Chapter V: Part 5

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The company have fitted up the old depot of the Carrolton rail-road, situated on the corner of Poydras and Baronne streets, as a place for exhibiting feats of horsemanship. As the buildings possess no especial interest beyond these performances, they require no particular description--but as this amusement has an attraction for almost every class of visitors, not to have referred to it might have been deemed an inexcusable oversight. There is a stage attached to this establishment; and farces and the ballet relieve the monotony of the sports of the ring.

THE PUBLIC SQUARES

Although the public squares in New Orleans are neither numerous, nor upon a very extended scale, they are located with good taste, and are exceedingly convenient. The centres of Canal, Esplanade, Rampart and Basin streets have a very considerable space set apart for embellishments. Shrubbery, and other ornaments, are in progress, and they already begin to assume a beauty that does much credit to the city authorities. Nothing is more conducive to health than these pleasant resorts for wholesome exercise. Here the toil-worn citizen, the wearied scholar, and the confined artizan, may breathe the fresh air, enjoy a delightful morning or evening promenade, and catch an imaginary enjoyment, in miniature, of the blessed country.

WASHINGTON SQUARE is in the third municipality; is bounded by the Elysian Fields, Great-Men's, Casa Calvo and Frenchmen streets.--Though admirably situated, owing to the distance it stands from the denser portion of the city, it has not yet received those attentions which, at some future day, will render it a beautiful promenade.

PLACE D'ARMES, or _Parade Square_, is still more prominent, and is embellished with fine trees; but, as it is in the centre of the first municipality, with the public buildings on one front and the levee on the other, it is a matter of surprise that it has not been improved in a style worthy of the inhabitants; who, certainly are capable of appreciating the advantages of such delightful grounds.

CIRCUS PLACE is below Rampart street, with St. Claude on the rear, and St. Ann and St. Peter streets on its sides. This is the square once known as _Congo Park_; and is the place where the negroes, in olden times, were accustomed to meet to while away the cares of servitude. Many an old inhabitant can remember when he beheld these thoughtless beings dancing "Old Virginia never tire," or some other favorite air, with such a hearty gusto, upon the green sward, that the very ground trembled beneath their feet. Though the loud laugh, and the unsophisticated break-down, and double-shuffle of these primitive days have ceased, the spot yet remains, with all its reminiscences, as original as ever, with its capabilities of improvement still unimpaired.

LAFAYETTE SQUARE is decidedly the handsomest in the city. It is in the second municipality, and has St. Charles and Camp streets in front and rear, and several public buildings in its immediate neighborhood. It has a handsome and substantial iron railing around it, based upon well laid blocks of granite; is well laid off in regular walks, and is ornamented with beautiful and rare shrubbery, set out with geometrical accuracy on a raised surface, calculated to make it dry and pleasant.

ANNUNCIATION SQUARE, in the same municipality, is the largest, and, consequently, may some day become the most elegant in the city. Orange and Race streets are on its front and rear--and facing are some very tasteful private residences.

TIVOLI CIRCLE, as its name would imply, is a circular piece of land laid off as a public ground in Nyade, at the head of St. Charles street, and is intended to be ornamented.

THE OLDEN TIME

Antiquity! the olden time! the hoary, venerable past! there is something sacred and soul subduing in the very sound of the words. Like the dying echo of the last tones of the departed, it is full of hallowed memories, and cherished associations, that haunt the inner chambers of the imagination, and linger with a mournful tenderness about the better feelings of the heart.

But what have _we_ to do with Antiquity! They of the old World, who were grey with time and tottering with decay when, but yesterday, they saw us spring into being, laugh at our sometime boast of Antiquity; and well they may, for it is hardly as well substantiated as that of the simple boy who conceived himself the oldest person in the world, because he could not remember when he was born. Yet even we, in the New World, we, of its second or third generation, whose fathers were present at its birth and baptism, even _we_ begin to talk gravely of the olden time, and to sigh and look sad over the melancholy grandeur of the past!

Well, be it so. In these stirring times, an age is shorter, and sooner achieved, than in those of "the sluggish eld." Time is measured by events, and not by revolutions of the sun--by the progress of the mind, not by the slow sifting sands of the hour glass, and the amazing precocity of these latter days makes many ages out of a single century.

But what a vandal spirit is innovation! what a ruthless destroyer is this boasted modern improvement! It sweeps over the land with the energy of a new creation, demolishing and scattering whatever lies in its way, for the mere pleasure of reproducing it in a new and better form. It removes the ancient land marks, obliterates the last traces of ancient power and grandeur, levels mountains, fills up valleys, turns the courses of rivers, and makes all things bend to its iron will.

It works such rapid and magical changes in its headlong career, that few of us are able to point out what _has been_, or to predict with certainty what _will be_ to morrow. Let us cherish then, with deeper veneration, the few relics that remain of the days of our fathers. Let us reverence Antiquity such as it is. Let the street commissioner, and the _improver_ of old estates--

Spare that ancient house,
Touch not a single brick--

It is almost alone in its sombre dignity, in the midst of younger and gayer edifices, that have swept New Orleans _as it was_, into the shade of oblivion. Antiquity--I mean, if I may be allowed the Irish figure of speech--modern Antiquity, her countenance grave with sorrow, with here and there a furrow upon her yet ample brow, protests against the desecration of all that _was_ dear and sacred. Standing on the verge of annihilation, with "one foot in the grave," and conscious that her days are numbered, her dissolution nigh at hand, she commands, she implores us to save one memento of the past, one legible souvenir of "the days of auld lang syne." And here it is.

