Simon Gerard, executed in 1803 (the year of the transfer), and now in the Musec Conde, Chantilly, France .
178
CAPTAIN JOSEPH XAVIER DE PONTALBA, 1754-1834, author of an important Memoir on Louisiana sent to Bonaparte in 1801. From a contemporary painting belonging to his grand- son, Baron Édouard de Pontalba, Senlis, France. He is shown in the uniform of a captain of the Regiment of Guade- loupe
PIERRE CLÉMENT DE LAUSSAT, 1756-1835, Colonial Prefect and Commissioner of the French government, who received the Province of Louisiana from Spain on November 30, 1803, and transferred it to the United. States at New Orleans, December 20, 1803. From a painting by Jean François Gille Colson, executed in 1786, belonging to his lineal descendant, Mr. A. Du Pré de Saint-Maur, Château de Bernadets, near Pau, France
204
THOMAS JEFFERSON, 1743-1826, third President of the United States, who acquired Louisiana from France in 1803. From a painting by Rembrandt Pcale, executed in 1803 (the year of the transfer), and now in the possession of the New York Historical Society
224
252
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, 1747-1813 (upper left), Chancellor of New York and Minister to France, who negotiated and signed the Treaty of Transfer of Louisiana from France to the
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
xiii
FACING PAGE
United States in 1803. From a painting by Gilbert Stuart be- longing to Mr. Carleton Hunt and sisters,-Louise Livingston Hunt and Julia Barton Hunt,-heirs of the late Mrs. Cora L. Barton (daughter of Edward Livingston), Montgomery Place, Barrytown-on-Hudson, N. Y.
272
JAMES MONROE, 1758-1831 (upper right), Envoy Extraordi- nary to France, who negotiated and signed the Treaty of Transfer of Louisiana from France to the United States in 1803. From a painting by Gilbert Stuart owned by his great- granddaughter, Mrs. George B. Goldsborough, Easton, Md. 272 FRANÇOIS, MARQUIS DE BARBE-MARBOIS, 1745-1837 (centre), Minister of Finance under Bonaparte, who negotiated and signed the Treaty of Transfer of Louisiana from France to the United States in 1803. From a painting by Jean Fran- çois Boisselat in the Versailles Museum . 272
DENIS, DUC DECRÈS, 1761-1820 (lower left), Vice-Admiral of France and Minister of Marine and of the Colonies under Bonaparte, who advised against the transfer of Louisiana to the United States. From a painting of the French school in the Versailles Museum .
272
CHARLES MAURICE, DUC DE TALLEYRAND-PÉRIGORD, PRINCE DE BÉNÉVENT, 1754-1838 (lower right), Foreign Minister under Bonaparte and one of the negotiators in the transfer of Loui- siana to the United States. From a painting by Baron Fran- çois Pascal Simon Gerard in the Versailles Museum . . 272
DON CARLOS DEHAULT DE LASSUS, 1764-1842 (upper left), last Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Louisiana, who, as the rep- resentative of Spain, transferred Upper Louisiana, March 9, 1804, to Major Amos Stoddard as Agent of the French Re- public. Major Stoddard delivered the Province to the United States March 10, 1804. From a photograph, enlarged from a daguerreotype, belonging to the Missouri Historical Soci- ety, St. Louis, Mo. .
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL FRANCISCO DE CRUZAT, 1739-1798? (up- per right), second Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Louisiana.
304
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
FACING PAGE
From a contemporary miniature belonging to Mr. E. de Cruzat Zanetti, New York, one of his lineal descendants . 304
COLONEL AUGUSTE CHOUTEAU, 1750-1829 (centre), who, with Pierre Liguest Laclede, founded the city of St. Louis. From a contemporary painting in the possession of the Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, Mo.
