Antiqueness—A Proposition and Corollary—"All is New"—Freshness of Natural Scenery—The immigrant Inhabitants—An Exception—A serious Duty—A laudable Resolution—A gay Bevy—A Hawser-ferry—A Scene on the Kaskaskia—"Old Kaskaskia"—Structure of Dwellings—Aspect of Antiquity—A Contrast—"City of the Pilgrims"—The Scenes of a Century—Lane-like Streets—Old Customs—"The Parallel ceases"—The same Fact with the Spaniards—The Cause—The French Villagers—The Inn-gallery—A civil Landlord—The Table d'HÔte—A Moonlight Ramble—The old Church—The Courthouse—The fresh Laugh—The Piano—The Brunettes
The Explorers of the West—The French Jesuits—Cause of the Undertaking—The Tale of the Hunters—Marquette and Joliet viii—Their Exploration—The Natives—The Illini—A Village—Manito of the Missouri—The Illinois—Amazed Delight—Joliet's Narrative—Marquette—Name to the River—Joliet's Reward—Lapse of Years—M. Robert, Cavalier de la Salle—His Talent, Ambition, and Enterprise—Visit to Canada—Success at Paris—Tonti and Hennepin—Exploration—The Illinois—An Indian Village—The Hoard of Corn—Peoria Lake—Treatment by the Natives—Loss of the Supply-boat—Fort "Creve Coeur"—Its Site—"Spring Bay"—The Indian War—Danger of La Salle—The Mutiny—The Poison—Exploration of the Mississippi—The Falls—Captivity—Hennepin's Travels—Character of these early Writers—"Fort St. Louis"—Second Expedition of La Salle—The Osage—A Village of Natives—The Oubachi—Fort Prudhomme—Formal Possession—Louisiana—Ceremonies at the Gulf—River "St. Louis"—Villages founded—Fate of La Salle—Retributive Justice—Fate of Marquette—Decease and Burial—Canadian Colonies—Their Design—Mining Expeditions—M. de Seur—Disappointment—Couriers du bois—Petits Paysans—Merry Mortals—Origin of Kaskaskia—Name—DepÔt of Fur-trade—De Soto and the Tradition—His Death and Burial—Original Extent of Kaskaskia—The "Common Field"—The Grant—Policy of French and Spanish Governments—"Common Fields" and "Commons"—Regulations—Congress-grants—Harmony with the Savages—The Cause—Exaggeration—Early Peace and Prosperity—Jesuit College—Law's Scheme—The Design—Les Illinois—The Failure—The "South Sea Bubble"—Prosperity of Kaskaskia—Luxuriance of Agriculture—A chimerical Design—Cession and Recession—An unwelcome Change—Removal and the Causes
Portraiture of Character—The Difficulty—The French Villager of the Mississippi—His ordinary Deportment—Hospitality—Laws and Courts—Scholastic Proficiency—Affairs of the Nation—"A Burden!"—Their Virtues—The Helpmate—Religious Faith—Festivals—Their Property—The Change—Their Avocations—Their Idiom—A Contrast—The Peculiarities—Costume—Amusements—Slaves—Early Government—An unwelcome Change—"Improvement!"—A hateful ix Term—The Steam-engine—The old Edifices—The Streets—Advantages of the Change—The Contrast—The poorer Class—Evils of the Change—Superior Enterprise
Delay on an interesting Subject—Peculiarities of French and Spanish Villages similar—Social Intercourse—Old Legends—Dreamy Seclusion—Commercial Advantages of Kaskaskia—The Trade—The River—The Land-office—Population—Fort Gage—Clarke's Expedition—The Catholic Church—Erection—Its Exterior—The Interior—The Altar-lamp—Structure of the Roof—Surprise of the Villagers—Interdict on the Architect—The Belfry—The Bell—View from the Tower—The Churchyard—The first Record—Old Chronicles—The Nunnery—The Seminary—Departure from Kaskaskia—Farms of the French—A Reminiscence—"Indian Old Point"—Extermination of the Norridgewocks—Details—The Obelisk to Father Rasle—Route to Prairie du Rocher—Aubuchon—Profusion of wild Fruit—Nuts—Grapes—A Wine Story—Mode of Manufacture—The Cliffs of Prairie du Rocher—"Common Field"—Productions—The Bayou—A Scene of Blood—A Century Slumber—Peculiarities—View from the Cliffs—Petrifactions—Simplicity and Ignorance—Characteristics of the French Villager—The Catholic Church—Unhealthy Site—Cause of a Phenomenon
The Western Valley—Early Conception of its Extent inadequate—The French Cordon of Fortification—Origin of the Policy—Stations of Posts erected—Fort Chartres—Groves of wild Fruit—The Dark-browed Villager—His direction to the Ruins—Desertion and Dreariness of the Spot—Solemn Effect of the old Pile in the Forest—Coup d'oeil—The Mississippi Slough—Erection of Fort Chartres—The Design—Expense—Material—Rebuilding—Village Cession, Recession, and the Results—Seat of Power—Form and Extent—Preservation of the Masonry—French Engineering—Original Structure of the Fortress—The Pride of its Prime—Its Scenes—The "Golden Age"—The "old Residenters"—The Pomp of War—A Shelter for the Night
Fort Chartres—A romantic Scene—Legendary Lore—Erection of Fort Chartres—Enormous Expenditure—Needless Strength—The Engineer—His Fate—The "Buried Treasure"—The Money-diggers—Their Success—The "Western Hannibal"—Expedition against Vincennes—Capture of