THE OLD SPANISH BUILDING

At the corner of Royal and St. Anne streets, is delineated in the above engraving as it now stands--and long may it remain as a memorial of other times.

Thirty years ago--which, comparatively would take us back three centuries in any European city--thirty years ago, one might have seen from that spot, then the centre of the city, long perspective street-scenes of a similar character. INNOVATION has now done her work--has absolutely trodden the city of the last century under her feet.

The Casa Blanca, at the corner of Bienville and Old Levee Streets, has also escaped the general demolition. It was once the courtly residence of Bienville, the first governor of Louisiana--the seat of power, and the centre of wealth, beauty and fashion in the province. It is still on its old foundation, standing "alone in its glory," and the spirit of innovation has so far respected its ancient uses, that it is still a treasury of wealth, and a conservatory of the _sweetness_ of our favored clime--a store house of sugar and molasses!

EXCURSIONS

In consequence of the level surface of the country in the environs of New Orleans, a great variety of scenery cannot be expected--yet, on the northern shore of lake Pontchartrain, the ground is somewhat higher and rolling, and affords very pleasant positions. Although not formed like the prolific north and west, in hill and dale, cliffs and cascades, alternately varying and beautifying the landscape, yet there are charming rides and rambles in the neighborhood of this city, of which a more minute account will be given under their respective heads, which follow.

CARROLTON, a distance of six miles by the rail-road, is an exceedingly pleasant resort. The line, for nearly a third of the way, passes through the suburbs of the city, and is dotted on either side with beautiful residences--the remainder passes through cultivated fields, pleasant pastures, and delightful wood-lands. The road, like the country, is perfectly level, and kept in the finest condition. At the end of the route is situated the village; which is principally composed of tastefully built cottages, constructed in every variety of architecture that suited the individual fancy of the owner. Opposite the rail-road depot, is one of the handsomest and most extensive public gardens, that is to be found in the vicinity of New Orleans. A race course is near by; and the strolls around are quite cheering to those who fly from the turmoil and dust of the metropolis.

THE SHELL ROAD of the Canal and Banking Company, affords an agreeable ride to lake Pontchartrain, also a distance of six miles. The highway runs on the margin of the canal, and is not excelled by any road in the United States. It is the great resort for every species of pleasure vehicle that the city furnishes; and here may be seen, on an afternoon, all grades of society, from the gay sportsman, mounted on his fast trotter, to the sober citizen, who sallies forth on his ambling poney, all of whom appear to realize an equal share of enjoyment. A line of comfortably arranged barges also ply on the canal from the lake, at which place a convenient hotel is established. Half way on this road, between the city and the lake, is the highly celebrated Metairie race track.

THE PONTCHARTRAIN RAIL-ROAD, runs to the lake from which it derives its name, from the head of Elysian Fields street, a distance of five miles. It is a very pretty ride. This route communicates with the great northern mail line, which goes by the way of Mobile--and all the steamboats, that traverse the lakes to the various villages and landings that surround it, make this their general starting point. From here, a passage is obtained to Biloxi, which, the reader will recollect, was the first spot settled by the French in this portion of the world; and, from that circumstance, will naturally excite the curiosity of the intelligent wayfarer. At the termination of this rail-road is a first-rate hotel for the accommodation of visitors. Here is good bathing, fishing and shooting; and, beneath the shade of the trees, the breeze from the water is delightfully refreshing.

THE MEXICAN GULF RAIL-ROAD, runs from Elysian Fields street, on Good Children street, towards Lake Borgne. There are twenty eight miles of this road now in operation. When finished, it will afford considerable facilities to commerce, besides great benefit to the citizens, conveying them, in about one and a half hours, to the refreshing breeze of the ocean--where fish, oysters and game may be found in abundance. No doubt it will compete with the most favored watering places of Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Biloxi, &c. It will also be a great accommodation to the planters in the neighborhood--who already, so far as it goes, have given it good encouragement. This road has recently been purchased of the State, by A. Gordon and Co., who, availing themselves of about 22 miles of the Nashville rail-road iron, are bringing this work to a rapid completion.

THE ROAD OF BAYOU ST. JOHN, which follows the sinuosities of that stream, and reaches lake Pontchartrain at the site of the old fort St. John, after travelling the distance of about six miles, presents a very pleasant drive. Returning by the new Shell road before mentioned, it varies the route without adding much to the distance.

MACDONOUGH stands on the banks of the river opposite to New Orleans; and the crossing, in the hottest weather, is generally accompanied by a slight breeze, rendered cool and pleasant by the mighty current of the river, which comes from the icy springs of the Alleghanies and the Rocky mountains. The village, of itself, possesses no great beauty--but the country, the beautiful country is all around--and the noise and confusion of the city no longer annoy you. The great attraction at this spot is in visiting the United States marine hospital, one of the handsomest structures in Louisiana, which stands a little above.