304
BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEORGE ROGERS CLARK, 1752-1818 (lower left), conqueror of the northwestern country, from the Alle- gheny Mountains to the Mississippi River, from the British, 1778-1779. From a painting attributed to J. W. Jarvis, in the possession of his grandnephew, John O'Fallon Clark, Esq., of St. Louis, Mo. . . 304
BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILLIAM CLARK, 1770-1838 (lower right), who, with Merriwether Lewis, commanded the Lewis and Clark expedition to the Pacific coast, 1804-1806, and was afterward Governor of Missouri Territory, 1813-1821, and superintendent of Indian affairs. From an original portrait by Harding belonging to his grandson, John O'Fallon Clark, Esq., of St. Louis, Mo. .
304
A HISTORY OF LOUISIANA
VOLUME II
CHAPTER I
ADMINISTRATIONS OF O'REILLY AND UNZAGA
O'Reilly abolishes the Superior Council-Organization of the cabildo-Other officials-First meeting of the cabildo-Unzaga installed as governor- Laws of Spain introduced-O'Reilly's regulations-O'Reilly visits settle- ments along the river-Names of commandants-Census of 1769-O'Reilly's acts approved-Departure of O'Reilly; his name execrated in Louisiana- Unzaga's tact and ability-De la Torre, captain-general, and Estecheria, colonel-Hurricane and cold in 1772-Father Hilaire and Father Dagobert -Father Cirilo attacks Father Dagobert; Unzaga defends him-Unzaga defends the French friars and praises the people of Louisiana-Arrival of teachers from Spain in 1772-Shipwreck of French officials and soldiers -Unzaga's wise measures-Death of Louis XV-Sympathy in Louisiana for the English colonists-Oliver Pollock- Unzaga's administration soothes bitter feelings against Spain.
W HEN Don Antonio de Ulloa was ap- pointed governor of Louisiana, on May 21, 1765, he was instructed to make no change at present in the government of the province,1 and the King ordered that it be regarded as a separate colony not subject to the laws of his possessions in the Indies. Ulloa's expul- sion in 1768 caused different instructions to be given his successor O'Reilly, who was authorized, on April 16, 1769, to establish whatever form of administration seemed proper to him, both military and civil. Accord-
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[1769
A HISTORY OF LOUISIANA
ingly, after the prosecution and condemnation of thechiefs of the Revolution, O'Reily established a cabildo, instead of the Superior Council of the French. By ordinances dated November 25, 1769, he founded the system of government that lasted during the whole period of the Spanish domination.2 " Whereas," says he, "the prose- cution, caused by the rebellion which has taken place in this colony, clearly proved the active part that the Su- perior Council took in it, by sharing in acts of the greatest atrocity, when it was its duty to make every effort to keep the people within the limits of that fidelity and that submission which it owes to its sovereign; for these rea- sons, and in order to prevent the return of such misfor- tunes, it has become indispensable to abolish the council, and to establish in its stead that form of political govern- ment and that administration of justice which our wise laws prescribe, and by which all the possessions of His Majesty in America have always been maintained in a perfect state of tranquillity, contentment, and subordi- nation."
