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ART. II. — Commerce and Resources of Louisiana.

THIS state, the southernmost of the southern United States, was explored in 1632, by La Salle, and named Louisiana, in honor of Louis XIV. It is bounded north by Arkansas and Mississippi; east by Mississippi, from which it is separated by Mississippi river, to the 31st degree of north latitude; thence east in that parallel, to Pearl river, and down that river to its entrance in the Gulf of Mexico; southeast and south by the Gulf of Mexico, and west by Texas, from which it is separated by Sabine river, to the 32d degree of north latitude; and thence due north to 33 degrees north latitude, where it meets the south boundary of Arkansas. It is between 29 and 33 deg. north latitude, and between 88 deg. 40 min¨ and 94 deg. 25 min¨ west longitude, and is 250 miles long, from north to south. On the Gulf of Mexico, it is about 300 miles broad, and continues this width for 120 or 130 miles inland, when it suddenly contracts to the width of about 100 miles; and on the north boundary, it is 180 miles wide.

The state is divided into thirty-eight parishes, answering to counties in the other states; which, according to the official census of 1840, were as follows: —

eastern district.		western district.
Parishes.	Pop.	Parishes.	Pop.
Ascension	6,951	Avoyelles	6,616
Assumption	7,141	Caddo	5,282
Baton Rouge, E.	8,138	Calcassieu	2,057
Baton Rouge, W.	4,638	Caldwell	2,017
Carroll	4,237	Catahaula	4,955
Concordia	9,414	Claiborne	6,185
Feliciana, East	11,893	Lafayette	7,841
Feliciana, West	10,910	Natchitoches	14,350
Iberville	8,495	Rapidcs	14,132
Jefferson	10,470	St. Laudry	15,233
Lafourche Interior	7,303	St. Martin's	8,674
Livingston	2,315	St. Mary's	8,950
Madison	5,142	Union	1,838
Orleans	102,193	Washita	4,640
Plaquemines	5,060
Point Coupee	7,898
St. Bernard	3,237
St. Charles	4,700
St. Helena	3,525
St. James	8,548
St. John Baptist	5,776
St. Tammany	4.598
Terre Bonne	4,410
Washington	2,649	Total	102,770
Total	249,641	Total of state	352,411

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The population in 1810, was 76,556; in 1820, 153,407; in 1830, 215,575; and in 1840 it had increased, as will be seen by the preceding table, to 352,411; of whom 162,452 were slaves. Of the free popula. tion, in 1840, 89,744 were white males, and 68,710 white females; 11,526 colored males, 13,976 colored females.

The employments of the population, in 1840, are thus classified by the census, viz: — In agriculture, 79,289; in commerce, 8,549; in manufactures and trades, 7,565; in navigating the ocean, 1,322; in navigating canals, lakes, and rivers, 662; and in the learned professions, 1,018.

In 1699, a French settlement was begun at Ibberville, by M. Ibberville; who, in the attempt to plant the country, lost his life. His efforts were followed up by M. Crozat, a man of wealth, who held the exclusive trade of the country for a number of years. About the year 1717, he transferred his interest to a chartered company, at the head of which was the celebrated John Law, whose national bank, and Mississippi speculation, involved the ruin of half the French nobility. In 1731, the company resigned the concern to the crown; who, in 1782, ceded the whole of Louisiana to Spain. In 1800, Spain re-conveyed the province to the French, of whom it was purchased by the United States, in 1803, for about $15,000,000. This purchase included all the present territory of the United States, west of the Mississippi. Soon after the purchase, the present state of Louisiana was separated from the rest of the territory, under the namo of the territory of Orleans. In 1812, Louisiana was admitted to the Union as a state, and the part of West Florida west of Pearl river was annexed to it. In December, 1814, and for several days afterwards, the British made an attack upon New Orleans; but were repulsed, January 8th, 1815, by the Americans, under General Jackson, with the loss of about 3,000 men killed, wounded, and taken prisoners. The American loss is stated to have been only seven men killed, and six wounded. General Packenham, the British commander, was killed.

In 1764, British vessels began to visit the Mississippi. They would sail past the city, make fast to a tree opposite the present city of Lafayette, and trade with the citizens. The exports during the last year of its subjection to France, were $250,000; and the population of the city was 8,190. The commerce suffered by the restrictions of the Spanish. In 1785, the population of the city, exclusive of the settlements in the vicinity, was 4,980. A more liberal course of the Spanish government revived the trade of New Orleans; and French, British, and American vessels, began to visit New Orleans. In 1788, a fire consumed 900 houses. In 1791, the first company of French comedians arrived from Cape Francois, having fled from the massacre at St. Domingo. Other emigrants opened academies, the education of youth having been previously in the hands of priests and nuns. In 1792, Baron Carondelet arrived. He divided the city into four wards, and recommended lighting it, and employing watchmen. The revenue of the city did not amount to $7,000, and the lighting it required a tax of $1 12 1-2 cents on every chimney. He erected new fortifications, and had the militia trained. In 1794, the first newspaper was published in Louisiana. In 1795, permission was granted by the king to the citizens of the United States to deposit their merchandise at New Orleans, during a period often years. In 1796, the canal Carondelet was completed. On March 21st, 1801, Louisiana was ceded by Spain to the French republic; and on April 30th, 1803, Bonaparte,

