USA > Louisiana > Louisiana : its history as a French colony. Third series of lectures > Part 27
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. How mortifying is it for Frenchmen, to suffer all the rigors to which their commerce is subjected, whilst a foreign nation, their ambitious rival, openly carries on the trade of the colony, to the prejudice of the nation to which it belongs, which contributed to its establishment, and which is at the expense of it ! We do not fear that it will be objected, that the French alone are not able to supply the continent with all the commodities which it wants. A loan of seven millions, which the inha- bitants of Louisiana made to the king, from the year 1758 to 1763, will be an eternal monument of the extent of the French commerce, and of the attachment of the colonists to their sovereign's service.
It is just at the time when a new mine has been discovered ; when the culture of cotton, improved by experience, promises the planter the recompense of his toils, and furnishes persons engaged in fitting out vessels, with cargoes to load them ; when the manufacture of Indigo may vie with that of St. Domingo ; when the fur trade has been carried to the highest degree of perfection, which it has as yet attained ; it is in these happy circumstances that certain enemies to their country, and broachers of a false system, have imposed upon persons in office, to induce them to sacrifice the inhabitants of New Orleans. Let the court no longer defer the relief of a people which is dear to it ; let it make known to those invested with royal authority the exhausted state to which this province would be reduced, if it were not soon to be freed from the prohibitions, which would plunge it into irremediable ruin. What would be thought of a physician, who being possessed of a panacea, or universal remedy, should wait for a plague in order to reveal it? It is by the trade to the leeward islands that the inhabitants of Louisiana find means, every year, to dispose of four score or a hundred cargoes of lumber. Should this branch of trade be taken away, the colony would be deprived of an annual income of five hundred thousand livres at least-a sum, which the work of the negroes and the applica- tion of the master produces alone, without any other disbursement. According to the observation of a celebrated author, it would be better to lose a hundred thousand men in a great kingdom by an error in politics, than to be guilty of one which should stop the progress of agri- culture and commerce. It is well known that those who present plans to obtain exclusive privileges, are never without plausible reasons to make them appear economic and advantageous, as well to the king as to the public ; but the experience of all ages and all countries evidently demonstrates, that those who seek exclusions have their private interest solely in view ; that they have less zeal than others for the prosperity of the state, and have less of the spirit of patriotism.
The execution of the decree relative to the commerce of Louisiana
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would reduce the inhabitants to the sad alternative of either losing their harvests for want of vessels to export them, or of exchanging their com- modities in a fraudulent manner with a foreign nation, exposing them- selves to undergo the rigor of the law, which ordains that those who carry on a contraband trade shall lose both their lives and liberties. What a life is this ! what a struggle ! It is but too true, as has been already observed, that the report of the new ordinance alone has caused a considerable diminution, not only in the articles of luxury, but likewise in landed estates. A house which was heretofore worth twenty thousand livres would hardly sell for five thousand. Some will, perhaps, assert that the scarcity of money contributes also to this diminution. But how much greater will be the scarcity of specie, when the colony shall either be delivered up to an exclusive company, or to the ambition of five or six individuals, who form but one body ? It will then resemble a . member grown to a monstrous bulk, at the expense of the substance of the rest, which would become withered and palsied. The body would thereby find itself threatened with a total destruction. It was only by openly favoring the introduction of negroes, that this colony was raised to the flourishing state which it appeared to have attained in. 1759.
Perhaps it will be said, to dispel these alarms, that the gold and silver which has been made to abound in the place by a new administration, may indemnify for the losses of agriculture and commerce. But, judg- ing of the future by the experience of the past and of the present, that resource will be found to be very weak, as nobody can pretend not to know that, among the various treasures which the earth contains in its bosom, gold and silver are neither the chief riches nor the most desirable. These metals have reduced their natural possessors to a deplorable state, and the masters of those slaves have not thereby become more powerful. They appear, from that moment, to have lost all spirit of industry, all disposition to work, like a laborer who should find a treasure in the midst of his field, and thereupon forsake his plough for ever. Besides, how many acts of severity have been committed against peaceable citizens by a stranger, who, though invested with a respectable character, lias observed none of the formalities, nor performed any of the duties pre- scribed by the act of cession, which provides for their peace and tran- quillity. We shall mention an old ship captain, who was confined by his orders, and whose vessel was detained in port during eight or ten months, for not having been able to read in the decrees of Providence, that the vessel in which he had despatched certain packets, intrusted to his care, would be cast away. A similar tyranny was exercised by the per- son invested with this illegal and unjust authority, against two captains
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belonging to Martinico, who had been guilty of no other crime, than that of not having guessed that the Council of Louisiana had issued an edict forbidding the introduction of the creolized negroes of the Leeward Islands. What ill usage has an old citizen suffered, on account of a packet which had been put into the hands of the captain of one of his ships, who, hav- ing met with contrary winds, was unable to deliver it at Havana !
