only indigestible substances, such as, most com- | ogy of Massachusetts, there are probably at least monly, the feathers of the bird itself in the sixty per cent. of these, the habits of which, as form of large balls, the purpose of which ap-regards food, could be thoroughly made out in pears to be to keep the stomach distended. This peculiarity was frequently observed in the various species of grebes, in the winter months, during the prevalence of frost.

a few years by a combination of the methods of research last mentioned, and by the united observations of several contemporaneous observers at different stations. Of the very general interest which would attach to a fund of knowledge of this description, and of its great importance, not only to the husbandman, but to all lovers of nature, there can be no question.

Is it too much to hope that in this land, where all men are familiar with the value of co-operation and accustomed to the conduct of Societies, there may not be one day established an Association for the Advancement of Knowledge which shall be truly in harmony with the spirit of the times in which we live? Such a Society, possessing somewhere a central office or bureau in charge of competent officers, and sending out ramifications into all sections of our common country, so that it could number among its active members every person of observant habits and scientific tastes throughout the length and breadth of the land, would quickly settle a host of questions, like this of the food of birds, which are too large to be grasped by a single man.

EDUCATION OF THE COLORED
POPULATION OF LOUISIANA.

NLY a few years elapsed after the settle

ONLY

It is undeniable that the results obtained by the naturalists above-mentioned are exceedingly valuable; but they serve only the more clearly to indicate the need of a more humane, a more manageable method of inquiry. There are few persons so situated that they could study the subject in the style of M. Prevost, and there are many who would shrink from the wholesale slaughter which is unavoidable in the system of Professor Jenks. What is needed is a method of research which shall not involve the destruction of the bird in order that we may examine the things which are put into its stomach. There is, of course, the familiar method of noting every particular instance in which birds are seen feeding upon any thing the character of which can be well ascertained. The method, if it were perseveringly carried out by a number of different observers, working in connection with each other, and all reporting to a common centre, would undoubtedly lead to valuable results. But besides this there presents itself another plan which, though applying, it is true, to only a portion of the breeding-season, could be so easily carried out that it would seem to be worthy of careful trial. This consists merely of a modification of the school-boy's system of rearing young birds through the intervention of the parent birds. The nest and young birds therein contained being placed within a wire cage, this is left hanging upon the tree from which the nest was taken, so that the parent birds can feed their offspring through the bars of the cage. This they will soon proceed to do, and in a short time will labor for the support of the young birds as tranquilly as if nothing had happened. Now to any one who has ever seen this method put in practice, and has noticed the heedless way in which the young birds push and crowd one another about whenever the parent comes to distribute food among them, it will be evident that there would be little or no difficulty in so arranging matters that a portion of the food proffered by the old birds should fall, not into the open mouths of their offspring, but into the bottom of the cage, whence it could be taken for examination at the convenience of the observer. Little if any thing more would be needed than to so adjust the position of the nest within the cage that the young birds could neither have access to the sides of the cage, nor be able to reach completely to its The early history of this State blends the soupper bars; and in case the food consisted of ber realities of truth with the poetry and roliving insects, some adhesive coating, like glyc-mance of the Middle Ages. The chivalry of erin, for example, would of course be needed at France and Spain watched over the birth of the bottom of the cage.

Now taking, for the sake of example, the one hundred and seventy species of land-birds which are enumerated in the Report on the Ornithol

ment of Louisiana in 1699 by the French, before slave labor was introduced to aid in developing its resources and sustaining the colonists. For a century and a half since that period has the contest between freedom and slavery been waged there, and always under circumstances favorable to the latter. In many of the English colonies along the Atlantic coast loud and repeated remonstrances, until the era of the Revolution, were made to the mother country against the introduction of this element among the population; but in the early history of Louisiana we find that no systematic opposition was made to the use of slaves, or apprehension of future evils by their presence. The early governors welcomed slavery as the only means of causing prosperity to visit their country, and the whole moral and political influence of the people was in favor of its general adoption as a part of the political economy of the country. The monarchs of France regarded slavery as a proper element of industry in their colonies, and as long as their revenues were increased by the slave-trade they saw nothing but humanity and civilization in its practice.

Louisiana. Kings and statesmen fostered its early growth, and the treasures of Louis XIV. were liberally expended to make it a success. Every thing which wealth, power, or influence

has the system of slave labor been tried with every facility for rendering it successful. It commenced when the colony numbered only about three or four hundred inhabitants; it has ever since been fostered by Legislative enactments and judicial decisions; it has struck its roots deep into the social system, and is it strange that it should be difficult to eradicate?