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as first consul, sold it to the United States for about $15,000,000, and it was taken possession of on the 30th of November. The population of (he city did not then exceed 8,056, and of the province hut 49,473; 42,000 of whom were within the present bounds of Louisiana. The duties of the custom-house, the year preceding the cession, amounted to §117,515; which would have been greater, but for the corruption of the officers. The Roman Catholic religion was the only one publicly allowed. The revenues of the city, in 1802, were $19,278. There entered the Mississippi, this year, 256 vessels; of which 18 were public armed vessels; of American, 48 ships, 63 brigs, 50 schooners, and 9 sloops; of Spanish, 14 ships, 17 brigs, 4 polacres, 64 schooners, and 1 sloop; of French, 1 brig. In 1804, New Orleans was made a port of entry and delivery, and the bayou St. John a port of delivery. A city charter was granted New Orleans in 1805. January 10th, 1812, the first steamboat arrived at the city, from Pittsburgh; having descended in 259 hours.

The whole southern border of the state, from Pearl river to the Sabine, consists either of sea-marsh or vast prairies, which occupy about one-fifth of the surface of the state; and on the borders of the streams are timbered lands. The tract about the mouths of the Mississippi, for 30 miles, is one continued swamp, destitute of trees, and covered with a species of coarse reed, lour or five feet high. The prospect of the country, from the mast of a ship, is an extended and dreary waste. Along the whole border of the Gulf of Mexico, a sea-marsh extends inland, for 20 or 30 miles. Back of this, the land gradually rises a little, and constitutes the prairies. A large extent of country is annually overflowed by the Mississippi, and its outlets. From lat. 32 deg. to 31 deg., the average width of overflowed land is 20 miles; from lat. 31 deg. to the efflux of La Fourche, the width is about 40 miles. All the country below the La Fourche, with little exception, is overflowed. By a survey made by order of the government of the United States, in 1828, it was found that the river overflowed an extent of 5,000,000 of acres, a great proportion of which is at present unfit for cultivation. A part of this is covered by a heavy growth of timber, and an almost impenetrable growth of cane, and other shrubbery. This becomes dry on the retiring of the river to its natural channels, and has a soil of great fertility, and which might, by labor, be rendered fit for cultivation. There are, in some parts, basins or depressions, in which the water remains until it is evaporated, or absorbed by the earth. These, by draining, might constitute rice-fields. The sea-marsh is partially overflowed by the tides, and especially when driven in by the equinoxial gales. In the alluvial territory, are small bodies of prairie lands, slightly elevated, without timber, and of great fertility. More extended prairies constitute a large portion of the state. The pine woods, which are extensive, have generally a rolling surface, and a poor soil. The greater part of the prairies has a second rate soil; but some parts of those of Opelousas, and particularly of Attakapas, have great fertility, and feed extensive herds of cattle. More earth is deposited by the Mississippi in its overflow on its immedate margin, than further back; and therefore the land is higher adjoining the river, than in the rear of its banks. This alluvial margin, of a breadth from 400 yards to one and a half miles, is a rich soil; and, to prevent the river from inundating the valuable tract in the rear, and which could not be drained, an artificial embankment is raised on the margin of the river, called the Levee. On the east side of

414

the river, this embankment commences 60 miles above Now Orleans, and extends down the river more than 120 miles. On the west shore, it commences at Point Coupee, 172 miles above New Orleans. Along this portion of the river, its sides present many beautiful and finely cultivated plantations, and a continued succession of pleasant residences. The country between the Mississippi, Ibberville, and Pearl rivers, in its southern parts, is generally level, and highly productive in cotton, sugar, rice Indian corn, and indigo. The northern part has an undulating surface, and has a heavy natural growth of white, rod, and yellow oak, hickory black walnut, sassafras, magnolia, and poplar. In the northwest part, Red river, after entering the state by a single channel, and flowing about 30 miles, spreads out into a great number of channels, forming many lakes, islands, and swamps, over a space of 50 miles long, and 6 broad. Here the fallen timber, floated down by the stream, has collected, and formed the celebrated raft, which formerly extended 160 miles, obstructing the navigation of the river. Most of it has been removed by order of the general government, and the remainder will, ere long, be cleared away, opening this fine river to an extensive steamboat navigation. The bottoms on this river are from one to ten miles wide, and are of great fertility, with a natural growth of willow, cotton-wood, honey-locust, papaw, and buckeye. On the rich uplands grow elm, ash, hickory, mulberry, black walnut, with a profusion of grape-vines. On the less fertile and sandy uplands of the state, are white pitch and yellow pines, and various kinds of oak. The lower courses of lied river have been denominated the paradise of cotton-planters.

The staple productions of this state are cotton, sugar, and rice. Sugar, cane grows chiefly on the shores of the gulf, and the bayous Teche, La Fourche, and Plaquemine, and in some parts of Attakapas, south of 31 degrees north latitude. No cultivation yields a richer harvest, though the labor of the hands is severe. There is a vast amount of sugar lands not brought into cultivation. The quantity of land adapted to sugar has been computed at 250,000 acres; of rice, at 250,000 acres; and,of cotton, at 2,400,000. Rice is principally confined to the banks of the Mississippi, where irrigation is easy.