How shall we describe the barbarity with which the Acadians were treated ? These people, the sport of fortune, had determined, under the impulse of a patriotic spirit, to forsake all that they might possess on the English territories, in order to go and live under the happy laws of their ancient master. They arrived in this colony at a great expense, and scarce had they cleared out a place sufficient for a poor thatched hut to stand upon, when, in consequence of some representations which they hap- pened to make to Mr. Ulloa, he threatened to drive them out of the colony, and have them sold as slaves, in order to pay for the rations which the king had given them ; at the same time directing the Ger- mans to refuse them a retreat. It remains to be determined whether this conduct does not border upon barbarism; but we think we can pre- sume to conclude, without exaggeration, that it is diametrically contrary to the political system which favors the encouragement of population, in all its branches and by every means. Those who complain (and who is there so far broke to the yoke as to bear, without murmuring, inhumani- ties so horrid ?)-yes-we dare declare it, those who complain are threatened with imprisonment, banished to the Balize, and sent to the ' mines. Now, though Mr. Ulloa may have been invested with some authority, his prince never commanded him to exert it in a tyrannical manner, nor to exercise it before having made known his titles and powers. Such oppressions are not dictated by the hearts of kings ; they agree but ill with that humanity which constitutes their character, and directs their actions.
, Were we to enter into a detail of all the mortifications which the French of New Orleans have undergone, we should hardly make an end of the recital. It were to be wished, for the honor of the nation, that as many of them as have transpired might be obliterated by the precious effects of the protection of the superior council, which is now applied for ; and it is foretold that the inhabitants of Louisiana will, in order that their tribulations be complete, be reduced, in process of time, to live barely on tortillas, although the most frugal sort of food would not be a matter of complaint on their part. In the meantime, the preservation of their lives, their obligations to their creditors, their sense of honor, which flows from the sacred source of patriotism and of duty, finally, the circum- stance of the attack made on their property and means of subsistence by
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that very decree, induce them to offer their possessions and their blood, to preserve for ever the dear and inviolable title of French citizen. All that has hitherto been said leads them naturally to demands or requests, to which the zeal of the court for the public good, and its steadiness in supporting the laws of which his most Christian majesty has made them the depositories, assure them that it will give the most favorable recep- tion. But before they proceed to state their requests, they must acknow- ledge the kindness with which they were treated by Mr. Aubry. The wishes of the public have always corresponded with the choice of the prince in assigning him the chief command over the province of Louisiana ; his virtues have caused the titles of honest man and equita- ble governor to be adjudged him ; he never made use of his power but to do good, and all unjust deeds have to him ever appeared impossible. They are not afraid of being reproached that gratitude has made them exaggerate in any particular. To neglect bestowing deserved praises is to keep back a lawful debt, and they conclude, finally, by intreating the court :
1. To obtain that the privileges and exemptions which the colony has enjoyed, since the cession made by the company to his most Christian majesty, should be maintained, without any innovations being suffered to interrupt their course, and disturb the security of the citizens.
2. That passports and permissions be granted from the governors and commissioners of his most Christian majesty, to such captains of vessels as shall set sail from this colony to any ports of France or America whatever.
3. That any ship sailing from any port of France or America what- ever, shall have free entrance into the river, whether it sail directly for the colony, or only put in accidentally, according to the custom which has hitherto prevailed.
4. That freedom of trade with all the nations under the government of his most Christian majesty be granted to all the citizens, in conformity to the king's orders to the late Mr. D'Abbadie, registered in the archives of this city, and likewise in conformity to the letter of his Grace the Duke of Choiseul, addressed to the same Mr. D'Abbadie, and dated the 9th of February, 1766.
