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charter had been sadly curtailed. In 1698, he gave place to the Earl of Bel'-la-mont, a man of enlightened and liberal views. Bellamont's commission gave him authority over New York, and the whole of New England except Rhode Island and Connecticut.

212. About this time, a person named William Kidd gained a wide notoriety. Having proved himself an able naval officer in the war with France, he was appointed commander of a vessel fitted out by private enterprise in England to cruise against the pirates in the eastern seas. Not finding the voyage as profitable as was expected, Kidd and his men turned pirates themselves. After taking many vessels and accumulating a large amount of treasure, Kidd ran for the West Indies, and there learned that a proclamation had been issued against him in England. In spite of this, he ventured to return to New York. Fletcher, the old patron of pirates, was no longer governor; and Kidd, after secretly depositing part of his treasure and distributing the balance among his crew, proceeded to Boston to meet Bellamont, who was one of the projectors of the enterprise. The latter, not satisfied with his statements, arrested him, and sent him to London for trial. Here, after some delay, granted him in the hope that he would implicate those who had sent him out, Kidd was convicted. He was hanged in chains in May, 1701, protesting his innocence to the last, and declaring that he had attacked none but French vessels, and consequently violated no law, France and England being then at war.

213. Repeated attempts have been made to find the treas ure supposed to have been buried by Captain Kidd. One tradition says that his vessel was taken up the Hudson and sunk with its valuable cargo at the foot of the Highlands. The general opinion, however, points to Long Island Sound

execution. With whom did Sloughter make a treaty? By whom was he succeeded? What was Fletcher's character? In what did he mainly employ himself? To whom did Fletcher give place? What was included in Bellamont's charter? 212. Shortly before this, who had become notorious? What was Kidd's early history? What led him and his men to turn pirates? After accumulating a large amount of treasure, what islands did Kidd make for? Where did he then go? What action was taken by Bellamont? What became of Kidd? What did he declare to the last? 218. What attempts

1690]

SOUTH CAROLINA UNDER SOTHEL.

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as the place, and a box known to have belonged to the pi rates was actually found on Gardiner's Island, containing 750 ounces of gold and 847 ounces of silver, besides other valuables. The balance of Kidd's ill-gotten gains have been diligently sought for by treasure-hunters, but in vain. A small island in the Sound, visible from the Connecticut shore, is still known as "Kidd's Island". A cave is shown where the pirates are said to have slept, and a deep hollow in a rock is called "Kidd's punch-bowl". Throughout the whole neighborhood, according to the old song,

"Ever since the days of Captain Kidd,
The Yankees think there's money hid."

CHAPTER XXIV.

SOUTH CAROLINA FROM 1690 TO 1700.

214. AFTER Colleton was deposed in South Carolina, Soth'el, one of the proprietaries and a man of the people's choice, was appointed governor. Though his administration was distinguished by some wise measures, such as the admission of Huguenots to the privileges of citizens, it was on the whole unsatisfactory; and, threatened with legal proceedings, Sothel deemed it best to withdraw. His successors tried in vain to reconcile the differences between the people and the proprietaries. It was not till 1695, when the government fell into the hands of an honest Quaker named Archdale, in whom all parties had confidence, that harmony was restored and prosperity revived. Archdale made a treaty with the Spaniards of St. Augustine, the sincerity of which was proved by mutual acts of kindness. There was now nothing to check

have been repeatedly made? Where is it thought the treasure was buried? What was found on Gardiner's Island? Where is "Kidd's Island"? What are still shown? What does an old song say?

214. After Colleton's deposition, who was appointed governor of South Carolina? What course did he pursue? Why did he resign? What is said of his successors! Who was at last made governor? With whom did he conclude a treaty? What was

the growth of the colony. Scotland and New England both contributed emigrants, who found in the rich soil and genial climate of Carolina all they desired. The Church of England was established by law, but other sects were tolerated.

215. Rice was first raised in 1696, from seed sent to Archdale from Madagascar. The attempt had been previously made, but without success. In 1698, it was first exported, 16 casks being sent to England.

The cultivation of cotton in America commenced at Jamestown, in 1621; but, not proving profitable, it was abandoned. In 1702, both cotton and silk were produced in South Carolina. The importance of the former was hardly appreciated till a century later.

CHAPTER XXV.

FRENCH SETTLEMENTS IN THE SOUTHWEST.- -CHICKASAW WAR.