There were in this state, in 1840, 98,888 horses and mules, 381,248 neat cattle, 98,072 sheep, 323,220 swine; poultry was raised to the value of $283,559. There were produced 60 bushels of wheat, 1,812 of rye, 5,952,912 of Indian corn, 107,353 of oats, 834,341 of potatoes, 119,824 pounds of tobacco, 3,604,534 of rice, 152,555,368 of cotton, 119,947,720 of sugar, 24,651 tons of hay, 49,283 pounds of wool, 1,012 of wax. The products of the dairy were valued at $153,069; of the orchard, at $11,769; of lumber, at $66,106. There were made 2,884 gallons of wine, and 2,233 barrels of tar, pitch, or turpentine.

The climate is mild, though the winters are more severe than in the same latitude on the Atlantic coast. The summers in the wet and marshy parts are unhealthy, and New Orleans has been frequently visited by the yellow fever. But a considerable portion of the state is healthy.

The Mississippi river divides the state from Mississippi for a course of 450 miles, and enters the state wholly, 350 miles from its mouth, by the course of the channel of the river, and divides into several branches or outlets; which, diverging from the main river, wind their way slowly to the Gulf of Mexico, carrying off its surplus waters in times of flood, and dividing the southern part of the state into a number of large islands.

415

The Atchafalaya, called here the Chaffalio, leaves the Mississippi on the westside, a little below the mouth of Red river, and is supposed to carry off as much water as Red river brings in; and, inclining to the E. of S., it enters Atchafalaya bay, in the Gulf of Mexico. The outlet Plaquemine leaves the Mississippi 128 miles below the outlet of Atchafalaya, with which the main stream at length unites. Thirty-one miles below the Plaquemine, and 81 above New Orleans, is the outlet of La Fourche, which communicates with the Gulf of Mexico. Below the La Fourche, numerous other smaller streams leave the Mississippi, at various points. On the east side of the Mississippi, the principal outlet from that river is the Ibberville, which passes to the Gulf of Mexico through lakes Maurepas, Pontchartrain, and Borgne. This outlet on the east, and Atchafalaya on the west, bound what is denominated the Delta of the Mississippi. The Mississippi is navigable for vessels of any size, though the bar at its mouth has on it but 16 or 17 feet of water. Red river crosses the state in a southeasterly direction, and enters the Mississippi 240 miles above New Orleans. Washita river runs in a southerly direction, and enters Red river a little above its entrance into the Mississippi. The other rivers are Black, Tensaw, Sabine, Calcasieu, Mermentau, Vermillion, Teche, Pearl, Amite, and Ibberville. The largest lakes are Pontchartrain, Maurepas, Borgne, Chetimaches, Mermentau, Calcasieu, and Sabine.

The vast trade of the valley of the Mississippi centres at New Orleans — a valley which, for its extent and fertility, has not its like in the world. The exports of this state amounted, in 1840, to $34,236,936; but these exports extensively belong to the groat and fertile states of the great valley. Its imports were $10,873,190.

The following table, exhibiting the value of the exports and imports of Louisiana, we have compiled with care, from the reports of the secretary of the treasury, on commerce and navigation. It shows the progress of the commerce of Louisiana, from October 1st, 1820, to the present time.

Years,	Imports.	Exports.	Years.	Imports.	Exports.
1821,	$3,379,717	$7,272,172	1833,	$9,590.505	$18,941,373
1822,	3,817,233	7,978,645	1834,	13,781,809	26,557,524
1893,	1,25, 770	7,779,072	1835,	17,519,841	36,270,823
1824,	4,539,769	7,928.820	1836,	15,117,649	37,179,828
1825,	4,290,034	12,582,924	1837,	14,020,012	35,338,697
1826,	4,167,521	10,234.380	1838,	9,496,808	31,502,248
1827,	4,531,645	11,728,997	1839,	12,044,943	33,181,167
1828,	6,217,881	11,947,400	1840,	10,673,190	34,236,936
1829,	6,857,209	12,386,060	1841,	10.256,350	34.387,483
1830,	7,599 083	15,488,692	1842,	8,033,590	28,404,149
1831,	9,766,693	16,761,989	1843,	8,170,015	26,653,924
1832,	8,871,653	16,530,930

In 1840, there were 24 commercial, and 381 commission houses in Louisiana, engaged in foreign trade, with a capital of $16,770,000; 2,465 Retail stores, with a capital of $14,301,024; 597 persons in the lumber trade, with a capital of 260,045; 3 persons employed in internal transportation, with 291 butchers, packers, &c., employing a capital of $144,523.