5. That Mr. Ulloa be declared to have, in many points, infringed and usurped the authority hitherto possessed by the government and council of the colony, because all the laws, ordinances, and customs direct, that said authority shall not be exercised by any officer until he shall have complied with all the formalities prescribed; and this condition Mr. Ulloa has not observed. He should, therefore, be declared to have infringed and usurped the authority of the government :- 1, For having
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caused the Spanish flag to be set up in several parts of the colony, with- out having previously caused to be registered in the archives of the superior council, the titles and powers which he may have had, and of which the assembled citizens might have been informed. 2. For having, of his own accord, and by his own private authority, insisted upon cap- tains being detained with their ships in the port, without any cause, and for having ordered subjects of France to be confined on board of a Spanish frigate. 3. For having caused councils, in which decrees were issued concerning the inhabitants of Louisiana, to be held in the house of Mr. Destrehan. They request that, on account of these grievances, and many others publicly known, and likewise for the tranquillity of all the citizens who apply for the protection of the council, they be freed, for the future, from the fear of a tyrannical authority, and exempted from observing the conditions enjoined in the said decree, by means of the dismission of Mr. Ulloa, who should be ordered to embark on board of the first vessel which shall set sail, in order to depart, whenever he thinks proper, out of the dependencies of this province.
6. That orders be given to all the Spanish officers who are in this city, or scattered throughout the posts appertaining to .the colony, to quit them, in order to depart likewise, whenever they shall think proper, out of the dependencies of the province ; and, finally, that the court be pleased to order that its decree, when rendered, be read, published, and set up in all the usual places of the town, and collated copies sent to all the posts of the said colony.
The foregoing representations being signed by five hundred and thirty- six persons-planters, merchants, tradesmen, and men of note ; consider- ing, likewise, the copy of the decree, published by orders of his Catholic Majesty, neither signed nor dated, and another copy of an ordinance published in this city, by order of Mr. Ulloa, of the 6th of September, 1766 ; the interlocutory decree issued yesterday, upon the requisition of the king's attorney-general, ordering and directing that, before the deci- sion of the court, the said representations be put in the hands of Messrs. Huchet de Kernion, and Piot de Launay, titular councilors, to be by them examined, and afterwards communicated to the king's council, in order that what the law directs may be enacted concerning them-all these particulars being taken into consideration, the king's attorney stood up and said :
" Gentlemen,
"The first and most interesting point to be examined is the step taken by all the planters and merchants in concert, who, being threat- ened with slavery, and laboring under grievances which have been
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enumerated, address your tribunal, and require justice for violations of the solemn act of cession of this colony.
" Is yours a competent tribunal ? are these complaints just ?
" I shall now proceed to demonstrate the extent of the royal authority vested in the superior council. The parliaments and superior councils are the depositories of the laws, under the protection of which the peo- ple live happy ; they are created and organized to be, from the very nature of their official tenure, the sworn patrons of virtuous citizens, and they are established for the purpose of executing the ordinances, edicts, and declarations of kings, after they are registered. Such has been the will and pleasure of Louis, the well-beloved, our liege lord and king, in whose name all your decrees, to the present day, have been issued and carried into execution. The act of cession, the only title of which his Catholic Majesty's commissary can avail himself, to make his demands auctoritate et proprietate, was addressed to the late Mr. D'Abbadie, with orders to cause it to be registered in the superior council of the colony, to the end that the different classes of the said colony may be informed of its contents, and may be enabled to have recourse to it upon occa- sion ; that instrument being calculated for no other purpose.
" Mr. Ulloa's letter, dated from Havana, July 10, 1765, which expresses his dispositions to do the inhabitants all the services they can desire, was addressed to you, gentlemen, with a request to make it known to the said inhabitants that, in thus acting, he would only discharge his duty and gratify his inclinations. The said letter was, by your decree, after full deliberation, published, set up and registered, as a pledge of happi- ness and tranquillity to the inhabitants. Another letter of the month of October last, written to Mr. Aubry, proves that justice still continues to be administered in the colony in the name of Louis the well-beloved. It results from the solemn act of cession and its accessories, that the planters, merchants and other inhabitants have the most solid basis to stand upon, when they present you with their most humble remon- strances ; and that you, gentlemen, are fully authorized to pronounce thereupon. Let us now proceed to a scrupulous examination of the act of cession, and of the letter written by Ulloa to the Superior Council. I think it likewise incumbent on me to cite, word for word, an extract of the King's letter, which was published, set up and registered.