216. THOUGH La Salle had taken possession of Louisiana in behalf of France, the Spanish also claimed it under the discoveries of Ponce de Leon and De Soto. Resolved to secure a region whose future importance he foresaw, the French king, immediately after the peace of Ryswick, sent out a company under D'Iberville [de-bare-veel'] to colonize the country. They entered "the hidden river" in 1699. Disappointed in what he saw, D'Iberville thought he was mistaken in the place, till the Indians brought him a letter that had been written to La Salle by his lieutenant, which they had kept with superstitious awe for thirteen years. He founded Biloxi [be-luk'-se], and in 1700, ascending the river to where Natchez now stands, selected a site for a military

the condition of the colony at this time? 215. When was rice first raised? Where did the seed come from? When was it first exported? When and where was the cultivation of cotton commenced? Where were cotton and silk produced in 1702? How long before the importance of cotton was appreciated?

216. Who contested the French claim to Louisiana? On what grounds? What steps did the French king take to secure the country? When did they enter the Mississippi? What did D'Iberville at first think? What convinced him that he was in the right spot!

1700]

THE MISSISSIPPI SCHEME.

145

station and named it Fort Rosalie [ro-za-le']. Thus was Mississippi first settled.

D'Iberville having died, the king of France in 1712 granted Crozat [cro-zah'] a monopoly of Louisiana for fifteen years. Finding no mines and disappointed in the hope of increasing his wealth, in five years he surrendered the colony to the king, leaving in it only seven hundred souls.

217. The next thing tried for the advancement of French interests in Louisiana was the grand Mississippi Scheme. John Law, a ruined gambler from Scotland, devised a plan for enriching himself and his partners by an indefinite issue of paper money. A company was formed in Paris, which obtained the sole right of coining money, and of trading with Asia, Canada, and the Mississippi valley. When the paper circulation was over $200,000,000, Law was made Minister of Finance. He kept up the value of his bills by ordering that any one who sought to exchange Mississippi money for silver should forfeit both. It was thought that untold wealth would be amassed, and the stock rose to nearly twenty times its nominal value. But soon the bubble burst; in May, 1720, the notes were worth only ten cents on a dollar and the company was bankrupt. Thousands were ruined, and Louisiana gained nothing from this grand delusion.

218. In 1718, more French colonists were sent over; a city was laid out with much ceremony and named New Orleans after the Duke of Orleans, then regent. For several years it grew but little; huts were put up without order; and the people who had been sent to build a city encamped on its borders, as an old historian tells us, "waiting for houses". The proprietors of the colony introduced the culture of tobacco, indigo, rice, and silk, and opened the lead mines of Missouri in their search for silver; but, finding that

What places did he found? Who, in 1712, obtained a monopoly of Louisiana? How long did he retain it? What was then the population of the colony? 217. What was next tried for promoting French interests in Louisiana? Who originated the Mississippi Scheme? Give an account of it. How did it result? 218. What city was laid out in 1718? After whom was it named? What was its condition for several years? What did the colonists try to raise? What mines did they open? Notwithstanding this, what

they were losing money, they surrendered their privileges to the crown.

Meanwhile the Frenchmen at Fort Rosalie had required the high-spirited Natchez, "the children of the sun," to give up their ancient city, that it might be turned into a plantation. Fired by this injustice, and incited by the Chickasaws, the Natchez, in 1729, fell on the fort, and put to death all it contained, except the women and children, and two mechanics. Early in the following year, a party of French from New Orleans revenged this massacre. The Natchez were almost exterminated. Such of the survivors as were not sold into slavery in St. Domingo, sought refuge with other tribes, and lost their very name.

219. The French did not forget the part the Chickasaws had acted, and in 1736 the forces of New France were ordered to concentrate in the Chickasaw country. D'Artaguette [dar-ta-get'], governor of Illinois, with the young and accomplished Vincennes [vin-senz'], descended the river at the head of a few French and about a thousand Indians. Not daring to wait for the army from New Orleans, on account of the impatience of his red allies, D'Artaguette attacked the foe; but, after carrying two of their posts, he fell mortally wounded in storming a third. The Indians fled, leaving the two French leaders in the enemies' hands. Five days afterwards, Bienville [be-ang-veel'] made his appearance from below; but the Chickasaws were now strongly fortified by the aid of English traders, and his assaults were repulsed. Within three days a retreat was ordered. The invaders threw their cannon into the river, and started for home; and the Red Men celebrated their victory by burning D'Artaguette, Vincennes, and the rest of their prisoners, at the stake.

A similar attempt was made by the French in 1739; but

did they find it best to do? Meanwhile, what had taken place at Fort Rosalie? How did the French revenge this massacre? What became of the few Natchez that survived? 219. What tribe had incited the Natchez against the French? How did the French seek to punish them? Give the history of D'Artaguette's expedition. Of Bienville's. How did the Chickasaws celebrate their victory? What was the result of a similar expedition in 1789? After this, how long did Louisiana remain tranquil?

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