ensemble de misère, perfect ivretchedness

Pag'e 93. — i. des hauts faits, compare our English "tall stories," in the sensé of "remarkable," or "hard to believe."

2. Taken in part from a letter to de Tocqueville's mother, under date of 2j décembre sur le Mississipi. The travelers were compelled to wait a week in Memphis before proceeding on their journey.

3. New Orléans (Pr. Xoo Or'-le-anz) is situated on the Mississippi River a hundred miles from the Gulf. The city was founded in 17 18, and became the capital of the French territory in that section in 1722. It was ceded to Spain in 1762 and remained a Spanish possession till its rétrocession to France in 1800. In 1803 it passed into the control of the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The growth of Xew Orléans has been steady and substantial; in 1803 it had a population of Sooo; at the time of de Toqueville's visit almost 50,000; now its estimated population is 375,000.

Pag'e 94. — i. Memphis, largest city in Tennessee (pop. in 1900. 102,000), is situated on the Mississippi, 818 miles above Xew Orléans. Both the French and the Spaniards built forts on the site of Memphis, but no permanent settlement was made till 181 9. At the

r. 94-90] NOTES

time of de Tocqueville's sojourn the place numbered nearly a thousand people.