"This very solemn act of cession, which gives the title of property to his Catholic Majesty, secures for the inhabitants of the colony the pre- servation of ancient and known privileges ; and the royal word of our Sovereign Lord, the King, promises, and gives us ground to hope for, others, which the calamities of war have prevented him from making his subjects enjoy. The ancient privileges having been suppressed by the
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authority of his Catholic Majesty's commissioner, property becomes pre- carious. The act of cession, which was the mere result of good will and friendship, was made with reserves which confirm the liberties and privi- leges of the inhabitants, and promises them a life of tranquillity, under the protection and shelter of their canon and civil laws. As property accruing from a cession by free gift, cannot be claimed and obtained, except on the condition of complying, during the whole possession of said property, with the reserves contained in said act of cession, our sovereign lord, the king, hopes, and promises himself that, in consequence of the friendship and affection shown to him by his Catholic Majesty, he (said C. M.), will be pleased, to give such orders to his governor, and to all other officers employed in his service in said colony, as may be conducive to the advantage and tranquillity of the inhabitants, and that they shall be ruled, and their fortunes and estates managed according to the laws, forms, and customs of said colony. Can Mr. Ulloa's titles give authority to ordinances and orders which violate the respect due to the solemn act of cession ? The ancient privileges, the tranquillity of the subjects of France, the laws, forms, and customs of the colony, are rendered sacred by a royal promise, by a registering ordered by the superior council, and by a publication solemnly decreed and universally known. The sole aim of the letter of our sovereign lord, the king, was to grant to the dif- ferent classes of the colony a recourse to the act of cession. Therefore, nothing can be better grounded or more legal than the right of remon- strating, which the inhabitants and citizens of the colony have acquired by royal authority.
" Let us proceed to an examination of the letter of Mr. Ulloa, written to the superior council of New Orleans, dated the 10th of July, 1765. I shall here cite, word for word, the article relative to the superior council and the inhabitants :
" I flatter myself, beforehand, that it will afford me favorable oppor- tunities to render you all the services that you and the inhabitants of your town may desire-of which I beg you to give them the assurance from me, and to let them know that, in acting thus, I only discharge my duty and gratify my inclinations.
" Mr. Ulloa proved thereby the orders which he had received from his Catholic majesty, conformably to the solemn act of cession, and mani- fested a sentiment which is indispensable in any governor who is desirous of rendering good services to his king in the colonies.
" Without population there can be no commerce; and without com- merce, no population. In proportion to the extent of both is the solidity of thrones ; both are fed by liberty and competition, which are the nursing mothers of the State, of which the spirit of monopoly is the
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tyrant and step-mother. Without liberty there are but few virtues. Despotism breeds pusillanimity and deepens the abyss of vices. Man is considered as sinning before God, only because he retains his free will. Where is the liberty of our planters, of our merchants, and of all our other inhabitants ? Protection and benevolence have given way to despotism : a single authority would absorb and annihilate everything. All ranks, without distinction, can no longer, without running the risk of being taxed with guilt, do anything else but tremble, bow their necks to the yoke, and lick the dust. The superior council, the bulwark of the tranquillity of virtuous citizens, has supported itself only by the com- bined force of the probity and disinterestedness of its members, and of the confidence of the people in that tribunal. Without taking posses- sion of the colony, without registering, as was necessary, in the superior council, his titles and patents, according to the laws, forms, and customs of the colony, and without presentation of the act of cession, Mr. Ulloa has caused a president, three councillors, and a secretary, nominated for the purpose, to take cognizance of facts, which belonged to the jurisdic- tion of the superior council, and in which French citizens were con- cerned. Often did discontents and disgusts seem to force you to resign your places, but you have always considered it as a duty of your station of councillors to the most Christian king, to alleviate and calm the mur- murs of the oppressed citizens. The love of your country, and the sense of the justice due to every citizen who applies for it, have nourished your zeal ; it has always been rendered with the same exactness, although you never thought proper to make representations on the infractions of the act of cession. You have always feared to give encouragement to a mass of discontented people, threatened with the most dreadful calami- . ties ; you have preferred public tranquillity. But now the whole body of the planters, merchants, and other inhabitants of Louisiana apply to you. for justice.