ALGIERS adjoins, and seems a part of Macdonough. This is the great work-shop of New Orleans, for the building and repairing of vessels. It has its dry docks, and other facilities for the most extensive operations. In business times, it presents a scene of activity that is seldom observed in any other part of these regions, and reminds one of the bustling and enterprise of the North. The period has been when Algiers prescribed the law, _vi et armis_, to the city itself--but the day and the disposition, have happily long since passed away.

GRETNA, on the same shore, is nearly two miles further up the river, and stands opposite Lafayette. The whole distance is spotted with comfortable residences, principally inhabited by the owners of the adjoining grounds, and the walk from Algiers to this village is very gratifying to one partial to such exercise. There is a steamboat constantly plying from here to the city, which affords a desirable excursion of nearly three miles, touching at Lafayette in its passage each way. The village has a rural appearance, is regularly laid out, and exhibits some neat tenements. The forest approaches quite near; and, the idea that one may so easily lose himself in the neighboring woods, gives to the place a touch of romance which only the denizens of a crowded city know how to appreciate. From the great number of cattle observed along the shore, it would seem as if there was no necessity of diluting the milk for the New Orleans market, unless the milkmen be tea-total temperance men, and take this method to introduce the inhabitants gradually to a taste for water.

THE RACE COURSES. There are three of these in the vicinity of this city. The _Louisiana_, near lake Pontchartrain; the _Metairie_, near the Shell road; and the one at Carrolton. These are as well patronised as any in the country, and, in the racing season, the inhabitants of the neighboring states, from a great distance, flock hither to participate in the sports of the turf. Much praise has been bestowed upon the arrangements on these occasions. Even here, as in many other countries, the ladies, by their presence, have given them countenance and encouragement--and the course usually is "gemmed by the rich beauty of the sunny south."

THE BATTLE GROUND, (formerly known as "the Plains of Chalmette,") the very naming of which causes the bosom of an American to swell with patriotic pride, lies five miles below the city. It may be approached either by the Grand Gulf rail-road, or by a good highway along the levee, the new Convent and United States barracks being within full view. But first it may be necessary to look briefly at the historical facts which give celebrity to the spot.

Early in December, 1814, the British approached New Orleans, about 8000 strong, by the way of the lakes Borgne and Pontchartrain. Their passage into the lake was opposed by a squadron of gun-boats under Lieut. Jones. After a spirited conflict, in which the killed (500) and the wounded of the enemy exceeded the whole American force, he was compelled to surrender to superior numbers.

On the 21st of Dec. four thousand militia arrived from Kentucky and Tennessee, under General Jackson. On the 22nd, the enemy having previously landed, took a position near the Mississippi, eight miles below the city. On the evening of the 23d, the Americans made a furious attack upon their camp, and threw them into disorder, with five hundred of their men killed. The enemy rallied; and Gen. Jackson withdrew his troops, and fortified a strong position six miles below the city, supported by batteries on the west side of the river. Here he was unsuccessfully assailed on the 28th of Dec. and 1st of Jan., the enemy losing two hundred to three hundred men. In the mean time both armies received reinforcements.

The decisive battle was fought on the 8th day of Jan. 1815. The American right was on the river, running in a right angle to the wood. A redoubt was raised (which is still visible) strengthened by bales of cotton along the whole line. The enemy were about a half mile lower down, on a parallel line, their head quarters resting on the river, near three large oaks which still mark the spot. The scene is distinct, and this is _the battle ground_.

The British commenced the assault at day light. As they approached the works, sixty deep, many were killed by grape shot; but, when they came within musket range, a destructive stream of fire burst forth from the American lines. Our troops were placed in two ranks, the rear loading while the front fired, thus pouring an incessant peal--which, from Kentucky and Tennessee riflemen, was most deadly. While leading on the troops of the enemy, Gen. Pakenham, the chief in command, was killed; Gen. Gibbs, the second in command, was wounded mortally; and Gen. Keene severely. Without officers to direct them, the troops halted, fell back, and soon fled in confusion to their camp. In a little over an hour, two thousand out of eight thousand veterans lay dead upon the field, while the Americans had but seven killed and six wounded--a disproportion unparalleled in the history of warfare. Gen. Lambert, upon whom the command then devolved, after one more unsuccessful attempt to assault, availed himself of a truce of twenty-four hours to bury the dead, made good his retreat--which Gen. Jackson felt no disposition to molest, as he was resolved to hazard none of his advantages. Thus was New Orleans saved from the hands of an invading enemy whose War cry was--"Beauty and Booty."

The British lost during the month they were in Louisiana, more than three thousand three hundred and fifty in killed, while the loss of the Americans was not two hundred. The wounded of the enemy must have been much less, on account of the sure aim of the backwoodsmen. The greater portion of our army were plain honest farmers--who knew nothing of battle--they heard that their country was in danger--the country which gave a home to them, and their children, and they flew to its defence,--drove the invaders from their shores, and then returned to their homes to till the ground.

It is not a matter of surprise--though the battle is without a parallel in the history of the world--that even "invincibles," were so dreadfully routed by undisciplined backwoodsmen defending their native soil, with their wives and children behind them.