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The exports of New Orleans consist chiefly of cotton, tobacco, sugar molasses, flour, pork, bacon, lard, beef, lead, whiskey, corn, &c. The following table shows the quantity of cotton exported from New Orleans to the different ports in the United States and Europe; for the last five years, commencing on the 1st of September, 1839, and ending on the 31st of August in each year: —

	COTTON — BALES.
Whither exported.	1843-44.	1842-43.	1841-42.	1840-41.	1839-40.
Liverpool	488,817	624,681	393,990	396,010	459,943
London	518	61	38	304	113
Glasgow and Grsenock,	21,265	35,831	15,574	20,415	26,603
Cowes, Falmouth, &c.	14,893	15.939	10,740	9,188	13,560
Cork, Belfast, &c.	2,182	2,936	1,108	4,393	4,549
Havre	107,973	159,658	161,103	157,277	206,311
Bordeaux	1,418	2,881	2,247	2,807	6,581
Marseilles	7,462	9,982	16,992	21,933	21,989
Nantz, Cette, & Rouen,	3,127	8,374	2,930	1,914	5,609
Amsterdam	1,360	2,593	584		3,688
Rotterdam and Ghent	512	2,173	2,907		709
Bremen	2,770	13,303	6,369	1,706	1,084
Antwerp, &c.	8,499	17,693	5,209	2,264	7,377
Hamburg	3,156	13,604	5,678	2,983	6,846
Gottenburg	402	114	286	2,793	2,994
Spain and Gibraltar, —		401	78	561	1,508
West Indies	33,151	21,177	12,818	19,002	30,594
Genoa, Trieste, &c.	19,704	17,662	10,610	16,801	25,652
China		4,303
Other foreign ports	1,208	1,342	174	90	1,044
New York	82,814	48,036	31,215	55,930	46,354
Boston	72,400	73,891	54,062	81,025	54,042
Providence, R. I.	211	674	1,910	3,132	1,811
Philadelphia	6,919	3,253	2,84S	5,721	6,195
Baltimore	4,698	3,278	1,703	4,832	3,045
Portsmouth	4,136		2,658	9,025	5,099
Other coastwise ports	3,230	3,000	3,716	581	6,020
Western States	2,500	2,000	1,722
Total	895,375	1,088,870	749,267	821,288	949,320

The quantity of cotton exported as above, during the five years, (from 1839 to 1844,) was distributed as follows: —

	COTTON — BALES.
Whither exported.	1843-44.	1842-43.	1841-42.	1840-41.	1839-40.
Great Britain	597,675	679,438	421,450	430,310	504,768
France	119.980	189,875	132,272	183,931	240,490
North of Europe	17,907	50,832	21,207	9,836	23,742
S. of Europe, and China,	52,855	43,543	23,506	36,364	57,754
Coastwise	176,958	134,133	99,832	160,847	122,596 —
Total	895,375	1,038,870	749,267	821,288	949,320

The exports of tobacco, during the same years, (1839 to 1844,) were as follows: — (See next page.)

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	TOBACCO — HHDS.
Whither exported.	1843-44	1842-43.	1841-42.	1840-41.	1839-40.
Liverpool	8,808	6,788	6,930	5,252	3,827
London	8,291	9,851	7,212	8,732	4,320
Glasgow and Greenock,
Cowes, Falmouth, &c.	5,424	10,798	6,827.	6,681	992
Cork, Belfast, &c.
Havre	4,846	4.648	4,037	4,224	3,655
Bordeaux	1,156	2,332	1,004	814	1,107
Marseille's	5,102	4,665	1,933	1,774	1,844
Nantz, Celte, & Rouen,
Amsterdam	3,775	2,700	1,133		......
Rotterdam and Ghent	917	2,933	1,882
Bremen	9602	7,888	8,997	4,012	2,464
Antwerp, &c.	2,178	5,657	3,690	1,219	l,090
Hamburg	2,303	1,477	3,401	1,064	1,465
Gottenburg	734	963	946	1,559	745
Spain and Gibraltar	10,681	4,496	7,204	4,142	3,843
West Indies	1,601	1,063	981	1,020	1,013
Genoa, Trieste, &c.	1,556	1,760	550	2	44
China					......
Other foreign ports	1,177	217	516	687	343
New York	6,960	10,533	7,090	7,466	8,132
Boston	2,585	3,650	2,351	3,109	2,888
Providence, R. I.,
Philadelphia	1,286	2,845	936	2,126	1,963
Baltimore	1,167	2,433	208	517	219
Portsmouth
Other coastwise ports	1,100	2,194	225	287	482
Western States
Total	81,249	89,891	68,058	54,667	40,436

The exports of tobacco, as above, were distributed as follows: —

	TOBACCO — HHDS.
Whither exported.	1843-44.	1842-43.	1841-43.	1840-41.	1839-40.
Great Britain	22,523	27,437	20,969	20,SG5	9,139
France	11,104	11,645	6,974	6,812	6,606
North of Europe	20,175	21,618	20,252	8,040	6,005
S. of Europe, and China,	14,349	7,536	9,053	5,645	5,002
Coastwise	13,098	21,655	10,810	13,505	13,684
Total	81,249	89,891	68,058	54,667	40,436

The following table shows the comparative arrivals, exports, and stocks of cotton and tobacco, at New Orleans, for ten years, from 1st of September to 31st of August, in each year: —