"Let us now proceed to an accurate and scrupulous examination of the grievances, complaints, and imputations contained in the representa- tions of the planters, merchants, and other inhabitants. What sad and dismal pictures do the said representations bring before your eyes ! The scourges of the last war, a suspension to this day of the payment of seven millions of the king's paper money, issued to supply the calls of the service, and received with confidence by the inhabitants of the colony, had obstructed the ease and facility of the circulation ; but the activity and industry of the planter, and of the French merchant, had ' almost got the better of all difficulties. The most remote corners of the possessions of the savages had been discovered, the fur trade had been carried to its highest perfection, and the new culture of cotton, joined to
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that of indigo and tobacco, secured cargoes to those who were engaged in fitting out ships. ,The commissioner of his Catholic majesty had pro- mised ten years of free trade, that period being sufficient for every sub- ject of France, attached to his sovereign lord and king. But the tobacco of this colony being prohibited in Spain, where those of Havana are the only ones allowed, the timber (a considerable branch of the income of the inhabitants), being useless to Spain, which is furnished in this article by its possessions, and the indigo being inferior to that of Guatimala, which supplies more than is requisite to the manufactures of Spain, the returns of the commodities of the inhabitants of this colony to the Peninsula became a ruinous trade, and the said inhabitants were delivered up to the most dreadful misery. His Catholic Majesty's com- missioner had publicly declared his conviction of the impossibility of this country's trading with Spain : all patronage, favor, encouragement, were formally promised to the inhabitants; the title of protector was decreed to Mr. Ulloa ; the hope and activity necessary to the success of the planter were nourished by the faith and confidence reposed in these assurances of the Spanish governor.
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" But by the effect of what undermining and imperceptible fatality have we seen a house worth twenty thousand livres sold for six thousand, and plantations, all on a sudden, lose one half or two thirds of their intrinsic value ? Fortunes waste away, and specie is more scarce than ever ; confidence is lost, and discouragement becomes general; the planter's cries of distress are heard on every side; the precious name of subject of France is in an eclipse, and the fatal decree concerning the commerce of Louisiana gives to the colony the last fatal stroke, which must lead to ยท its total annihilation. The Spanish flag is set up at the Balize, at the Illinois, and other places; no title, no letters patent were presented to the superior council ; time flies apace ; the delays fixed for the liberty of emigration will soon expire, force will tyrannize, we shall be reduced to live in slavery and loaded with chains, or precipitately to forsake establishments handed down from the grandfather to the grandson. All the planters, merchants, and other inhabitants of Louisiana call upon you to restore to them their sovereign lord, the king, Louis the well- beloved ; they tender to you their treasures and their blood, Frenchmen to live and Frenchmen to die."
Let us proceed to sum up the charges, grievances and imputations :
" Mr. Ulloa has caused councilors named by himself, to take cogniz- ance of facts concerning French subjects, which appertained only to the jurisdiction of the Superior Council. The sentences of that new tribunal have been signified to, and put in execution against, Mess. Cadis and Leblanc. Mr. Ulloa has supported the negroes, dissatisfied with their
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masters. He has presented to the Superior Council none of his titles, powers and provisions, as Commissioner of his Catholic Majesty ; he has not exhibited his copy of the act of cession, in order to have it registered ; he has, without the said indispensable formalities, set up the Spanish flag at the Balize, at the Illinois, and other places; he has, without legal authority, vexed, punished, and oppressed subjects of France ; he has even confined some of them in the frigate of his Catholic Majesty ; has, by his authority alone, usurped the fourth part of the common of the inhabitants of the town, has appropriated it to himself, and has caused it to be fenced in, that his horses might graze there.
" Having maturely weighed all this, I require in behalf of the King,
"That the sentences pronounced by the councilors nominated for the purpose, and put in execution against Mess. Cadis and Leblanc, subjects of France, be declared encroachments upon the authority of our Sovereign Lord, the King, and destructive of the respect due to his supreme justice, . seated in his Superior Council, in as much as they violate the laws, forms, and customs of the colony, confirmed and guaranteed by the solemn act of cession.
" That Mr. Ulloa be declared to have violated our laws, forms, and customs, and the orders of his Catholic Majesty, in relation to the act of cession, as it appears by his letter, dated from Havana, on the 10th of July, 1765.
" That he be declared usurper of illegal authority, by causing subjects of France to be punished and oppressed, without having previously com- plied with the laws, forms, and customs, in having his powers, titles, and provisions registered by the Superior Council, with the copy of the act of cession.
" That Mr. Ulloa, Commissioner of his Catholic Majesty, be enjoined to leave the colony in the frigate in which he came, without delay, to avoid accidents or new clamors, and to go and give an account of his conduct to his Catholic Majesty; and, with regard to the different posts established by the said Mr. Ulloa, that he be desired to leave in writing such orders as he shall think necessary ; that he be declared responsible for all the events which he might have foreseen ; and that Mess. Aubry and Foucault be requested, and even summoned, in the name of our Sovereign Lord, the King, to continue to govern and admi- nister the colony as heretofore.
"That no ship sailing from this colony shall be dispatched without passports signed by Mr. Foucault, as intendant commissary of his most Christian Majesty.
"That the taking possession of the colony can neither be proposed nor
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attempted by any means, without new orders from his most Christian Majesty.
