The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

CHARLESTOWN, (in South-Carolina,) December 14.

The following is a translation of the French King's orders for delivering to the Spaniards all his possessions in North-America, which had not been ceded by the Definitive treaty to Great-Britain, from the original, printed by Dennis Braud, printer to the king at New-Orleans, in October last, and published among all the French inhabitants.

"Extract of the King's letter to M. D'Abadie, director general and commandant for his Majesty in Louisiana.

"Monsieur D'Abadie. By a Special Act, done at Fontainbleau, Nov. 3, 1762, of my own will and meer motion, having ceded to my very dear and best beloved cousin the King of Spain, and to his heirs and successors, in full property, purely and simply, and without any exceptions, the whole country known by the name of Louisiana, together with New-Orleans, and the Island in which the said city is situated; and by another Act done at the Escurial, Nov. 12th, in the same year, his Catholick Majesty having accepted the cession of the said country of Louisiana, and the city and island of New-Orleans, agreeable to the copies of the said Acts, which you will find hereunto annexed: I write you this letter to inform you, that my intention is, That no receipt of these presents, whether they come to your hands by the officers of his Catholick Majesty, or directly by such French vessels as may be charged with the same, You are to deliver up to the governor, or officer appointed for that purpose by the King of Spain, the said country and colony of Louisiana, and the posts thereon depending; likewise the city and island of New-Orleans, in such state and condition as they shall be found to be in, on the day of the said cession, willing that in all time to come they shall belong to his Catholick Majesty, to be governed and administered by his governors and officers, and as possessed by him in full property without any exceptions. At the same time I hope for the prosperity and peace of the inhabitants of the colony of Louisiana, and promise myself, from the friendship and affection of his Catholick Majesty, that he will be pleased to give orders to his governor and all other officers employed in his service in the said colony, and in the city of New Orleans, That, the ecclesiastics and religious houses who have the care of the parishes and of the missions, may continue to exercise their functions, and enjoy the rights, privileges and immunities granted by their several charters of establishment. That the ordinary judges do continue, together with the superior council, to administer justice according to the laws, forms, and usages of the colony: That the inhabitants be preserved and maintained in their possessions: That they be confirmed in the property of their estates, according to the grants which have been made by the governors and directors of the colony, and that all the said grants be holden and taken as confirmed by his Catholick Majesty, even tho not, as yet, ever confirmed by me.

"Hoping above all, that his Catholic Majesty will be pleased to bestow on his new subjects of Louisiana the same marks of protection and good will, which they enjoyed while under my dominion, and of which the misfortunes of war alone have prevented their experiencing greater effects; I look to him to have you in his holy keeping.

Given at Versailles, April 21, 1764: Signed Louis, and underneath, Le Duc de Choiseul.

The Spaniards are actually arrived at New-Orleans, to take possession of the city and colony. M. D'Abadie told the French officers they were at liberty to enter into the King of Spain's service, and at the same time informed them, that the French King had no further occasion for them.

It was mentioned in a former paper, that the French were sending off their military stores, ordnance, &c. so that very little if any, would remain on the day of their cession. It is well worth notice, that the date of the Act of cession is the same with that of the preliminary articles of peace, which shews that our peace-makers were not so unmindful of the British interest in America, as the sowers of sedition would have us believe."