" The cabildo," says Judge Martin, "sat every Fri- day, but the governor had the power of convening it at any time. When he did not attend it, one of the ordi- nary alcaldes presided, and immediately on the adjoin -- ment two regidors went to his house and informed him of what had been done. The ordinary alcaldes had the first seats in the cabildo, immediately after the governor; and below them sat the other members, in the following order: the alferez real, principal provincial alcalde, al- guazil mayor, depositary-general, receiver of fines, at-
553
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THE CABILDO
1769]
'torney-general-syndic, and clerk. The office of alferez real was merely honorary, no other function being as- signed to the incumbent than the bearing of the royal standard in a few public ceremonies. The principal pro- vincial alcalde had cognizance of offenses committed without the city. The alguazil mayor executed personally or by his deputies all processes from the different tribu- nals. The depositary-general took charge of all moneys and effects placed in the custody of the law. The func- tions of the receiver-general are pointed out by his offi- , cial denomination. The attorney-general-syndic was not, as might be supposed from his title, the prosecuting officer of the Crown. His duty was to propose to the cabildo such measures as the interest of the people re- quired, and defend their rights. The regidors received fifty dollars each, annually, from the treasury. The principal provincial alcalde, alguazil mayor, depositary- general, receivers of fines, and ordinary alcaldes were entitled, as such, to fees of office. The offices of perpetual regidor and clerk were to be acquired by purchase, and for the first time at auction. The ordinary alcaldes were individually judges within the city in civil and criminal cases, where the defendant did not enjoy and claim the privilege of being tried by a military or ecclesiastical judge. They heard and decided in their chambers, sum- marily, and without any written proceedings, all com- plaints in which the value of the object in dispute did not exceed twenty dollars. In other cases, proceedings before them were recorded by a notary, and in an apart- ment devoted to this purpose; and where the value of the
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[1769
A HISTORY OF LOUISIANA
object in dispute exceeded ninety thousand maravedis, or three hundred and thirty dollars and eighty cents, an appeal lay from their decision to the cabildo."
Besides the captain-general and the governor, there were an intendant, an auditor of war and assessor of gov- ernment, an assessor of the intendancy, a treasurer and a comptroller, two secretaries, and other minor officials.
The cabildo met for the first time on December 1, 1769, under the presidency of O'Reilly.3 Don Fran- cisco Maria Reggio was alferez real; Don Pedro Fran- cisco Olivier, provincial alcalde; Don Carlos Juan Bau- tista Fleuriau, alguazil mayor (high sheriff ) ; Don José Ducros, depositary-general; Don Dyonisio Braud and Don Antonio Bienvenu, receivers of fines; Don Juan Bautista Garic, clerk. The ordinary alcaldes for 1770 were Don Luis Antonio Lachaise and Don Juan Luis Trudeau.4 Don Luis Ranson was syndic, and Don Juan Durel, mayordomo de propios.
O'Reilly, at the meeting held on December 1, installed as governor of Louisiana Colonel Don Luis de Unzaga, with a salary of six thousand dollars, and gave him the presidency of the cabildo, O'Reilly himself keeping the title of captain-general, which, after his departure from the colony, was vested in the Governor of Cuba.
The laws of Spain were introduced in Louisiana, in spite of the promise made by Louis XV in his letter to D'Abbadie, in 1764, announcing the transfer of the prov- ince to Spain; " for," said O'Reilly, " it is proper that the colony be governed by the same laws as the other do- minions of His Majesty in America." The Spanish lan-
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7
O'REILLY'S REGULATIONS
1769]
guage became the official tongue, but French continued to be the language of nearly all the inhabitants during the entire period of Spanish domination.
O'Reilly made a great many police regulations, and established a revenue for New Orleans. He levied a tax of twenty dollars every year on each of the six inns al- lowed, and of forty dollars on each of the twelve taverns and the six boarding-houses; and the butchers volun- teered to pay three hundred and sixty-five dollars annu- ally without any increase in the price of meat. One dollar , was also imposed on every barrel of brandy brought into the city; and in order to beautify the public square and to increase the prosperity of the city O'Reilly offered to the city a lot on each side of the square, eighty-four by three hundred and thirty-six feet, for the building of stores. These lots were acquired later on a perpetual yearly rent by Don Andres Almonester, whose daughter, the Baroness de Pontalba, erected the buildings that now stand on each side of the square. The anchorage duty, of six dollars on every ship of two hundred tons or up- ward, and of three dollars on ships of less tonnage, was maintained. This duty had been established long ago, to protect the levee in front of the city. The French Black Code was kept; the owners of Indian slaves were allowed to retain them until the pleasure of the King should be ascertained, although, said O'Reilly, " the prac- tice of reducing Indians to slavery was contrary to the wise and pious laws of Spain." O'Reilly made some wise sug- gestions about the commerce of the colony. He recom- mended free commerce with Spain and with Havana; but,
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