From Crozat the colony passed into the hands of the Company of the Indies, whose act of incorporation required that the demand for labor should be supplied with three thousand negroes. In all succeeding administrations slave labor seemed to be regarded as essential to the success of the colony, and until the last few years it has been the fixed policy of the people to make such laws as would protect it and render it per

could do was employed to make this colony one of the most favored in the New World.. More than three hundred years ago its mighty forests, its endless swamps, and majestic rivers were crossed by De Soto, who, returning after a fruitless search for gold, when worn out by toil and disappointment, was buried beneath the turbid waves of the "Father of Waters," which he was the first to discover. A century and a half later other adventurous spirits attempted to explore and settle this country. Long before the English had made any explorations beyond the Atlantic coast and fringed the ocean with their settlements the French Jesuits had penetrated to Lake Superior, and, descending southward ⚫ from the Great Lakes, had mapped out the country from the Falls of Saint Anthony to the Gulf of Mexico. Among these missionaries and ad-petual. venturers are names which history will never The "Black Code," first established by Bienpass over in silence. Nearly a hundred and ville, has ever been the model for all legislation ninety-three years ago Father Marquette and on this subject. When the colony was first Joliet were the first explorers of the Mississippi. taken possession of by the Crown of Spain, in Seven years later Robert Cavalier de la Salle the year 1769, the laws of the Black Code were and Chevalier de Tonti descended this river to retained with such modifications as the Siete its mouth, and lived to tell of its grandeur in | Partidas made on the subject of slavery. This the gay salons of Paris. Following these her- system of laws, first completed in the year 1263, alds of a new empire came Iberville, Bienville, has ever since been the Blackstone of Spain and and Father Anastase, the founders of the first her colonies. Although founded on the Roman permanent settlement in the State, and the civil law, it is the most complete and well dispring of the last year of the seventeenth cen- gested system of laws on the Continent of Eutury saw their first rude cabins erected on the rope, and is still the authority in the countries bay of Biloxi. of America settled by the Spaniards. In this system of law the subject of slavery is well defined, and the regulations are evidently based on the code of Justinian. The old Spaniards seemed to have no scruples about the justice of this institution; their long wars with the swarthy Moors, and their proximity to the African coast, conspired to make them look upon this subject with complacency and lend it their sanction.

But prosperity avoided the little colony at Biloxi. The settlers were accustomed to the bracing atmosphere of Canada and the milder breezes of France, and could hardly endure the burning heat of the sun and pestilential vapors of this semi-tropical clime. Sickness and death invaded their ranks, and their ignorance of the diseases peculiar to this climate carried many of them to a premature grave.

The early settlers of Louisiana were mostly As early as the year 1708 the colony favored descendants of the "Latin races." With the the introduction of slave labor. It had already exception of a few Germans who settled in the been introduced into the West Indies from Af- parishes of St. John the Baptist and St. James, rica, and it was very naturally supposed that it and who have now lost all trace of their former was essential to the prosperity of the country. language and nationality, this State, up to the Indians were first taken and compelled to work beginning of the present century, was settled for the colonists, but they were soon found to wholly by people from countries bordering on be unprofitable, for they could not be confined the Mediterranean. In nearly every city the to their masters' plantations. The same prac- peoples of France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal tice had already been tried in Massachusetts and are represented. They brought with them their Connecticut with a similar want of success. In customs, language, and their religion which order to supply the great demand for labor, they have carefully preserved. In one half of Bienville, the Governor of the colony, wrote to New Orleans one finds little to remind him that the French Government proposing to exchange he is in America. He hears a foreign language Indians for negroes with the West India Islands, in the streets, the shops, and the cafés. but his request met with an unfavorable recep- finds hundreds of people not able to speak the tion. When the entire control of the colony English language, and who have never regarded passed into the hands of Anthony Crozat, in themselves as Americans although natives of the the year 1712, slavery was already introduced, United States. In most of the schools the textand he was authorized to perpetuate it by send- books and all the exercises are in the French ing a ship once a year to Africa for negroes to be language, and English is taught as a separate employed by the inhabitants as slaves. From branch. When he enters the courts of justice, this time, when slavery was first legally estab- he finds the civil law to be the basis of all judilished in the colony, until the Proclamation of cial proceedings, the Code Napoleon and the Emancipation-one hundred and fifty years- Partidas are oftener quoted than the comment

He

aries of Blackstone and Kent, and often the ex-ing them educated and trained up in such a manamination of the witnesses and the pleadings of the counsel are in a foreign tongue.

