Page:Early History St Louis and Missouri.djvu/20

14 produced the same sensation, and was intensified by the report soon after that M. d'Abbadie, overwhelmed by the orders he had received, had died of grief. This state of public feeling so far manifested itself hostile to Spanish authority that, although the transfer was made in 1762, it was not carried fully into execution until 1769.

A large warehouse was built and occupied on the eastern part of the block which was known as La Place d'Armes at that time, but is now all used for the most extensive mercantile operations.

In the early part of the following summer, 1765, the commandant of Fort Chartres, Louis St. Ange de Bellerive, delivered the possession of the fort to Capt. Sterling, an English officer appointed by his country for that purpose, and removed the garrison of above forty soldiers to the new colony. This added much to its military strength and character, but very little to its moral and industrial habits. The disorder that soon followed demonstrated the necessity of having a governing head to the community, and probably no people were ever blessed with a more suitable or worthy person for a governing chief than St. Ange de Bellerive was for theirs; and their sound judgment and necessity at once assigned him to the place.

He was a favorite with Ms countrymen, and his name acted as a talisman in securing the respect and affection of the Indians, as they knew him to be an inveterate foe to the English, which was a crowning virtue in their eyes. He was the friend of Pontiac, the great chief of the Ottawas and demigod of Western savages.

He alone had been able to persuade Pontiac to bury the hatchet when all his allies had forsaken him. "By their unanimous desire he was vested with the authority of Commandant General, with full power to grant lands and to do all other acts consistent with that office as though he held it by royal authority."

He was the intimate friend of Mr. Liguest, the founder of the town, and like him was never married.

There can be no doubt that Louis St. Ange de Bellerive accepted the authority conferred on him by the people of St. Louis, and acted on it with the approbation of Aubri, the Commandant General of New Orleans, as he was too honorable an