Page:A Topographical Description of the State of Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Louisiana.djvu/102

94 the river, will very nearly apply to those which are opposite, on the western side.

The city of New Orleans, is situated in a bend of the river, on the eastern side, in latitude thirty, north, and longitude ninety, west. It was laid out by the French, in the year 1720, extending about a mile on front, from the gate of France, to that of Chapitoulas, and somewhat more than one third of a mile in rear to the rampart. On the upper side an extensive suburb has been added, called Saint Mary. The streets are straight, crossing each other at right angles, but are much too narrow, being only thirty-two French feet in width. In the centre of the front of the city is a large, handsome square, called Place D'armes. The church and town house, built of stone, stand facing the square. The houses in front of the city, and one or two squares back, are mostly brick, and are two stories high; the rest of the houses are chiefly one story, and built of wood. They are elevated about eight feet from the ground, to avoid the inconvenience of water, and the under part generally occupied as cellars. The city has been fortified, but the works, which were originally too deficient to have been defended, have gone to decay, and are now principally removed. There are about one thousand five hundred houses, and between ten. and twelve thousand inhabitants, including Saint Mary's. It is the capital of Louisiana, and the seat of government of the lower territory. Although the