was at the attack of the trenches and batteries of Nice; at the storming of the citadels of Villa Franca and Montalban, in the county of Nice, which were built amidst almost inaccessible rocks, and which could be approached only through narrow gorges and yawning abysses, commanded by a formidable artillery, and defended by a numerous army occupying the neighboring heights. Villa Franca, which is perched on a rock rising up twelve hundred feet, and bristling with guns, was garrisoned by ten thousand Piemontese, assisted by the English Admiral Mathews, with a portion of the marines and gunners of his fleet. Both these fortresses, which seemed impregnable, were carried by a simultaneous assault of the French and Spaniards; the Piemontese were cut to pieces, and the English put to flight. Twenty thousand prisoners, among whom was the Count de La Suze, the commander-in-chief, one hundred and seven pieces of artillery, and the conquest of the county of Nice, were the results of these two glorious expeditions.

Don Estevan Gayarre was also at the taking of the Post of the Barricades, a passage of eighteen feet wide, between two mountains towering to the sky, protected by the Stura, which the king of Sardinia had turned from its natural course into the precipice, and by three intrenchments and a covered way; at the siege of Demont, a fortress built at an immense cost on the top of an isolated rock, in the midst of the valley of Stura, and which was taken on the 17th of August, 1744, after a siege of one month; at the siege of the fortified town of Coni, and at what the Spaniards called the glorious battle of the Campo de la Madona del Holmo. This battle, in which he was dangerously wounded, is the one which occurred under the walls of Coni, when the combined armies of Spain and France were attacked, on the

30th of September, 1744, by the king of Sardinia at the head of superior forces to those of his adversaries. The Piemontese, with a loss of five thousand men, were beaten back by the French and Spaniards, who fought with the generous emulation of old rivals in feats of arms and deeds of glory. In the campaign of the year 1747, in the county of Nice, Don Estevan Gayarre attracted the notice and obtained the commendation of his superiors, by the zeal and intelligence which he displayed in several perilous sallies and partial expeditions, which he led through the country.

On the 1st of December, 1751, after having served ten years, he applied to the court to be permitted to retire from the army; and considering, said his certificate of discharge,* that among the other causes of the step he had taken, was that of his having exhausted his patrimony, by his just inclination to, and love of, the military career, and, above all, the permanent injury done to his health by the serious wound he had received at the battle of the Madona del Holmo, in 1744. He was graciously granted what he sued for, and was strongly recommended to the royal favor. Probably in consequence of it, he obtained, in January, 1752, one of the most important offices at La Coruna, under Don Francisco de Mendoza y Sotomayor, general Contador, or auditor and comptroller, for the army and kingdom of Gallicia. On the 31st of May, 1765, he received a letter from the Marquis of Piedra Buena, asking him whether he would, as Contador, or royal comptroller of the province of Louisiana, accompany Ulloa to that colony. His answer to this proposition is remarkably in harmony with the reluctance which Spain felt to take possession of the territorial present tendered to her by

* La de haver extinguido su patrimonio en justa inclinacion y amor de las armas, y la principal, de la minoracion de su salud por la gravedad de su herida.

France, and is a characteristic specimen of the light in which was considered a mission to a country, not then of very good fame, and certainly of very little importance, at the time, in European estimation. In his reply to the Marquis of Piedra Buena, Don Estevan Gayarre says that, "after having had the honor of serving the king twenty-four years, his devotion and fealty to the royal person cannot permit him to refuse to discharge any duties, which his majesty might think of imposing upon him." But, on signifying his acceptance to the Marquis of Piedra Buena, he dwells upon the merit which he thinks he deserves by it, and stipulates that his going to America must be understood as not interfering with his promotion in the Peninsula. On the 10th of June, 1765, he was finally appointed by the king: Contador princpial del Ministerio de Guerra y Real Hacienda, in the province of Louisiana. Thus far go the public documents concerning this gentleman. There are others of a private nature, testifying to his many virtues, to the excellence of his mind, and showing that, in those qualities which adorn the soul, he could hardly be excelled. He possessed, in an eminent degree, all the noble traits of character which distinguish the healthy and hardy race of mountaineers, among whom he was born, in the valley of Roncal in Navarre, amidst the impressive scenery of the Pyrennean heights. To those qualifications he owed, no doubt, the many testimonials of respect and esteem he received, in the different situations in which he was placed, during the course of a long life vouchsafed to him by providence.