	COTTON — BALES.			TOBACCO — HHDS.
Years.	Arrivals.	Exports.	Stocks.	Arrivals.	Exports.	stocks.
1813-44	910,854	895,375	12,934	82,435	81,249	4,859
1642-43	1,089,642	1,088,870	4,700	92,509	89,890	4,873
1841-42	740,155	749,267	4,428	67,555	68,058	2,255
1840-41	822,870	821,228	14,490	53,170	54,667	2,758
1839-40	954,445	949,320	17,867	43,827	40,436	4,409
1838-39	578,514	579,179	10,308	28,153	30,780	1,294
1837-38	742,720	738,313	9,570	37,588	35,555	3,834
1836-37	605,813	588,969	20,678	28,501	35,821	3,857
1835-36	495,442	490,495	4,586	50,555	43,028	10,456
1834-35	530,172	536,991	3,649	35,059	33,801	1,821

The exports of sugar, in each of the five years, (from 1839 to 1844,) were —

	1843-44.		1842-43.		1841-42
Whither exported.	Hhds.	Bbls.	Hhds.	Bbls.	Hhds.	Bbls.
New York	11,422	217	31,549		13,620	405
Philadelphia	8,478	697	14,474	708	4,170	438
Charleston, S. C.	1,502		1,090	100	614	2
Savannah	483		240		313
Providence and Bristol, R. I.
Boston	217		2,814		212	58
Baltimore	5,492	42	8,660	663	6,504	288
Norfolk	562		610	28	364
Richmond and Petersburg, Va.	1,590	1	2,337		1,419	56
Alexandria, D. C.	280		592		539
Mobile	3,257	17	3,011	375	759	102
Apalachicola and Pensacola	1,070	548	565	306	517	548
Other ports		22	102	100	303	335
Total	34,395	1,544	66,044	2,380	29,334	2,232

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Exports of Sugar — Continued.

	1840-41.		1839-40.
Whither exported.	Hhds.	Bbls.	Hhds.	Bbls.
New York	18,759	822	18,556	598
Philadelphia	6,726	431	8,622	134
Charleston, S. C.	1,716	1	1,513	88
Savannah	357	39	722
Providence and Bristol, R. I.		3	20	12
Boston	422	114	951	327
Baltimore	7,588	48	8,403	942
Norfolk	664	48	819	553
Richmond and Petersburgh, Va.	1,520	64	1,923	179
Alexandria, D. C.	374	2	372
Mobile	1,530	445	2,214	315
Apalachicola and Pensacola	566	782	947	1,567
Other ports	304	1,293	234	1,880
Total	40,526	4,092	45,296	6,595

The exports of molasses, in each of the five years, (from 1839 to 1844,) were —

	1843-44.		1842-43.		1841-42.
Whither exported.	Hhds.	Bbls.	Hhds.	Bbls.	Hhds.	Bbls.
New York	1,882	15,744	7,285	28,030	6,377	23,525
Philadelphia	354	4,214	1,288	9,091	882	2,169
Charleston, S. C.		5,467	63	3,986	270	3,311
Savannah		1,254		1,640		886
Providence and Bristol, R.. I.	475	55	576	103	345	347
Boston		1,001	976	4,809	411	3,208
Baltimore	586	5,231	1,162	8,450	826	11,842
Norfolk		2,039		947		1,242
Richmond and Petersburg, Va.		1,581	216	2,316	11	2,843
Alexandria, D. C.		350		575	182	934
Mobile		2,836		313		4,190
Apalachicola and Pensacola		2,440		2,260		1,290
Other ports	112	750	800	1,369		1,378
Total	3,409	42,962	12,366	66,901	9,314	57,165

EXPORTS OF MOLASSES — Continued.

	1840-41.		1839-40.
Whither exported.	Hhds.	Bbls.	Hhds.	Bbls.
New York	5,496	17,081	3,511	15,105
Philadelphia	1,002	4,694	962	3,078
Charleston, S. C.	550	5,216		2,309

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EXPORTS OF MOLASSES — Continued.

	1840-41.		1839-40.
Whither exported.	Hhds.	Bbls.	Hhds.	Bbls.
Savannah		1,008	117	1,309
Providence and Bristol, R.. I.	208	103	99	251
Boston	496	2,756	811	4,451
Baltimore	1,582	7,275	1,267	5,850
Norfolk	350	539	50	971
Richmond and Petersburg, Va.	91	716	89	1,694
Alexandria, D. C.	85	153		98
Mobile		4,778	38	3,867
Apalachicola and Pensacola		1,124	51	1,710
Other ports	1,424	2,661	1,942	1,704
Total	11,284	48,104	8,937	42,397

We give, below, the exports of flour, pork, bacon, lard, beef, lead, and corn, for the two last years. This table includes the exports to Mobile, via the Pontchartrain railroad; but the vessels reported in the clearances as having provisions and merchandise, are not included.

exports of flour, fork, bacon, lard, beef, lead, whiskey, and corn, fok two years, from 1st september to 31st august.

