formerly a Spanish province of N. America, now belonged to the United States, is bounded on the east by the Mississippi, on the south by the gulf of Mexico, on the west by New Mexico, and on the north by boundaries which have not been defined. It is intersected by a number of fine rivers, and the greater part of the inhabitants are said to be Roman Catholics. They are chiefly the descendants of the French and Canadians; but in different settlements of this extensive country there are likewise to be met with the descendants of people from Germany, as well as numbers of Acadians and Americans. The population in 1785, when a census was taken, amounted to more than 50,000 souls; but different authors are of opinion that this is much below the proper estimate, notwithstanding the population bears no proportion to the extent of the country. According to another estimate there are 89,970. The inhabitants have often attempted to cultivate the sugar-cane, but they found the climate rather unfavourable to the culture of that plant. They chiefly export indigo, cotton, rice, beans, myrtle, wax, and lumber. But if the climate is unfriendly to the sugar-cane, it is said to be favourable to the health of the people, and to the culture of fruits and garden vegetables. The total value of the exports from Louisiana in 1802 is said to have amounted to 2,158,000 dollars, and of the imports to about 342,000 dollars above that sum.

There are but few domestic manufactures of any importance in Louisiana: but such of the inhabitants as are denominated Acadians, manufacture some cotton into quilts and cottonades; and in the remote parts of the province, those planters who are poor, are in the habit of spinning cloth mixed with wool for the use of the negroes. In the parish of Iberville there is a machine for spinning cotton, and another in the Opelousas, but neither of them very extensive; a considerable manufacturer of cordage, twelve distilleries for making tafia, and a sugar refinery which manufactures about 200,000 lbs. of loaf sugar annually. The trade by sea is considerable, for in the year 1802 there entered the- Louisiana. the river Mississippi 268 vessels of all descriptions, one of which belonged to France, 97 to Spain, and 170 to America; and 265 sailed from the Mississippi in the same year, three of which belonged to France, 104 to Spain, and 158 to America. The coating trade is also considerable. from Pensacola, Mobile, and the creeks and rivers falling into Lake Pontchartrain, from whence ship timber, charcoal, lime, pitch and tar, are conveyed to New Orleans, in which about 500 sloops and schooners from eight to 50 tons are frequently employed.

A return of the militia of Louisiana was made by the baron of Carondelet to the court of Spain, which made them amount to 10,340 men; but in this estimate were included several companies of volunteers, negroes, and even companies of privileged horse, or cavalry. There are not above 930 native Indians in this vast country, some of whom are employed by the settlers as boatmen on the Red river, and much esteemed for their friendship to the whites, for their bravery and generosity.

The fortifications which have been erected in Louisiana scarcely merit our attention. Fort St Louis is commanded by a lieutenant-colonel, with a handful of troops; Baton Rouge is extremely ill constructed, and contains about 50 men; Fort Plaquemines, about 12 leagues from the sea, is an irregular work built of bricks, and badly constructed, on the east side of the river Mississippi, having a ditch in front of the river, and defended on the lower side by a deep creek. It is defencelss behind, as those by whom it was erected had placed too much confidence in the swampiness of the ground, which is every day growing harder. It would be no difficult matter to take it by escalade, for by the negligence of the people it is fast falling into ruins. The small redoubt called Fort Bourbou, is generally under the command of a sergeant, with a very small company. Should a vessel attempt to pass without sending a boat on shore, she would be instantly fired upon.

When Louisiana was first ceded to Spain, it preserved many of the regulations peculiar to France; but the province afterwards came to be governed by the laws of Spain, and the ordinances formed expressly for the colony. The governor's court has a civil and military jurisdiction throughout the province. That of the lieutenant-governor has the same extent in civil cases only. There are two alcades, whose jurisdiction, civil and criminal, extends through the city of New Orleans and five leagues around it, where the parties have no fuero militar, or military privilege: those who have can transfer their causes to the governor. The tribunal of the alcade provincial has cognizance of criminal causes, where offences are committed in the country, or when the criminal takes refuge there, and in other specified cases. The ecclesiastical tribunal has jurisdiction in all matters respecting the church.

There are no colleges in Louisiana, and but one public school, which is at New Orleans, the masters of which receive their salary from the king. They teach nothing but the Spanish language, and there are a few private schools for the benefit of children. It is remarkable that not more than one-half of the inhabitants are supposed qualified to read and write, and of these it is said that not above 200 are capable of doing it well.

The clergy consist of a bishop, who does not reside in the province, and whose salary of 4000 dollars is charged on the revenue of certain bishoprics in Mexico, Louth and Cuba; two canons have each a salary of 600 dollars; and 25 curates, five for the city of New Orleans, and 20 for as many country parishes, who receive about 400 dollars each. These salaries, exclusive of that of the bishop, are paid by the treasury at New Orleans, and their annual amount has been estimated at 13,000 dollars.

Instead of paying local taxes, each inhabitant is bound to make and repair roads, bridges, and embankments through his own land. A duty of six per cent. is payable at the customhouse, on the transfer of shipping. It is ascertained upon the sum the buyer and seller declare to be the real consideration. As no oath is required from either, they seldom report more than half the price. Two per cent. is payable on legacies and inheritances, coming from collaterals, and exceeding 2000 dollars; four per cent. on legacies given to persons who are not relatives of the testator. A tax on civil employments, if their salaries exceed 300 dollars. A tax is levied of 40 dollars per annum for licenses to sell liquors, and fix per cent. on all imports and exports, which amounts to about 120,000 dollars, while the amount of all the other taxes does not exceed 6000 dollars.

The expenses of the government of Louisiana are said to amount to 650,000 dollars, to pay which there are 400,000 dollars sent annually from Vera Cruz, in consequence of which deficiency the debt is said at present to amount to 450,000 dollars, bearing no interest, and depreciated 50 per cent.

Soon after Louisiana was ceded to the United States, there were two societies established for the promotion of science and literature, one of them at New Orleans, and another at Natchez. The former designs to publish a monthly magazine for the purpose of diffusing a knowledge of the country, and to amuse the readers of it with a variety of useful subjects. The latter, which was established in 1833, called the Mississippi Society for the Acquisition and Dissemination of useful Knowledge, consists of near 40 members, and has correspondents in various parts of the United States. The American government has granted it a charter of incorporation.