Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/221

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Place of his Landing, before he penetrated into the Country, to find out the Missisipi. They also entirely raz'd that Fort, so that Seven or Eight Years elaps'd, till Monsieur de Hiberville, a Gentleman of Canada, and a Person of Capacity and Courage, famous for his notable Expeditions to Hudson's Bay and other Parts, resolv'd to reassume and revive that Project. He came over into France upon that Design, and made an Armament about the Year 1698, set out and sail'd to the Gulf of Mexico. Being an able Seaman, he search'd along the Coast so narrowly, that he found the Mouth of that fatal Missisipi and built a Fort on it, leaving Men there, with a good Quantity of Ammunition and Provisions, and return'd to France, intending to go back with a Reinforcement, as he did, and having penetrated far into the Country, discover'd several Savage Nations, and join'd Friendship and Alliance with them, as also built another Fort, which he left well stor'd with Men and Necessaries, return'd into France; but attempting a third Voyage, he dy'd by the Way, and thus, for want of Relief and Support, that noble Enterprize miscarry'd again.

But God has now provided for it, and it is the Concern of Heaven, for if France is interested on Account of the Temporal Advantages it expects, the Church is so in like Manner, for the Conversion of the Indians it hopes will follow. Accordingly, Providence has taken the Affair in Hand, having rais'd the Man, who is the fittest to revive and support so important a Project. This is Monsieur Crozat, Secretary to the King, a Man of singular Worth, very Intelligent, Well-meaning, and prodigiously Rich, who without going out of his Closet, has been the Occasion of many notable Voyages by Sea, and all of them successful. To him, his Majesty, by his Letters Patent, bearing Date the ''14th of Septemb. 1712'', has granted the sole Power to trade and settle Colonies in the Countries describ'd in this Journal, and which are known to us by the Name of Louisiana and the River Missisipi, from hence forward to be call'd