	1843-44.
Destination.	Flour.	Pork.	Bacon.	Lard.	Beef.	Lead.	Whiskey	Corn.
	Ebls.	Bbls.	Hhds.	Kegs.	Bbls.	Pigs.	Bbls.	Sacks.
New York	48,323	219,756	5,104	324,776	9,112	264,834	2,216	44,367
Boston	63,653	109,410	1,742	216,773	5,871	111,614	138	27,536
Philadelphia		13,702	1,718	30,493	1,042	53,901	730
Baltimore		11,939	1,217	25,831	383	12,561	631
Charleston	1,305	2,255	3,986	8,924	637		4,332	2,775
Other coastwise p'ts,	48,718	9,229	10,424	13,327	2,640	2,455	33,536	60,278
Cuba	29,314	397	504	100,764	509			15,809
Other foreign ports,	108,679	26,491	157	151,382	15,192	154,955		53,516
Total	300,082	393,179	24,852	872,270	35,386	600,320	42,127	204,281

	1842-43.
Destination.	Flour.	Pork.	Bacon.	Lard.	Beef.	Lead.	Whiskey	Corn.
	Bbls.	Bbls.	Hhds.	Kegs.	Bbls.	Pigs.	Bbls,	Sacks.
New York	101,336	69.275	6,669	203,057	1,140	225,077	5,402	160,707
Boston	81,955	60,278	1,359	115,475	561	112,670	216	166,599
Philadelphia	3,540	4,794	1,363	8,953		55,954	534	2,873
Baltimore	67	6,881	1,343	12,630		12,765	2,573
Charleston	1,494	137	2,906	3,441	30		2,613	20,507
Other coastwise p'ts,	40,717	6,974	6,678	6,705	638		20,663	128,266
Cuba	26,747	550	255	88,607	150	510		50
Other foreign ports,	82,916	10,885	2,810	298,861	1,905	135,556	135	193,314
Total	338,772	159,774	23,383	737,729	4,424	542,172	32,136	672,316

The arrival of ships, barks, brigs, schooners, and steamboats, at New Orleans, for five years, from September 1st, to 31st of October, has been as follows: —

Years.	Ships.	Barks.	Brigs.	Schrs.	Total.	Steam b'ts.
1839-40,	560	177	435	682	1,846	1,937
1840-41,	595	191	335	532	1,643	2,181
1841-42,	599	198	279	327	1,403	2,133
1842 43,	579	283	532	524	2,018	2,324
1843-44,	665	256	376	389	1,686	2,570

The following table shows the receipts of the principal articles of produce

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from the interior, into New Orleans, during the year ending 3lst August, 1844, with their estimated average, and total value: —

Articles.	Amount.	Average.	Value
Apples, bbls.	43,969	$2. 00	$87,938
Bacon, assorted, hhds. and casks	19,563	25 00	479,075
Bacon, assorted, boxes	556	14 00	7,784
Bacon hams, hhds¨ and tcs.	19,070	30 00	572,100
Bacon, in bulk, Ibs.	1,203,821	3	36,114
Bagging, pieces	100,216	10	1,002,160
Bale rope, coils	83,684	6 00	502,104
Beans, bbls.	7,619	3 50	26,666
Butter, kegs and firkins	18,831	4 00	75,324
Butter, bbls.	500	12 00	6,000
Beeswax, bbls.	1,909	40 00	76,360
Beeswax, Ibs.	510	27	135
Beef, bbls.	49,363	4 50	222,133
Beef, hhds.	480	33 00	15,840
Beef, dried, Ibs.	55,610	6	3,336
Buffalo robes, packs	4,901	40 00	217,800
Cotton, bales	910,854	32 00	29,147,328
Corn meal, bbls.	3,769	3 00	11,307
Corn, in ear,	165,354	50	82,677
Corn, shelled, sacks	360,052	90	324,468
Cheese, casks	12,583	12 00	150,996
Candles, boxes	3,913	3 00	10,239
Cider, bbls.	1,419	3 50	4,961
Coal, western,	227,788	45	102,492
Dried apples and peaches,	2,001	2 50	5,002
Feathers, bags	4,568	15 00	67,860
Flaxseed, tcs.	4,273	7 50	32,047
Flour, bbls.	502,507	4 00	2,018,028
Furs, hhds., bundles, and boxes			800,000
Hemp, bundles	33,062	11 00	418,682
Hides,	76,490	1 25	95,512
Hay,	35,132	2 00	70,264
Iron, pig, tons	100	25 00	2,500
Lard, hhds.	212	45 00	9,540
Lard, bbls.	119,717	11 00	1,316,887
Lard, kegs	373,341	2 25	840,017
Leather, bundles	1,785	18 00	32,130
Lime, western, bbls.	3,767	1 00	3,767
Lead, pigs	639,269	2 15	1,374,428
Lend, bnr, kegs and boxes	851	12 00	10,212
Molasses, (estimated crop, gallons	5,000,000	20 00	1,000,000
Oats, bbls.	130,432	75	97,824
Onions,	6,443	2 00	12,886
Oil, liiifced,	2,260	30 00	67,800
Oil, castor,	2,757	32 00	88,224
Oil, lard,	2,647	20 00	52,940
Peach brandy,	49	13 00	637
Potatoes,	56,587	2 00	113,174
Pork,	412,928	6 50	2,684,032
Pork, hhds.	8,800	20 00	176,005
Pork, in bulk, Ibs.	7,792,000	3 1/8	243,720
Porter and sle, bbls.	604	5 00	3,020
Packing yarn, reels	1,164	4 00	4,656
Skins, deer, packs	1,939	25 00	48,475
Skins, bear,	69	15 00	1,035
Shor, kegs	4,714	13 00	61,262

