lished its government, who promoted its foundation as the capital of Louisiana, and who lived here the best years of his life, devoting his every thought to its welfare during its precarious infancy; and, later when it had become established and he had retired to Paris, gave further evidence of fatherly love by appealing to the King in behalf of the first volunteer martyrs to liberty on American soil.

That we endorse the suggestion of erecting a memorial shaft and bronze statue to this great man at the entrance of the City Park, and of renaming that beautiful reservation in his honor "Bienville Park;" that this ceremonial take place in February, 1918, and a committee be named by this organization to offer itself as the medium by which all of the foregoing may be brought about and a proper, though much delayed, expression of gratitude be evidenced of our appreciation of the "Father of New Orleans."

Gen. Booth stated that he wished to record the request that some member of the Historical Society investigate the closing of Bayou Manchac and present the facts to the society at some future meeting. Gen. Booth was asked to take up the matter.

Mrs. Caroline Hoey, through Mrs. Stem, presented two pencil sketches of Fort Livingston in 1862 to the society. On motion of Mr. Hart the thanks of the society were extended to Mrs. Hoey.

Captain Allison Owen informed the society that the original battle flag of the Confederate States, designed by Gen. Beauregard, has been found, and is now in the possession of the Washington Artillery.

Mr. Hart, speaking for the Membership Committee, presented the following names for election to membership in the society: Miss Lily C. Whittaker, Mrs. Louise Goodin, Mr. H. Duvalle, and Mrs. H. Wallace Jones.

On motion, duly seconded and carried, they were unanimously elected.

By request, Rev. Father O'Brien, of Loyola University, agreed to present a paper on the history of the Jesuits in New Orleans at the July meeting of the society.

Meeting then adjourned.

(Signed) R. GLENK.

BIENVILLE'S DIFFICULTIES IN THE FOUNDING

OF NEW ORLEANS.

OR

HOW LOUISIANA'S CHIEF CITY CAME NEAR BEING BUILT AT NATCHEZ, MANCHAC, OR ON ST. BERNARD BAY, TEXAS.

The first immigration “en masse" to Louisiana was in 1718, but there was no New Orleans then to receive and welcome the colonists. The colony had at that time only 700 inhabitants, and in one day 800 persons landed in Louisiana, thus doubling the human charges under Bienville's care, and also increasing his desire to found a city on the Mississippi so as to provide better accommodations for his people.

A few colonists had settled on the new site-the New Orleans of to-day-but in 1719 only the impassioned eloquence of Bienville and the trust and confidence felt in him prevented the whole place from being depopulated. The flooded city on one hand, urging withdrawal from its perils, and on the other hand the devoted Governor appealing to the sufferers to remain. The waters rose, but Bienville's pleadings were stronger than the flood-one affected purses, the other their hearts. Love and trust and "sentiment" won the day-New Orleans was saved.

The first settlement on the banks of the Mississippi was not made with any intention of its being the seat of government for the Louisiana Province. It happened thus: Iberville was told by Bienville how he had "turned back" an English vessel which was seeking a site for an establishment on the Mississippi. As the French did not then have even a foothold on that river, Iberville saw the necessity of providing an appearance of French possession as soon as possible, or England would forstall his plans.

He immediately, January, 1700, set out with a small vessel and fifty Canadians, in order to secure some spot in the lower part of the river where he could erect a fort flying the

flag of France. This spot was fifty-four miles from the sea, and while the building was going on, who should appear on the desolate site but the brave Tonti, the heroic friend of La Salle, who, sixteen years before, had come to this very same place to meet by appointment his chief, his commander, La Salle, but found him not, nor knew he of his awful fatedead on the plains of Texas!

In this bleak fort, with a few soldiers and several pieces of cannon, Iberville left his young brother, and later sailed away to revisit his native land and secure more help for the colony.

When Governor Sauvolle died, Bienville left his dreary post to the frogs, mosquitoes and alligators, and went to Biloxi, 1701, thus assuming the Governorship of Louisiana in that year. For over forty-four years the name of Bienville is irrevocably intertwined with that of Louisiana.

