Joutel's Journal of La Salle's Last Voyage, 1684-7Joutel, Henri
History
Joutel's Journal of La Salle's Last Voyage, 1684-7
Joutel, Henri
La Salle, Robert Cavelier, sieur de, 1643-1687; Louisiana -- History -- To 1803; Mississippi River -- Discovery and exploration
We have thought fit to describe those two famous Ports of the Bay of
_Mexico_, as well because it has not been so exactly done before, as in
Regard that the Settlement which is going to be made in _Louisiana_,
may have some Dependance on them; for the _Havana_ lying in the Way,
those who perform the Voyage may have the Conveniency of taking in
Refreshments there, of putting in for Shelter in foul Weather, and of
careening or refitting. As for the _Veracruz_, tho’ farther out of the
Way, the Correspondence there may be advantagious for the Securing of
the Colony of _Louisiana_.
But how can that fail of succeeding, under the Conduct of _Monsieur
Crozat_, who has the Charge of that Enterprize, and whom Providence
seems to have in a Manner ingag’d to advance in Wealth and Honour, to
the Amazement of the World, and yet free from Envy, from Jealousy, and
from any Sort of Complaints. There is therefore no Reason to presage
otherwise than well of the Event of this Affair; the Blessings God has
pour’d down upon all his former Undertakings, seem to be a Security for
what is to follow. There is Reason to hope for still greater Blessings
on this Project of a Settlement in _Louisiana_, as being equally
advantagious to Religion and the State; for the propagating of the
Knowledge and Service of God among an infinite Number of Savages, by
Means of the Missioners, who are to be sent to and maintain’d in those
vast Countries; the Planting of the Faith in that New World, only the
Name whereof is known to us, and the Reducing of it to be a Christian
and a _French_ Province, under the Dominion of our August Monarch,
and to the eternal Memory of his Reign, will be the Consequences and
the Fruits of _Monsieur Crozat_’s Care and Expence, the Glory of his
Enterprize, the Security of the large Fortune he has made in this Life,
and what is rare among such rich Men, the Earnest of much better in the
Next. Heaven grant our Hopes and Wishes may be answer’d.
_I am_, &c.
_The Letters Patent granted by the King of_ France _to M._ Crozat.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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