A jaunt to these grounds is a sort of pilgrimage, that no stranger will, that no citizen can neglect. Not to have seen the field of this great victory, would be a reflection upon the taste, not to say the patriotism of any who should visit our city. The ground it is true, presents few memorials to remind the patriotic visitor of the deadly strife. There is no proud monument, towering to the sky, to mark the place where the great victory was won. But he beholds the consequences wherever he turns his eye, and he feels them--deeply feels them in every throb of his heart. Those born upon the soil, and those who participated in the struggle, have reason to be proud of the spot, and to cherish the memory of that eventful day. If there is no lofty structure of granite or marble, to perpetuate the glorious achievement, it has a holier, a more enduring memorial in the heart of every true American, which thrills with lofty pride at every allusion to it, as did the ancient Greek at the name of Marathon, or the Spartan at that of Thermopylae.

TRAVELLING ROUTES

The facilities which this metropolis affords for reaching any accessible portion of the world, particularly all sections of the union, are not excelled. Steam and sailing ships of the first class, hold commercial intercourse with almost every nation. Steamboats, with accommodations equal to the best regulated hotels, are plying through every river and bayou. Four to five thousand miles can be achieved, in those floating palaces, with perfect ease, and comparative safety.

The principal routes between the north and the south are here given, as also the intermediate places, together with those inland most frequented by the traveller and the man of business, and the distances carefully noted as they diverge, in their various directions. Beside the four annexed routes to New York, there are several that lead to favorite watering places, and other points attractive to travellers of leisure, which it would be quite impracticable to lay down in a work of this kind. They can always obtain information of these resorts, from intelligent companions on the road, that will prevent their deviating much from the point they wish to attain. The distances on the river have been corrected agreeably to the latest survey. The other routes conform to the most approved authorities; and, frequently, have been corrected by personal observation, with the utmost care and attention.

ROUTE 1.--_From New Orleans to New York, via Pittsburgh, Pa., by Steamboat._

ROUTE 2.--_New Orleans to New York, via St. Louis, Chicago and Buffalo, (see route 1.) to Mouth of the Ohio, Steamboat to St. Joseph._

ROUTE 3.--_New Orleans to New York, via Wheeling and Baltimore._

ROUTE 4.--_New Orleans to New York, Mail line._

ROUTE 5.--_New Orleans to Fort Gibson by steamboat._

ROUTE 6.--_New Orleans to Balize, and Gulf of Mexico, by Steamboat._

ROUTE 7.--_New Orleans to the Raft on Red River, by Steamboat._

ROUTE 8.--_New Orleans to Pittsburg, Miss., by Steamboat._

ROUTE 9.--_New Orleans to Nashville, Tenn., by Steamboat._

ROUTE 10.--_New Orleans to Florence, Al., by Steamboat._

GENERAL INDEX

Academies for Females, 44

Algiers, a description of, 194

Alligators, killed for their skins, 42

American Theatre, erected in 1823, 67
description of, 180

Amusements, 176

Ancient Settlements supposed to have existed, 11

Anecdote of an old Frenchman, 68
early cotton growing, 47

Annunciation Square, 183
Church, 100

Armories, 149

Association, Young Men's Howard, 115

Associations for charitable and other purposes, 110

Asylums of New Orleans, their excellence, ib.

Asylum, Catholic Male Orphan, 114
Female do, 110
Male do, 113
Milne do, 116
Poydras Female do, 113
Les dames de la Providence, 114

Attakapas Prairie, 38
Parish, 39
produces abundance of live oak, 33

Atchafalaya lands, 34

Bank of Louisiana, 155
Louisiana State, 153
Canal, 155
City, 154
Mechanics' and Traders', 153
Gas, 154

Banks' Arcade, 156

Bard, Captain, Return of, 16

Bar of New Orleans, 79

Barracks, the United States, 86

Baton Rouge taken, 24

Battle Ground, 196

Bayou St. John Road, 194

Beautiful land bordering the Teche, 33

Bellevue Prairie, 40

Benevolent Society, Hebrew, 116

Best lands, 31

Bienville, made governor, 17
is superseded in 1710, ib.
deceives the English captain, 16
is reappointed governor in 1717, 17
founds New Orleans, 1718, 18
sails for France in 1727, 20
is succeeded by Perrier, ib.
governor for the third time, ib.
resigns in 1741, ib.

Biloxi settled by Iberville, 16

Board of Health established in 1841, 71

Boatmen of the Mississippi, 75

Bottom lands, their luxuriance, 30

Boundaries of the State of Louisiana, 28
Territory of Louisiana, 7

Branch Mint of the United States, 88

Branch Bank of the United States, established 1805, 66

Breed of cattle improving, 56

Bricks, why they are not well made, 57

Buildings, the public, 86

Burr, Aaron, 26

Business season, appearance of the levee in the, 81

Calcasieu prairie, 40

Caldwell, James H., his great enterprise, 67

Carmelite Convent, 104

Carondelet appointed governor in 1792, 25
fortifies New Orleans in 1792, 64
his schemes defeated by Gen. Wilkinson, 26

Casa Blanca, 189

Carrolton, 191

Casa Calvo succeeds governor Gayosa de Lemor, 26
is succeeded by Salado, ib.

