View of the climate and soil of the United States of America: to which are annexed some accounts of Florida, the French colony on the Scioto, certain Canadian colonies and the savages or natives / Translated from the French. Of C.F. Volney.

  • Constantin-François Chassebœuf
Date:
1804
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: View of the climate and soil of the United States of America: to which are annexed some accounts of Florida, the French colony on the Scioto, certain Canadian colonies and the savages or natives / Translated from the French. Of C.F. Volney. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    e V1 son, who was then all-powerful ; but the election of 1801, making amends for that of 1797, gave me sufficient reparation *, * [ shall point out to the Americans however the ab- surdity of the principal grievance, by which ] was rendered a suspected person: (for at that period the language and system were truly those of terrorism). I was supposed to be the secret agent of a government, whose axe had not. ceased to fall on those like me. A consmracy was fabricated, which I (a single Frenchman) had plotted in Kentuckey, to deliver up Louisiana to the directory (which had but just risen into existence) ; and this when numerous and respectable testimonies in that very Ken- tuckey, as wellasin Virginia and Pennsylvania, could attest it to be my opinion, declared on occasion of the conduct of the minister G****, that the invasion of Louisiana would be false policy : that it would involve us in a quarrel with the Americans, and strengthen their inclination toward the English : that Louisiana suited France in no point of view: that colonizing it would be too expensive and pre- carious ; and to maintain possession of it too difficult, for want of a navy, and of stability in our government, which Was distant, changeable, embarrassed, &c.: and that in short, from the nature of things, it only suited, and must ultimately belong to the neighbouring power, which pos- sessed every means of occupying, defending, and retain- ing it. This opinion, contrary to that of most of our ministers, exposed me to their disapprobation, nay. almost