ave
made. But Governor Frontenac and Father Membre were both at Versailles,
and La Salle's cause was not seriously injured by these malignant
charges.

It was the chevalier's object, in this his return to France, to
organize a colony to form a settlement in the earthly paradise which he
thought that he had discovered on the banks of the Mississippi. He
designed to arrange an expedition of such magnitude as would enable him
to establish several permanent settlements, and also to explore more
extensively the newly discovered country.

The king and the court entered eagerly into plans, which promised to
redound greatly to the glory of France. The reputation of La Salle, the
grandeur of the undertaking, and a natural curiosity to visit scenes so
full of novelty and wonders, induced several gentlemen of distinction
and intelligence to embark in the enterprise. Among them was a younger
brother of La Salle, with an ecclesiastic called M. Cavalier, and also
a nephew. The king conferred a new commission upon La Salle, investing
him with the powers almost of viceroyalty. The whole valley of the
Mississippi, from Lake Michigan to the Gulf, was called Louisiana, in
honor of the then reigning king. The sway of La Salle embraced the
whole of this almost limitless region. Seven missionaries accompanied
the expedition, under the general supervision of Father Membre, whose
virtues and eminent qualification for the station all alike recognized.

Four vessels were equipped for the expedition. The first, called the
Joli, was a man-of-war armed with thirty-six guns. The second was a
frigate called the Belle. The king made a present of this vessel to La
Salle. He had furnished it with a very complete outfit, and with an
armament of six guns. The third, called the Aimable, was a
merchant-ship of about three hundred tons. It was heavily laden with
all those implements and goods which it was deemed would be most useful
in the establishment of a colony. The fourth was a light, swift-sailing
yacht, called the St. Francis, of but thirty tons. This vessel was also
laden with munitions, supplies, and goods for traffic with the Indians.
The whole number who embarked, including one hundred soldiers and seven
or eight families of women and children, amounted to two hundred and
eighty. Care was taken to select good mechanics for the various trades.
But, unfortunately, soldiers and seamen were engaged without apparently
any reference to character. Thu