Catholic Cemeteries, 107

Cathedral, 92

Cattle, improvement in the breed, 56

Ceded to the United States, Louisiana, 26

Cemetery, Cypress Grove, 105
Catholic, 107
Protestant, 108
St. Patrick's, 109

Chapel of the Ursulines, 98
St. Antoine's, or the Mortuary, 97
Wesleyan, 103

Charitable Association, the Samaritan, 114
the Firemen's, 115

Charitable institutions, 110

Charity Hospital, 117

Church, Annunciation, 100
St. Augustine, 96
Christ, 99
St. Paul's, 95
St. Patrick's, 95
First Presbyterian, 100
Second do, 101
First Congregational, ib.
Methodist Episcopal, 102
First Baptist, ib.

Circus, the, 180

Circus Place, 182

Circus street Infirmity, 124

City Exchange, (St. Louis,) 157
Bank, 154
Hall, 134
Improvements, an anecdote, 68
Proper, its extent, ib.
Prisons, 129

Clay, of a very pure kind, 57

Clergy, of New Orleans, 79

Climate of Louisiana, 45

College of Louisiana, 43
Jefferson, ib.
Franklin, ib.
Medical, 168

Colonial system introduced, 17
carried out, 21

Colony transferred to France in 1803, 24

Colorado ascended by La Salle, 15

Comedians first arrived in 1791, 64
become teachers, ib.

Commercial advantages of New Orleans, 81

Commercial exchange, 159
prosperity commences in 1795, 25

Comparative speed of navigating the Mississippi, 80

Congregational Church, first, 101

Convent of Ursuline nuns, erected in 1730, 61
its description, 103

Convent, new one erected in 1824, 61
its description, 104

Coast, the, 31

Convent, the Carmelite, 104
at Grand Coteau, 44

Cotton, when first exported, an anecdote, 47
the quantity estimated for 1844, 45
opinions on the fluctuating price of, 48
its consumption in New England, 49
in England, ib.
will present prices sustain the planter? 50
the produce of Texas, ib.
lands, where the best, 34
Factories, 151
Presses, 152

Court-house, 133

Creoles their character, 73

Crevasse, in 1816, 42
in 1844, at Bonne Carre, ib.

Crozat, Antonio, obtains an exclusive privilege, 17

Cuba tobacco seed does well in Louisiana, 54

Cultivation of sugar, 21
of Cotton, 47
of madder, 51
of silk, 53
of hemp, ib.
of the vine, 55
of tobacco, 54
of indigo, 55
of orange and fig do, 20

Currency, evil of its depreciation, 19

Custom house, description of it, 89

Custom House, a new one contemplated, 90

Cypress Grove Cemetery, 105

Death of Iberville, 17
de Soto, 10

Delta of the Mississippi, 37

Deposit of red river, 34

Description of United States Barracks, 86
Branch Mint, 88

Description of the Custom House, 89
Post Office, 90
State House, 91
Cathedral, 92
St. Patrick's Church, 95
St. Augustine do, 96
Mortuary Chapel, 97
Annunciation Church, 100
Chapel of the Ursulines, 98
Christ Church, 99
St. Paul's do, ib.
First Presbyterian do, 100
Second do do, 101
Methodist Episcopal do, 102
Wesleyan Chapel, 103
old Ursuline Convent, ib.
new do, 104
Court-House, 133
City Hall, 134
St. Charles Exchange, 137
Verandah, 141
City Exchange, (St. Louis,) 157

Discovery of the Mississippi, 7

Disputed Territory, 8

Division of the city in 1836, 67

Don Ulloa driven away, 22

Don O'Reilly takes possession, 23

Duelling punished by disfranchise, 78

Education in Louisiana, 43

Elliot, Andrew, 26

"English Turn," whence derived, 16

Exchange Hotel, (St. Charles,) 137
Merchants', 161
(St. Louis,) City, 157
Commercial, 159

Excursions, 191

Extent of the territory of Louisiana, 9
New Orleans, in 1810, 66
the City Proper, 68

Feliciana, West, parish of, 32

Female Orphan Asylum, 110

Fig trees introduced, 20

Fire consumes nine hundred houses in 1778, 62
many buildings in 1796, 65
seven blocks of houses in 1844, 70

Fire department, 149

Firemen's Charitable Association, 115

First steamboat arrives at New Orleans, 27

First Presbyterian Church, 100
Congregational do, 101

Florida invaded by Gov. Galvez, in 1779, 24

Floating Prairies, a great natural curiosity, 35

Flour mill, 151

Fort Charlotte taken, 24

Fountain of Health, 9

Franklin College, 43
Infirmary, 124

Gas Works, a description of them, 144
the city lighted with it in 1834, 70

Gayosa de Lemor made governor, 26

Gayosa de Lemor succeeded by Casa Calvo, 26

German emigrants settle along the coast in 1723, 60
supply the city with vegetables, ib.

Grape vines, where to be cultivated, 55

Grazing, the very best lands for it, ib.