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Articles.	Amount.	Average.	Value.
Soap, boxes	7,399	$3 00	$22,197
Staves, No.	1,362,000	25 00	3,405,000
Sugar, (estimated crop,) rmds.	140,316	60 00	8,418,960
Spanish mops, bales	2,347	6 00	14,622
Tallow, bbls.	7,323	13 50	98,310
Tobacco, leaf, hhds.	70,435	40 00	2,817,400
Tobacco, strips,	12,000	100 00	1,200,000
Tobacco, chewing, kegs and boxes	7,695	12 00	92,540
Tobacco, bales	4,771	2 50	11,927
Twine, bundles and boxes	2,099	5 00	10,495
Vinegar, bbls.	318	2 50	795
Whiskey,	86,947	7 50	652,102
Window glass, boxes	2,066	4 00	8,264
Wheat, bbls. and sacks	86,014	2 25	193,531
Other various articles, estimated at			4,000,000
Total value,			$65,863,866
Total in 1842 43,			53,728,054
Total in 1841 42,			45,716,045

The manufactures of Louisiana are less considerable. Home-made, or family manufactures, amounted to $65,190; two cotton factories, with 706 spindles, employed 23 persons, producing articles to the amount of $18,900, with a capital of $22,000; six furnaces produced 1,400 tons of cast iron, and two forges produced 1,366 tons of bar iron, employing 145 persons, and a capital of $357,000; 25 tanneries employed 88 persons, and a capital of $132,025; seven other manufactories of leather, as saddleries, &c., produced articles to the amount of $108,500, with a capital of $89,550; one pottery employed 18 persons, producing articles to the amount of Si,000, with a capital of $3,000; five sugar refineries produced to the amount of $770,000; 101 persons produced confectionary to the amount of $20,000; machinery was produced to the amount of $5,000, and hardware and cutlery to the amount of $30,000; 51 persons produced carriages and wagons to the amount of $23,350, employing a capital of $15,780; mills of various kinds produced articles to the amount of $706,785, employing 972 persons, and a capital of $1,870,795; vessels were built to the amount of $80,500; 129 persons manufactured furniture to the amount of $2,300, with a capital of $576,050; five distilleries produced 285,520 gallons, and one brewery 2,400 gallons, employing 27 persons, and a capital of $110,000; 75 persons manufactured 2,202,200 pounds of soap, 3,500,030 pounds of tallow candles, and 4,000 pounds of wax or spermaceti candles, with a capital of $115,500; 248 brick or stone houses, and 619 wooden houses, were built by 1,484 persons, and cost $2,736,944; 35 printing-offices, five binderies, 11 daily, 21 weekly, and two semi-weekly newspapers, and three periodicals, employed 392 persons, and a capital of $193,700. The total amount of capital employed in manufactures, was $6,430,699.

At the commencement of 1840, the state had 16 banks, with 31 branches, with an aggregate capital of $41,736,768, and a circulation of $4,345,533. In 1842, the state debt amounted to $20,820,889. The public debt consists almost entirely of state bonds, issued to the different banks, which bonds have been sold in Europe; and the proceeds constitute the capitals of the banks, which are loaned to the stockholders on mortgages of their landed property. These mortgages are estimated to be worth $25,400,000.

Several works of internal improvement have been undertaken.

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Pontchartrain railroad extends from New Orleans four and a half miles, to Lake Pontchartrain, and cost originally $200,000; and, with its improvements, $500,000. West Feliciana railroad extends from St. Francisville, on Mississippi river, twenty miles, to Woodville, Miss. Orleans-street railroad, through Orleans-street, is one and a half miles long, and connects New Orleans with the bayou St. Johns, and cost $12,000. New Orleans and Carrolton railroad extends from New Orleans six and a half miles, to Carrolton, passing through Lafayette. It has city branches, making its whole length eleven and a half miles. Various other railroads and canals have been projected, and some work has been done upon them, but they are at present suspended.