This peculiar state of society in New Orleans has not been without its influence on the free colored population, who have become an element which will well repay examination. While the statute laws of Louisiana have been very severe against the marriage of whites with people of color, the social customs have tolerated it in a great degree. Since the first introduction of negroes into the colony a mixed race has existed there. The cohabitation of colored persons with whites is not allowed to have any legal effect; but the Catholic church recognizes unions of this kind, and binds the husband to support and provide for his offspring. This, however, does not prevent him from entering upon other marital relations.

Among the French and Spanish settlers and their descendants, the condition of the colored people, rather than their color as a badge of slavery, has been the subject of popular prejudice. They looked upon a slave and his descendants as an inferior class, simply because they were in a degrading condition of servitude, and not because they bore a darker skin. In the North and in States settled by the English the prejudice is one of color rather than condition. Here the colored man is tabooed, no matter what his antecedents may have been; the emancipated slave, just free from his master, is as much honored and respected as he who can trace his lineage through several generations of freedmen. The slightest admixture of African blood is fatal, not only to his social standing, but even, as a general thing, to his respectability; and this interpretation of the social laws is the one usually adhered to by the "American" population of the State.

ner that they would be an honor to himself. It he were living with a slave, it was the usual prac tice to emancipate her before she became a mother, in order that her children might be free, and the consequence was that they were sent to private schools, and obtained such an education as the father could afford to give them.

It sometimes happened, if the father were a man of wealth and influence, that the free child of a mixed race was sent to the most fashionable schools in the eity, and it was no uncommon thing for them to be sent to the white boarding-schools at the North. In the former case the wealth and respectability of the parent was a sufficient guarantee for the admission of the pupil. In many instances they were educated in the best schools in France.

The number of these colored creoles who have received a foreign education can not be exactly stated, but it will not fall much short of two thousand. Among this class are many who have already obtained prominent positions among the people of their own color. Some are merchants, who are transacting a wholesale business with the principal houses in France; some are bankers, some are editors, and some are physicians, who have a large and lucrative practice, and have received their diplomas from the University of Paris. The profession of law has been so jealously guarded that they have never been allowed to practice in the courts, and their energies have been mostly confined to the medical profession and the various pursuits of trade. Their style of living and dress corresponds to their circumstances. In fine, I very much doubt whether there is another city in the United States where so large a colored population exist who are so prosperous and well-educated as in New Orleans.

The consequence of this state of society has been, that in this city private schools for colored people have long existed and prospered. The law has tolerated them by a significant silence on the subject. Public opinion has also tolerated them by a quasi encouragement and patronage. Under the old régime this was one of the delicate subjects which the people did not think it best to interfere with in advance. They reasoned thus: "Any thing so weak and insignificant as these schools appear to be can be let alone till some solid reason arises for suppressing them, meanwhile we are strong enough to protect ourselves against any evil results from this course." An opposite course might have defeated their own ends, and given some excuse for an excitement on the delicate subject of negro insurrections. So the law held its power in reserve, and while it placed heavy fines and pun

After the revolution in Saint Domingo a great number of free people of color came to New Orleans to reside. Many of them were men of wealth and culture, owning large properties in that island, who had received their education in France. The French was their native tongue, and their early associations were with this race, which never carried the prejudice against color to the same unwarrantable extent which has prevailed in the United States. In their new home they found a State of society congenial to their taste; and, modified by their presence, it became one of the peculiarities of the Crescent City. From these people had arisen a class which is different from any other in the Union. They have been accorded many privileges and rights, which one would hardly expect in a State where the laws against education are as stringent as they appear on the statute books. Among the French and Spanish settlers an en-ishments on those who taught the slave populatirely different feeling existed toward their children of a mixed race from that which the emigrants from the States usually manifested. A man of the former class never appeared to regard such offspring as attaching any disgrace to But among this class of people there are social his character, and was usually desirous of hav-chasms as wide and deep as between themselves

tion, and kept a strict watch over the movements of the colored people, especially their religious meetings and social gatherings, it refrained from going any further.

miscegenation been going on that it is often ing there exhibited are very neat and correct. difficult to detect it. In many of the private schools there is not a single specimen of a fullblooded African; and in the schools under the Bureau, notwithstanding the influx of population from the country parishes, there is as much as seventy or eighty per cent. of the children of a mixed race. Yet this class of people own taxable property in New Orleans, valued at fifteen millions of dollars, and annually pay a school-tax of thirty-seven thousand dollars for the exclusive support of white schools.