Gretna, 195

Gypsum, valuable beds found, 56

Health of New Orleans, 77

Hebrew Benevolent Society, 116

Hemp suited to the higher grounds, 53
an immense article of consumption, ib.
necessary in time of war, 54

Hernandez de Soto, first discovery of Louisiana, 7
his death, 10

Historical Sketch of New Orleans, 58

Hospitality of the inhabitants of Opelousas, 40

Hospitals, easy access to them, 117
the Charity, ib.

Hotel, Exchange, (St. Charles,) 137
the Verandah, 141
St. Louis Exchange, 143
Hewlett's, ib.
Planters', ib.
National, ib.

Hall of Second Municipality, 127

Hurricane devastates New Orleans 1723, 60

Hunt's Merchants' Magazine, article, 48

Iberville enters the Mississippi, 16
establishes the first settlement at Biloxi, ib.
founds Natchez, 17
his death, ib.

Improvement in New Orleans in 1824, 66

Incorporation of New Orleans in 1805, ib.

Indian massacre of the whites at Natchez, 19

Indigo cultivated in 1728, 20
cultivation now much neglected, 55

Infirmary, Circus street, 124
Franklin, ib.

Inquisition, its establishment frustrated in 1785, 25

Iron foundry, 150

Jefferson College, 43

Jesuits and Ursuline Nuns arrived in 1727, 60
expelled by Clement XIII., in 1763, 61
their property confiscated, ib.
their immense wealth, ib.
curious documents of them in archives of first municipality, ib.

La Dames de la Providence, 114

Lafayette Square, 182

Lafourche, Bayou, 32

Lakes, inlets, and sounds, 37

La Salle descends the Mississippi to the Gulf, 14
builds a fort at the mouth of Little Miami, ib.
sails for France, 15
goes into the bay of St. Bernard, ib.
ascends the Colorado, ib.
forms a settlement on St. Bernard's bay, ib.
is murdered by Dehault, ib.
his character and enterprise, ib.

Law, John, the Scotch financier, 18

Learned professions, divinity, law, and medicine, 79

Le Moniteur, first paper published in New Orleans, 25

Levee, its extent, 31
crevasse in 1816 and 1844, 42
its appearance in the business season, 81
Cotton Press, 152

Literary Association, Young Men's, 167

Live oak of Attakapas, its abundance, 33

Louisiana, territory of, its discovery, 7
its boundaries, ib.
transferred to Spain, 22
retransferred to France in 1803, 26
sold to the United States in 1803, ib.
the State of, admitted to the union in 1812, 27
its boundaries, surface and soil, 28
its vast prairies, 30
its improvement in education, 43
College of, ib.
mutton unsurpassed, 56
the climate of, 45
State Bank, 153
Medical College, 168

Luxuriance of the bottom lands, 34

Lyceum, Public School, 166
the People's, 167

Madder described, how cultivated, 51
price, duties, and demand for it, ib.

Maison de Sante, 123

Male Orphan Asylum, 113

Manufactures, 150

Marine Hospital, United States, 125

Markets of New Orleans, 135

Market, Poydras street, 136
the Vegetable, ib.
the Meat, ib.

Market, St. Mary's, 137

Marquette descends the Mississippi, 13

Marshes, extensive near the ocean, 38

Masonic Fraternities, 80

Massacre at Natchez, 19

Meat Market, 136

Mechanics' and Traders' Bank, 153

Medical Science, 79

Medical College of Louisiana, 168

Merchants' Exchange, 161
Reading Room, ib.

Meteorological Journal, an abstract from the, 72

Methodist Episcopal Church, 102

Mexican Gulf Rail-road, 193

Military strength of New Orleans in 1792, 64

Milne Orphan Asylum, 116

Minerals of Louisiana, 56

Mint, Branch of the United States, 88

Miro succeeds Galvez as governor, 25
carries the colonial system into effect, ib.

Mississippi River discovered by De Soto, 10
River made free in 1795, 25
Valley, its vast extent, 83
boatmen, description of them, 74
immensity of its produce, 82-84
Delta of, 37

Moral character of New Orleans, 78

Moscoso's Adventures, 10

Mulberry trees prolific in Louisiana, 53

Municipal Hall, 127

Muskeet grass, excellent for cattle, 55

Mutton, 56

Natchez massacre of the whites, 19
tribe defeated, ib.
founded by Iberville, 17

National Hotel, 143
Gallery of Paintings, 169

Natchitoches tobacco, very superior, 54

Nature of the soil of Louisiana, 29

New Orleans founded by Bienville in 1718, 59
a historical sketch of, 58

New Orleans, view of, 58
inundated and abandoned in 1719, 59
again occupied in 1722, ib.
visited by a hurricane in 1723, 60
by yellow fever in 1769, 62
divided into wards and lighted in 1792, 64
fortified by Carondelet, ib.
its military strength, ib.
opened to the United States in 1795, 65
a port of entry and delivery in 1804, 66
incorporated in 1805, ib.
its extent in 1810, ib.
its appearance from various points, 69
lighted with gas in 1834, 70
state of its morals, 78
its commercial advantages, 81
its anticipated greatness, 84
Reading Rooms, 161-2
Police, 78
travelling routes, 201

Newspaper Press, 173
first published in 1794, 25

Olden Time, 184

Old Ursuline Convent, 103

Opelousas Prairie, 39
hospitality of the inhabitants, 40

Opposition to founding New Orleans, 59

Orange trees introduced, 20
destroyed by frost in 1748, ib.