New Orleans, the commercial capital of the state, is situated on the left bank of the Mississippi; which, by a singular bend, causes the city to be on its N. W. side, facing the S. E. The city is built on an inclined plane, descending gently from the river towards the swamp in the rear; so that, when the Mississippi is full, the streets are three or four feet below the surface of the river. To prevent inundation, an artificial embankment, called the Levee, has been raised at a great expense, extending from Fort Plaquemine, 43 miles below the city, to 120 miles above it, which is 15 feet wide, and 4 feet high. Directly in front of the city, it affords a very pleasant walk. The position of New Orleans, as a vast commercial emporium, is unrivalled; for the Mississippi, with its numerous tributaries, brings to it for a market the products of 20,000 miles of navigation, and the immense resources of the great valley are yet but partially developed. The city proper is in the form of a parallelogram, running along the river 1,320 yards, and extending back 700 yards. This portion of the city is traversed by 22 streets, forming 84 principal, and 14 minor squares. The whole extent of the city, including its incorporated fauxbourgs, is not less than five miles parallel with the river, and it extends perpendicularly to it, from a quarter to three-quarters of a mile; and to the bayou St. John, two miles. The houses are principally of brick, except some of the ancient and dilapidated dwellings in the heart of the city, and some new ones in the outskirts. The modern buildings, particularly in the upper parts of the city, or Second Municipality, are generally three and four stories high, with elegant and substantial granite fronts. Many of the houses in the outer parts are surrounded with gardens, and ornamented with orange-trees. The view of the city from the river, in ascending or descending, is beautiful; and on entering it, the stranger finds it difficult to believe that he has arrived at an American city. This remark applies especially to the central and lower parts, where the older buildings are ancient, and of foreign construction; where the manners, customs, and language, are so various; the population being very nearly equally made up of Americans, French, Creoles, and Spaniards, with a mixture of almost every nation on the globe. During the business season, extending from the first of November until July, the Levee, in its whole extent, is crowded with vessels of all sizes, from all quarters of the world; with hundreds of large and splendid steamboats, and numerous barges and flat-boats, &c. Nothing can present a more busy, bustling scene, than the levee at this time; the loading and unloading of vessels and steamboats, with 1,500 drays transporting tobacco, cotton, sugar, and the various and immense produce of the far west. In 1836, the legislature passed an act

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dividing the city into three municipalities, ranking them, according to their population. The first includes the city proper, extending, with that width, from the river back to Lake Pontchartrain, and occupying the centre; the second adjoining it above, and the third below, both extending from the river to the lake. Each municipality has a distinct council for the management of its internal affairs, which do not encroach on the general government.

New Orleans is often familiarly called the Crescent city, from its form; for, though the streets are straight, those which follow the river have two turns at large angles, giving it something of this form. The river, opposite to the city, is half a mile wide, and from 100 to 160 feet deep, and it preserves the same width to near its entrance into the Gulf of Mexico. On the bar at its mouth it has a depth of from 13 1-2 to 16 feet of water, with a soft muddy bottom. Large and powerful steam tow-boats, some of which will tow six large vessels, are constantly employed, to facilitate the passage of vessels to and from the gulf. A canal, four and a half miles long, leads from a basin within the city to Lake Pontchartrain, through the bayou St. John. Through this canal, the trade of the country bordering on Lake Pontchartrain and Borgne, and all the coast of the north part of the Gulf of Mexico, as far as Florida, comes to the city, and a considerable fleet of sloops is often seen in the basin. A railroad, also, four and a half miles long, connects the city with Lake Pontchartrain, which will probably supersede the use of the canal. A harbor is formed in the lake, at the termination of the railroad, and a considerable village is there springing up. The facilities for trade are great, and well improved. The exports, including the foreign and coasting trade, are not less than $40,000,000, which are greater than those of any other city in the United States; but its imports are vastly less. Much of the western country, which exports its produce by the way of New Orleans, imports its goods from New York. In 1842, 740,267 bales of cotton were exported to foreign ports, and coastwise. New Orleans is growing rapidly, but will never probably equal New York; though it is very likely to become the second city in the Union. The licensed and enrolled tonnage, in 1840, was 126,613. Its unhealthiness is against it, though this has often been exaggerated; and the same is true of its morals. It is said to be an orderly and peaceable city, and its inhabitants are distinguished for their politeness, hospitality, and kindness to the distressed.

According to the census of 1840, there were 8 commercial, and 375 commission houses in foreign trade, with a capital of $16,490,000; 1,881 retail stores, with a capital of $11,018,225; 32 lumber-yards, with a capital of $67,800; 6 furnaces, with a capital of $355,000; hardware was manufactured to the amount of $30,000; one cotton factory, with 700 spindles, employed a capital of $20,000; tobacco manufactures employed a capital of $60,000; 1 tannery had a capital of $50,000; 2 distilleries employed a capital of $56,000; 3 sugar refineries produced to the amount of $700,000; 3 steam saw-mills had a capital of $175,000; 18 printing. offices, 5 binderies, 9 daily, 6 weekly, and 2 semi-weekly newspapers, employed a capital of $162,200; 201 brick or stone houses, and 210 wooden houses, were built, at a cost of $2,234,300. The total capital employed in manufactures was $1,774,200. There were 2 colleges, with 105 students; 10 academies, with 440 students; 25 schools, with 975 scholars.

nts

Notes.

1. For nine months, ending 30th of June, 1843.

2. The New Orleans Commercial Intelligencer, and Merchants' Transcript, issued their customary annual statement of the commerce of New Orleans on the 1st of September, 1844. From that statement, which is prepared with great care, and general accuracy, we derive most of the tabular statements in this article.

3. In the Merchants Magazine, Vol. V., 1841, page 475 to 478, we gave a similar table for each of the ten years, from 1832 to 1841; and in Vol. VII., page 391, a similar statement for 1842. In Vol. IX., page 569, also a similar statement for 1842-43.

4. Harper's edition of M'Culloch.