" That Mess. Loyola, Gayarre and Navarro be declared guaranties of their signature on the bonds which they have issued, if they do not pro- duce the orders of his Catholic Majecty, empowering them to issue said bonds and papers ; and that a sufficient time be granted them to settle their accounts.
" That the planters, merchants and other inhabitants be empowered to elect deputies to carry their petitions and supplications to our Sovereign Lord, the King.
"That it be resolved and determined that the Superior Council shall make representations to our Sovereign Lord, the King; that its decree, when ready to be issued, be read, set up, published and registered.
" That collated copies thereof be sent to his grace the Duke of Praslin, with a letter of the Superior Council, and likewise to all the posts of the colony, to be there read, set up, published and registered."
The report, being heard, of Mess. Huchet de Kernion and Riot de Launay, councilors and commissioners appointed for this purpose, the whole being duly weighed, and the subject deliberated upon, the Attor- ney-General having been heard and having retired :
The Council, composed of thirteen members, of which six were named ad hoc, having each of them given his opinion in writing onouncing upon the said representations, has declared and declare site sentences rendered by the councilors nominated by Mr. Ulloa, and Fried into execution against Mess. Cadis and Leblanc, subjects of France, to be encroachments upon the authority of our Sovereign Lord, the King, and destructive of the respect due to his supreme justice, vested in his Supe- rior Council ; has declared and declares him an usurper of illegal author- ity, in causing subjects of France to be punished and oppressed, without having previously complied with the laws and forms, having neither pro- duced his powers, titles and provisions, nor caused them to be registered, and that, to the prejudice of the privileges insured to them by the said act of cession : and to prevent any violence of the populace, and avoid any dangerous tumult, the Council, with its usual prudence, finds itself obliged to enjoin, as in fact it enjoins, Mr. Ulloa to quit the colony, allowing him only the space of three days, either in the frigate of his Catholic Majesty in which he came, or in whatever vessel he shall think proper, and go and give an account of his conduct to his Catholic Majesty. It has likewise ordained and it ordains that, with regard to the posts established by him at the upper part of the river, he shall leave such orders as he judges expedient, making him at the same time responsible for all the events which he might have foreseen. It has requested and
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requests, Mess. Aubry and Foucault, and even summoned them in the name of our Sovereign Lord, the King, to continue to command and govern the colony as they did heretofore. At the same time, it expressly forbids all those who fit out vessels, and all captains of ships, to despatch any vessel with any other passport than that of Mr. Foucault, who is to do the office of intendant commissary ; it has also ordered and orders, that the taking possession for his Catholic Majesty can neither be pro- posed nor attempted by any means, without new orders from his most Christian Majesty ; that, in consequence, Mr. Ulloa shall embark in the space of three days in whatever ship he shall think proper.
. With regard to what relates to Mess. Loyola, Gayarre and Navarro, the Council has decreed that they may stay in the colony and discharge their respective functions, until they have received new orders from his Catholic Majesty, and shall remain sureties of their signatures for the bonds they have issued, except they produce the orders of his Catholic Majesty. It has likewise authorised and authorises the planters and merchants to choose whatever persons they think proper, to take up their petition to our Sovereign Lord, the King, and has decreed that the Superior Council shall in like manner make representations to our Sovereign Lord, the King; it orders that the present decree shall be printed, read, set up, published, and registered in all places and posts of this colony, and that a copy of it shall be sent to his grace the Duke of Praslin, Minister of the Marine Department.
We order all our bailiff's and sergeants to perform all the acts and ceremonies requisite for carrying the present decree into execution ; we, at the same time, empower them to do so. We also enjoin the substi- tute of the King's Attorney-General to superintend its execution, and to apprize the court of it in due time.
Given at the Council Chamber, on the 29th of October, 1768.
By the Council,
GARIC, Principal Secretary.
I protest against the decree of the Council, which dismisses Don Antonio de Ulloa from this colony; their most Christian and Catholic Majesties will be offended at the treatment inflicted on a person of his character, and notwithstanding the small force which I have at my dis- posal, I would, with all my might, oppose his departure, were I not apprehensive of endangering his life, as well as the lives of all the Span- iards in this country.
Deliberated at the Council Chamber, this 29th of October, 1768.
(Signed)
AUBRY.
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Collated with the original, left among the minutes of the Council, by me, the first secretary, whose name is hereunto affixed, at New Orleans, on the 2d of November, 1768.
GARIC, Principal Secretary.
END OF VOL. II.
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