O'Reilly, the Spanish governor, 23
his tyrannical conduct, ib.
succeeded by Unzoga, 24

Orleans Cotton Press, 152
Theatre, 176

Orphan Asylums, their excellence, 110

Paintings, National Gallery of, 169
individual collections of, 170

Paving of streets first began, 67

Pensacola taken by the French, 19

People's Lyceum, 167

Physic, Law and Divinity, their progress, 79

Pine woodlands, 30

Place d'Armes, 182

Planing Mill, steam, 151

Plaquemine, 32

Planters' Hotel, 143

Ponce de Leon, 9

Pontchartrain Rail-road, 192

Population in 1732, 20
in 1788, 25
in 1803, 26
of New Orleans in 1723, 59
in 1785, 62
in 1803, 70
in 1810, 66
in 1844, 71
comparative, ib.

Police of New Orleans, 78

Post Office, 90

Pottery may be made of Louisiana clay, 57

Poydras Female Orphan Asylum, 113
street Market, 136

Prairies of the State, 30
particularly described, ib.

Prairie, Attakapas, 33 38
Opelousas, 39
Bellevue, 40

Prairie, Calcasieu, 40

Prairie, Sabine, 40

Press of New Orleans, 173

Presbyterian Church, First, 100
Second, 101

Project of supplying wholesome water, 148

Prospects of New Orleans, 82

Prosperity of trade in 1810, 66

Protestant Cemetery, 108

Public buildings, 86
libraries much wanted, 79
property transferred to the United States, 65

Public School system, 163
how introduced, ib.

Public School Lyceum, 166
Squares, 181

Race Courses, 195

Raft in Red River, 36

Rail-road, Pontchartrain, 192
Carrolton, 191
Mexican Gulf, 193

Reading Room, Merchants', 161
New Orleans, 162

Red River deposit, its nature, 34
raft, 36

Residence of Governor Bienville, 189

Road of Bayou St. John, 194

Rope Walks, 151

Sabine Prairies, 40

Salvado, last Spanish governor, 26

Samaritan Charitable Association, 114

Sauville, the Governor, dies, 17

Saw Mills, steam, 151

School, Convent, 44
Sisters of Charity, ib.

School, Ursuline Nuns', 44

Schools, the Public, ib.

Second Presbyterian Church, 101
Municipality Work-House, 130
Hall, 127

Sheep of Louisiana, very superior, 56
Lafourche, ib.

Shell Road, 192

Silk may be produced in abundance, 53

Society in New Orleans, 73

Soil of Louisiana, 29

State of Louisiana described, 28

State Legislature to be removed, 92
House, 91

Steamboat first arrives from Pittsburgh, 27

Steamboats, early, their trips, 80
extent of present navigation, 83

Steam Planing Mill, 151
Saw Mills, ib.

Streets and sidewalks first paved, 67

St. Augustine Church, 96

St. Patrick's do, 95
Cemetery, 109

St. Paul's Church, 99

St. Antoine's, or Mortuary Chapel, 97

St. Charles Exchange Hotel, 137

St. Louis Exchange Hotel, 143

St. Mary's Market, 137

(St. Louis,) City Exchange, 157

St. Charles Theatre, 178

St. Lorenzo, treaty of, 25

St. Bernard bay occupied by La Salle, 15

Sugar introduced by the Jesuits in 1751, 21
crops their present average, ib.

Sugar lands, 46
refinery, 151

Suggestion to sugar planters, 46

Surface of Louisiana, 29

Tax upon chimneys to light New Orleans, 64

Teche, excellent lands upon its borders, 33

Territory of Louisiana, its boundaries, 7
its discovery by de Soto, 10
its immense extent, 8
transferred to Spain in 1763, 22

Theatre American 1823, 67
Orleans, 176
St. Charles, 178

"The Coast," its extent and luxuriance, 31

Third Municipality Work-house, 133

Tobacco Cuba, cultivated, 54
from Cuba, fine specimens of seed, ib.
raised at Natchitoches, ib.
worm how to prevent it, 55

Transfer of Louisiana to Spain, 22

Transfer of Louisiana to the United States in 1803, 26

Travelling Routes, 201

Tyrannical conduct of O'Reilly, 23

United States Marine Hospital, 125
Barracks, 86
Branch Bank, established in 1805, 66
Mint, 88

University of Louisiana, see note, 43

Unzoga succeeds O'Reilly as governor, 24
succeeded by Galvez, ib.