It is sometimes confusing to read of Old Biloxi and New Biloxi. The first post was once also named Fort Maurepas, and is known to-day as Ocean Springs. New Biloxi, first called Fort St. Louis, is now the present beautiful and progressive Biloxi, pride of the Gulf Coast.

Around these two places, with Mobile, Ship Island and Dauphine Island, all the life and love and government of Louisiana centered for nearly twenty years. Governor Cadillac knew no such place as New Orleans. Its existence on the broad river was only in Bienville's mind, and he knew it only as a dream, as a possibility, a "hope for future years."

Iberville had visited the high bluff, now Natchez. It rose 200 feet above the rushing river, and his judgment selected it as the right place for Louisiana's seat of government.

He had the site surveyed, laid out in lots and named it St. Rosalie, in honor of the Countess de Pontchartrain. He had already named our largest lake Pontchartrain, and he felt a proud conviction that his choice of a future city would meet with entire commendation.

Bienville did not coincide with this view, but troubles arising between the French and Natchez Indians, he was obliged to visit Fort Rosalie, and, furthermore, he was ordered to build a fort there. A garrison of French troops took possession of the fort, and Sieur Pailloux was made. commander of the entire district.

Up to 1718 New Orleans, Bienville's abiding hope and dream, had not materialized in any way whatever. He saw only as in a dream a city on the river, not too far from the sea and controlling trade from the west as well as from the north and east regions of the province.

One of Bienville's titles was that of "commander general of all the establishments on the Mississippi and the rivers flowing into it."

How he longed then to build his dream city on that mighty river and receive in it the trade-French and Indian-that would follow the inflowing streams.

Now there were but a few establishments for him to supervise, only the lonely fort at the mouth of the riverthe fort among the Natchez Indians-and a settlement of the heroic Germans, pioneers whose date of arrival has not been recorded. When other settlements were made in 1724 these were referred to as "Le premier ancien village Allemand."

As the banks became alive with population, it seemed to Bienville time to build his "castle," which as yet was only "in the air."

But the prospects for a city on the Mississippi pointed most persistently to Fort Rosalie. And had Iberville lived it is more than probable that Bienville, to whom his brother's wishes were as law, would have yielded in favor of Natchez. The death of Iberville and the change later of Louisiana's ownership from Crozat to the Western Company, 1717, turned affairs once more in favor of Bienville's desires.

Appointed Governor again by the new company, Bienville hastened from Mobile to the Mississippi river and se

lected a site accessible from the river's mouth and also accessible by lake and bayou to Biloxi, Mobile and the islands of the gulf, leaving there fifty men to clear the ground and erect some buildings, 1718.

But choosing a site is not building a town, and Bienville's seat of government was "non est" for several years to come. Besides he had no authority but his own for selecting the place at all.

And now came the unexpected commission from the Western Company to forthwith explore, settle and take possession of Bay St. Bernard, on the coast of Texas. It was there La Salle had landed when Beaujen refused to give. further aid in search for the entrance to the "fatal" river, 1685.

France claimed this part of the territory as belonging to La Salle's explorations, and determined to occupy it before Spain should claim it as belonging to her Mexican possessions. A city must be founded there.

This extension of the Louisiana Province was a favorite move of the company, not realizing seemingly that such spreading over distant localities weakened the forces of the colony and entailed vast and unnecessary expense. Bienville was very unwilling to have any hand in a foundation so remote from the center of his colony and from the Mississippi river. But a soldier's first duty is to obey the orders of his superior.

Hubert, senior councillor, violently opposed any settlement on the Mississippi. His land concessions were in the Natchez district, hence his preference for the bluff site was considered more self-interested than patriotic. The favorite object with the company in France was the establishment at Bay St. Bernard. A ship, the Latour, was sent by them, with the positive orders to Bienville to begin immediately a settlement on the Texas Bay. The ship had on board fifty workmen and 250 settlers with which force work could be commenced without delay. Moreover, for fear this order might not be of sufficient force to move Bienville to com