what would seem the most monstrous exaggerations, were they not stamped with reality by the testimony of truth and experience. We are some time jeered for our sanguine anticipations; but are they not fully justified by the past? Happy is that people whose guide is the highest star of Hope; whose Heaven is in the future yet to come, not in the past which is gone forever.

Having received my impressions of New Orleans from the race of Samelfungus Travellers of the John Bull School, who go about as it were like every lion, seeking who they may devour, and who libei a nation for a bad bed or a bad dinner, I was agreeably surprised at finding it one of the most orderly, decorous cities in the world. I was under the serious apprehension of being robbed at noonday, knocked on the head at night, or at least being obliged to fight a duel with some ferocious dandy with tremendous whiskers. But all these fears vanished in a few days, during which I neither saw a drunken man, a fight, an assassination or a mob; and I came to the conclusion that at best an honest, well disposed, peaceable man might stand a good chance of living there, as long as any where else, provided he kept clear of the yellow fever, which, after all, does not carry off so many people as consumption in the North. Though so early in the Spring it was the season of flowers. and bouquets which are made up here in a style superior to any I have ever seen, and are displayed in shops, markets and every where. Flora seemed the presiding goddess, and the Creole ladies are her attendant nymphs. I should be sorry if this pleasant city were ever drowned, as does not seem altogether improbable, since it is deluged by every Summer shower; menaced by the Mississippi which peeps over its banks at it rather suspiciously; and the ground on which it is presumed to stand, is more than half water. Standing one day on the levee, I perceived the water of the river slily insinuating itself through a little opening and beginning to slide down towards the city below. On pointing this out to a capital specimen of half-horse, half-alliga

tor who was sitting on the roof of a broad horn, and expressing my apprehensions, he rolled his quid about the deep profundity within and replied with a significant jeer"Don't make yourself uneasy, stranger, folks born to be hanged, need never be afraid of drowning."

James K. Paulding was born in the State of New York in 1778, of Dutch descent. He was intimate with all of the literary men of his period, specially with Washington Irving. Began his literary career by contributing to the "Morning Chronicle." In 1817 he published "Letters from the South by a Northern Man," containing accurate description of Virginia and its people. Between 1818 and 1823 he became Secretary of the Navy, and after his retirement made a trip with the President, Van Buren, which places the date of these notes at about 1842. He died in 1860.

ISIANA.

(By Joseph A. Breaux.)

Long before the College of Orleans was chartered, the need of an institution for the education of the youth of Louisiana was recognized. The Lemoyne brothers were always zealous adherents of the cause of the French colonies. The names of Bienville and Iberville of that family are inseparably connected with the history of the colonies under French domination. Bienville had already been informed of his recall, and notified that another was on his way to succeed him; but he was not the less interested in all that related to Louisiana. Appreciating the great necessity for schools to educate the children of the colonies, he wrotes to his home government on the subject, and sought influences on behalf of such schools, but met only with disappointment. The colonies themselves were not very much interested. Those who had means sent their children to school abroad. This is not always an advisable step, since frequently those educated in distant colleges return without being very much concerned about their home surroundings and their community.

Louisiana in any field, it seems to me, is interesting. I must confess that, when the suggestion was made to me, I knew precious little of the College of Orleans. But I felt some curiosity to become more familiar with the subject, particularly when I learned that Charles Gayarre was one of the students of the school, and one of its graduates, and that it was the only college that he had attended. Mr. Gayarre has written some things about the College of Orleans, but he does not mention the fact that he was ever one of its students.*

As the college went out of existence

*He does so under the pseudonym of Fernando de Lemos-in his work of that name-which contains the only published description of the old College of Orleans. He also took pleasure in recalling the fact, in conversation, that he was a student in the old college.Grace King.

years ago, he may have thought that his fame was entirely above this at-one-time highly useful educational institution of this city. It conferred benefits on the community, of which it is well not to lose sight entirely.

The College of Orleans was a non-sectarian foundation, as it was under the patronage of the State, and was created by act of legislature dated 1805. Among the regents was the Reverend Patrick Walsh; the well-known philanthropist, Julien Poydras, was president of the legislative council, and William Claiborne, the governor, signed and approved the statute to which it owes its organization. It was situated where now stands the Church of Saint Augustine, at the corner of Hospital and St. Claude Streets. It was the first institution of Louisiana incorporated under legislative enactment. In the beginning it was in charge of Jules d'Avezac, a native of San Domingo, and a brother-in-law of Edward Livingston, the celebrated lawyer. He and Livingston were military aids on the staff of General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. Mr. Gayarre refers to d'Avezac in tender accents, he knew him as a sympathetic and upright man, for whom his juvenile subjects of the College entertained the highest regard. D'Avezac remained in charge only a short time. As he was a lawyer, it is probable that he left the College of Orleans to practice law, just as so many others connected with educational institutions have done.

Rochefort, another native of San Domingo, succeeded d'Avezac. About 4,000 of the unfortunate population of San Domingo took refuge in New Orleans, where they received the sympathy and support of the people. Generally these San Domingans were energetic, and a number of them were highly educated, and rendered valuable services. There were lawyers among them-Moreau-Lislet, whose name is identified with the laws of the State; and Dormenon. Of the latter, however, and of his eventful career, nothing favorable can be said. Strange to say, for acts committed before he came to New Orleans he was disbarred and destituted from the office of judge which he occupied.

His

case is reported in the first of Martin's Reports, and forms a somewhat interesting chapter in the jurisprudence of the state.

To turn our attention again to Rochefort, the teacher of belles-lettres-he must have been a kind-hearted man. He had his residence in a very large building, where he assembled his favorite students. And he had theater parties, the expenses of which had to be met by the parents of the students; for he was economical, although a poet. On the day after a theater party they enjoyed themselves in discussing and criticising the plays and actors of the regular troupes. He would also treat students to suppers, and at the opportune time, when wine flowed freely, he read his poems. It is said that his friendly students incurred the enmity of other students and of other teachers. The account given by Mr. Gayarre of his visit to Rochefort on his deathbed is most pathetic. As frequently is the case with literary men, Rochefort had been indifferent to mere lucre, and he was driven to such stress that he had been under the necessity of selling many of his books. It was to him like parting with something of himself, his own flesh. Still, he had quite a number remaining upon which it pleased him to rest his eyes. Just previous to this visit Mr. Gayarre had been elected to the United States Senate. When he entered the sickroom the old professor exclaimed, "Let me kiss, child, thy capitolian lips, before I am wafted across the Styx by old Charon. I predict that you will have a brilliant future. You are my work, boy, you are my work, never forget it." Mr. Gayarre adds, "If the students gave him the name of old Tyrtaeus, as he had a clubfoot, he also was a poet. He was laid at rest many years ago. True to his wishes, I have never forgotten him. Let these lines be proof of my fond and grateful remembrance."

Mr. Gayarre is pleased to mention also the professor of mathematics of the College, Teinturie, who received, he says, a good salary. He notes his combination of occupations. He says that he was an excellent gardener, and also