Ursuline Convent, the old, 103

Ursuline Chapel, 98
nuns arrived in 1730, 60
erect a new convent in 1824, 104

Vaudreuil marquis de, 20

Variety of the population of New Orleans, 73

Vegetable Market, 136

Verandah, 141

View of New Orleans from various points, 69

Vine, cultivation of the, 55

War between France and Spain, 19
England and France, in 1756, 21
do and Spain, in 1779, 24
do and the United States, 27

Watchmen first established in 1792, 64

Water, a project to supply it without charge, 148

Water Works, supply water from the Mississippi, 70
a description of them, 146

Washington Square, 181

Wesleyan Chapel, 103

Western Company, chartered in 1717, 17
fail, in 1732, 20

West Feliciana, its excellent soil, 32

Wilkinson, Gen., 26

Woods, Col. crosses the Mississippi, 13

Work-house of the Second Municipality, 130
Third do, 133

Yellow fever first introduced in 1769, 62

Yellow Fever, opinions of its transmissibility, 121
No. of cases in Hospital from 1822, to 1844, 120

Young Men's, Howard Association, 115
Literary do, 167

ADVERTISEMENTS.

JUST PUBLISHED,
BY
B. M. NORMAN,
16 CAMP STREET, NEW ORLEANS.

NORMAN'S
PLAN OF NEW ORLEANS AND ENVIRONS,
A COMPLETE MAP OF THE CITY AND VICINITY, IN POCKET FORM. ALSO, ON
CARDS, FOR COUNTING ROOMS AND PUBLIC OFFICES.

* * * * *

NORMAN'S
NEW ORLEANS BUSINESS DIRECTORY,
For 1845-6.

Containing the names, residences and occupations of Merchants and
Bankers, Mechanics and Professional men. Classed and arranged
alphabetically.

* * * * *

NEW AND IMPROVED STOCK,
PRICES REDUCED.

* * * * *

NORMAN'S
BOOK, STATIONERY, PRINTING
AND
BINDING-ESTABLISHMENT,
No. 16
CAMP STREET, NEW ORLEANS.

* * * * *

BOOKS,
Comprising the works of the best standard authors in the various
departments of literature,
ANCIENT AND MODERN.

CHEAP PUBLICATIONS,
AT PUBLISHERS' PRICES.

SCHOOL BOOKS.

Bibles, Prayer Books, Psalm and Hymn Books.

ANNUALS,
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MAPS, GUIDE BOOKS,
AND OTHER WORKS FOR TRAVELLERS.

CITY AND COUNTRY DEALERS SUPPLIED,
Also Public and Private Libraries, at Publishers' Prices.

LITERARY GENTLEMEN, TEACHERS AND THE PUBLIC ARE MOST RESPECTFULLY
INVITED TO VISIT THIS ESTABLISHMENT.

* * * * *

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Consisting of the most approved kinds; adapted to the use of
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BLANK BOOKS,
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Custom House and Commercial Blanks.

ARTIST'S MATERIALS.

MERCHANTS', STEAMBOATS' and other CLERKS, ARE RESPECTFULLY INVITED TO
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* * * * *

Transcriber's Notes:

Typographical errors in spelling and punctuation repaired; variant spellings changed when there was a clear majority.

The following variant spellings were retained: "depot" (used for New Orleans) and "depot" (used for rail-road); "moschetoes" and "mosquitoes"; "enquir" and "inquir" roots (used equally); "Pittsburg" (Miss.) and "Pittsburgh" (Pa.); "Cleaveland" (Ohio) (per Columbia Gazetteer of the World, this was the original name, after its founder Moses Cleaveland); "Zimple" and "Zimpel"; "regime" and "regime."

Hyphenation variants changed to majority use (with priority on usage in headings and text, over usage in index or tables); retained when equal (wood-lands and woodlands, re-transferred and retransferred, pre-eminence and preeminently). "steam-boat" and "steam boat" changed to "steamboat" except on p. 27, where "Steam Boat" is used for the first appearance of a new technology.

Punctuation after chapter and section headings, and illustration captions (periods, commas, no punctuation) was inconsistent; standardized to no punctuation. Brackets around "see Route" references changed to more frequent parentheses.

P. 20, "Vandreuil" corrected to "Vaudreuil."

P. 73, Meteorological table has been split for better displaying (text only).

P. 84, "inexaustible" changed to "inexhaustible."

P. 103, "Diocess" retained; per Oxford English Dictionary (OED) correct for time period.

P. 147, "Tchapitoulas" corrected to "Tchoupitoulas."

P. 174, "cotemporaries" retained; per OED, this was a common period variant for contemporaries.

P. 205, Route 4; "Tombigkbe" changed to "Tombigbee."

P. 206, Savannah. Original shows cumulative miles 2196. Transposition repaired.

P. 206, Route 10 heading, "Ala." changed to more frequent "Al."

P. 213, index; originally left justified "Seven blocks" now indented under "Fire consumes."

P. 222, index; originally left justified "Branch Bank" now indented under "United States."

The following discrepancies in route tables were retained as shown in the original:

P. 202, Smithfield, "1" in original would add up to 1086 cumulative (11 mile discrepancy).

P. 203, Greenupsburg, "13" in original would add up to 1675 cumulative (1 mile discrepancy). Georgetown "7" and Beaver "13" appear to be averaged, since each addition does not add up, but their cumulative addition (20 miles from Welleville to Beaver) does add up.

End of Project Gutenberg's Norman's New Orleans and Environs, by B. M. Norman

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Norman's New Orleans and EnvironsChapter V: Part 5

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