nt most of his force to block up the Ohio, or to harass the
frontier settlers, keeping at Vincennes sixty soldiers only,
with three pieces of cannon and some swivels. The resolution
was immediately taken to improve the favourable opportunity for
averting the impending danger; and Clark accordingly despatched
a small galley, mounting two four pounders and four swivels, on
board of which he put a company of soldiers, with orders to
pursue her way up the Wabash, and anchor a few miles below
Vincennes, suffering nothing to pass her. He now sat off with
one hundred and twenty men, the whole force he could command,
and marched towards Vincennes. They were five days in crossing
the low lands of the Wabash, in the neighbourhood of Vincennes,
after having spent sixty in crossing the wilderness, wading for
several nights up to their breasts in water. Appearing suddenly
before the town, they surprised and took it. Hamilton for a
while defended the fort, but was at last compelled to
surrender."

We now approach a period in the History of Louisiana when her direct
communication and commerce with the United States began; and from this
moment she became an object of great and growing interest to us. The
commencement of this intercourse is of a singular character, and was
conducted with singular address.

"The foundation was now laid of a commercial intercourse,
through the Mississippi, between the United States and
New-Orleans, which has been continued, with but little
interruption, to this day, and has increased to an immense
degree; and, to the future extent of which, the imagination can
hardly contemplate any limit. Hitherto, the boats of the
western people, venturing on the Mississippi, were arrested by
the first Spanish officer who met them; and confiscation
ensued, in every case; all communication between the citizens
of the United States and the Spaniards being strictly
prohibited. Now and then, an emigrant, desirous of settling in
the district of Natchez, by personal entreaty and the
solicitations of his friends, obtained a tract of land, with
permission to settle on it with his family, slaves, farming
utensils, and furniture. He was not allowed to bring any thing
to sell without paying an enormous duty. An unexpected incident
changed the face of affairs in this