ity exhibits, a Pennsylvanian may feel pride in observing,
that the industrious Germans, who have never failed to improve and
enrich the soil they inhabit, have had their share. John Randolph once
said on the floor of Congress, that the land on which a slave set his
foot was cursed with barrenness. The reverse of this may be truly
asserted of the German settlers. To their persevering industry, patient
labour, and habitual economy, every difficulty yields, and every soil
becomes fertile. An accident brought them to New-Orleans, with no
intention of remaining; and their usefulness was felt and encouraged.

"Since the failure of Law, and his departure from France, his
grant at the Arkansas had been entirely neglected, and the
greatest part of the settlers, whom he had transported thither
from Germany, finding themselves abandoned and disappointed,
came down to New-Orleans, with the hope of obtaining a passage
to some port of France, from which they might be enabled to
return home. The colonial government being unable or unwilling
to grant it, small allotments of land were made to them twenty
miles above New-Orleans, on both sides of the river, on which
they settled in cottage farms. The Chevalier d'Arensbourg, a
Swedish officer, lately arrived, was appointed commandant of
the new post. This was the beginning of the settlement, known
as the German coast, or the parishes of St. Charles and St.
John the Baptist. These laborious men supplied the troops and
the inhabitants of New-Orleans with garden stuff. Loading their
pirogues with the produce of their week's work, on Saturday
evening, they floated down the river, and were ready to spread
at sun-rise, on the first market that was held on the banks of
the Mississippi, their supplies of vegetables, fowls, and
butter. Returning, at the close of the market, they reached
their homes early in the night, and were ready to resume their
work at sun-rise; having brought the groceries and other
articles needed in the course of the week."

A few years later, the Jesuit and Ursuline nuns arrived at New-Orleans,
and began the improvement of a tract of land immediately above the city.
They erected a house and chapel; they planted the front of their land
with the myrtle wax shrub. Soon after, the foundation was laid for a
large nunnery, into which the ladies removed in 1730, an