existed in Britain a long time, and laws-particularly such as the Roman laws-thus early introduced and thus long existing, must leave an impress, not easily obliterated, on the manners and customs of a people. Crabbe acknowledges many remnants of the Civil law still existing in England. Again no three men more aided in the formation of the Common law, than did Bracton, Britton and Fleta-their opinions were law, their dicta command.

Now these great jurisconsults all lived and wrote after the XIIth century, and it must be remembered that it was in 1135, at Amalphi, that the Roman Pandects were discovered, which have greatly influenced those writers. Brown, in his work on the civil law, declares unhesitatingly that those authors shine in the borrowed plumes of the Roman writers. And besides this, we all know that ever since the time of Stephen, all matters within the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical and Chancery courts, and over all matters military and maritime, the civil law has always obtained. Kent says "it now exerts a very considerable influence upon our municipal law, and particularly on those of it which are of equity and admiralty jurisdiction, or fall within the cognizance of the

surrogate's or consistorial courts." The fact, then, that within the sacred precincts of the Common law many seeds of the Civil are found; that while the tendencies of the common law are silently leaning towards us, we are in our decisions and laws inclining towards it, leads irresistibly to the conclusion that ere long, perfected by the hands of able judges and jurists, one system of laws-not Roman-not English, but AMERICAN will extend and panoply itself like the blue arch of Heaven, over the whole American continent.

We have, we fear, too long indulged in a general view of the philosophy of our law, we will now descend into the subject proper of this article and briefly touch upon the history of our law.

As is well known the Mississippi river was discovered as early as 1541, by Hernando de Soto. He had been sent by Charles the Vth of Spain, to conquer Florida, which having done, and being tempted by extravagant tales of the wealth, he extended his travels far into the interior of Arkansas.

The French, in 1673, having become permanently settled in Canada, made many excursions to the wilds of the west. Among others was one

headed by a priest, known as Father Marquette, and a companion named Joliet. Hearing, during their excursion, of a mighty river called Meschacebe (Father of Waters) by the Indians, they determined to visit it before ending their journey. Engaging four Indian guides, they with some difficulty reached the Meschacebe on the 7th July, 1673.

In 1678, Robert Chevalier de Lasalle offered his services to the Governor of Canada, promising to explore the Mississippi to its mouth, on condition that he should be provided with the proper and necessary means. Obtaining the assistance of Colbert and of the Prince of Conti, he succeeded in acquiring the needed means from Louis XIV. He reached the Mississippi in 1682, and for his protection founded the now flourishing city of St. Louis. He explored this mighty

river to its mouth, and in accordance with the then custom, claimed, in the name of France, by right of discovery, the whole of the vast valley through which the river flowed. He took possession of it with the usual formalities, and named it, in honor of his king-LOUISIANA.

In 1684, La Salle made an attempt to colonize Louisiana, but, landing at the Bay of St. Ber

nard, through the mismanagement of the naval commander he failed, and with his failure lost his life. During his stay at St. Bernard-near Matagorda he took formal possession of the country in the name of France. Through this act France always claimed that Louisiana extended as far as the Rio Grande. La Salle was killed in 1687. His death was a romantic one, but our space will not admit of a description. From this time to 1797 Louisiana was forgotten, but France in this year having concluded the peace of Ryswick directed her serious attention to the subject of its colonization. D'Iberville was sent to renew the explorations commenced by La Salle. He left his brothers Sauville and Bienville with a small company at the Balize, and returned to France. After succeeding in establishing a small settlement in Louisiana, he died at Havana in 1706.

France having become again involved in war, and not being able to devote proper attention to this new colony, sold in 1712 the entire country to Antoine de Crozat, for the term of sixteen years. The government only retained the prerogative of sovereignty. Crozat failed in his enterprise, and after ruining himself and his friends, surrendered in 1717 all his rights and privileges.

Crozat was immediately followed by the Mississippi Company. They obtained from the French government a charter to continue for twenty-five years, granting them every possible power, leaving to the French the mere title of sovereign power. Louisiana was then a part of the Diocese of Quebec.

In 1718, Bienville feeling the need of a metropolis, selected the site now covered by NEW-OR

LEANS.

In 1722 Louisiana was divided into nine cantons:-New-Orleans, Biloxi, Mobile, Alabama, Natchez, Nachitoches, Yazoo, Arkansas, and Illinois. Most of these cantons were named from the respective Indian tribes that inhabited them. During the time the Mississippi Company held this territory many bloody battles were fought between these Indians and the whites, which resulted in the almost complete subjugation of the former.

The Mississippi Company having sustained great loss, concluded in 1732 to abandon their enterprise, and accordingly relinquished to the King the charter he had given them.

On the third of November, 1762, France concluded with Spain a secret treaty, by which "the former ceded to the latter, the part of the province of Louisiana which lies on the western