Don Martin Navarro, the treasurer, represented among his colleagues the democratic element, which, in later days, was to exercise so powerful an influence over the destinies of mankind. He was the son of a poor tavern-keeper, and had risen, by dint of industry, perse

verance, and address. Shrewd, active, and honest, he deserved to be trusted; and being withal a boon companion, and skilful in the ways of the world, he had those qualifications which mollify envy, conciliate opposition, and render smooth and easy the path to success. Like water, which seeks its level, his talents and acquirements had, by slow degrees, raised him to the position in society which was his due.

Such were the men, who, in 1766, had come, in the name of Charles III., king of Spain, and of the Indies, to take possession of the country ceded to him in 1762.

FOURTH LECTURE.

ULLOA'S SALARY-HIS INSTRUCTIONS-HIS EFFORTS TO KEEP UP THE DEPRECIATED FRENCH PAPER MONEY-THESE EFFORTS ARE COUNTERACTED BY THE COLONISTSREFUSAL OF THE FRENCH TROOPS TO PASS INTO THE SERVICE OF SPAIN-CAUSES FOR WHICH ULLOA DOES NOT TAKE FORMAL POSSESSION OF THE COLONY-HIS IMPRESSIONS, UNFAVORABLE TO THE POPULATION-FRANCE REFUSES TO PAY THE EXPENSES OF THE COLONY SINCE MARCH, 1766-THEY ARE ASSUMED BY THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT AUBRY RETAINS THE NOMINAL COMMAND OF THE COLONY, BUT GOVERNS ACCORDING TO ULLOA'S DICTATES-SPANISH COMMERCIAL DECREE, ON THE 6TH OF MAY, 1766-APPOINTMENT OF FRENCH COMMISSARIES TO PURCHASE ARTICLES OF EXPORTATION-ULLOA VISITS THE SEVERAL POSTS AND SETTLEMENTS OTHER SPANISH DECREE OF COMMERCE IN SEPTEMBER, 1766-EFFECTS OF THAT DECREE-REMONSTRANCES OF THE COLONISTS AGAINST IT-ITS EXECUTION, SUSPENDED BY AUBRY-FOUCAULT'S LETTER TO HIS GOVERNMENT ON THE SUBJECTTHE COLONISTS ARE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THEIR ANCIENT RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES ARE SECURED UNDER THE TREATY OF CESSION-ULLOA SOJOURNS SEVEN MONTHS AT THE BALIZE-HIS MARRIAGE WITH THE MARCHIONESS OF ABRADOAUBRY'S DESCRIPTION OF ULLOA'S CHARACTER-COMMUNICATION OF THE MARQUIS OF GRIMALDI TO THE COUNT OF FUENTES ON SPAIN'S DELAY TO TAKE POSSESSION OF LOUISIANA-RETURN OF JEAN MILHET, THE DELEGATE OF THE COLONISTS TO FRANCE SIGNS OF HOSTILITY TO THE SPANIARDS-INTENSE COLD IN 1768INCREASE OF EXCITEMENT ULLOA'S TASTES, HABITS, AND DISPOSITIONS-HIS WIFE GIVES OFFENCE-AUBRY'S OBSERVATIONS ON HIS OWN EXTRAORDINARY POSITION-CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE SPANIARDS-PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONSPIRATORS— CHARACTER OF LAFRENIERE, THE KING'S ATTORNEY GENERAL-THE CONSPIRATORS TAKE POSSESSION OF NEW ORLEANS AT THE HEAD OF THE ACADIANS AND GERMANS-GENERAL INSURRECTION-AUBRY'S CONDUCT-ULLOA RETIRES ON BOARD OF THE SPANISH FRIGATE-LOYOLA, GAYARRE, NAVARRO, AND THE OTHER SPANIARDS, ON THE POINT OF BEING EXTERMINATED-THE COLONISTS DEMAND OF THE SUPERIOR COUNCIL THE EXPULSION OF THE SPANIARDS SPEECH OF LAFRENIERE IN THE COUNCIL DECREE OF THE COUNCIL AGAINST ULLOA, GAYARRE, LOYOLA, AND NAVARRO-AUBRY'S PROTEST AGAINST IT-OPINION EMITTED BY FOUCAULT IN THE COUNCIL DINNER AT FOUCAULT'S HOUSE-THE COUNCIL VISITS THE INSURGENTS IN A BODY-TUMULTUOUS REJOICINGS OF THE PEOPLE-REFLECTIONS.

THE annual salary allowed to Don Antonio de Ulloa, as governor, in 1766, of a colony of ten thousand whites and blacks, was $6000. The same sum is granted, in 1851, as a sufficient remuneration for his services, to the