The Geographical Catechism of Pennsylvania

Q. What are the Internal Improvements?

A. There are few. The citizens of St. Louis, very recently have entered upon a project of a railroad from that city, through the heart of this country, to the fine farming lands in the south-western part of the state. If this project be carried out, it will be beneficial to the state.

Q. What is the state of Education?

A. Similar provisions have been made as in other western states; and there is a strong disposition to encourage common schools and sustain academies.

St. Louis University was founded in 1829, and is conducted by the Fathers of the Society of Jesuits.

There is another institution at a place called Bois Brule Bottom, in the southern part of the state, both Catholic institutions. There is also a college at Marion.

Q. What can you say of the principal Religious Denominations?

A, The Baptists in this state have 180 churches, 115 ministers, 6,990 communicants; the Methodists have 57 ministers, 7,958 white members, 1,061 coloured, and 889 Indians, in toto 9,898; the Presbyterians have 33 churches, 20 ministers, 1,549 members; the Roman Catholics have a host of priests, and many chapels; the Episcopalians have 5 or 6 ministers.

Q. What is the early History of Missouri?

A. The whole country now included in the states of Alabama and Mississippi, was held by Francè, or more correctly, that nation claimed this region as a part of Louisiana, from their first settlement on the northern shores of the Gulf of Mexico.

In 1716, the French formed a settlement amongst the Natchez Indians, and built a fort where the city of Natchez now stands. In the first instance, the Indians were unaware of the consequence, but dissatisfaction soon arose, and ended, in 1723, in open war.

Bienville, the governor-general, marched a force from New Orleans to Natchez, which the Indians were unable to oppose, and were compelled to submit to terms.'

In 1729, a man of the name of Chopart was commandant at Natchez; but his injustice and folly so exasperated the natives, and at the same time neglecting the means of defending his colony against their wrath, a massacre was planned, and on the 30th of November, 1729, perpetrated; when, with two or three exceptions, the French of both sexes, to the amount of 700, fell victims. The total dispersion of the Natchez nation soon followed, as they were too weak to sustain themselves against the French.

The country in the vicinity of Natchez was abandoned by both whites and Indians, and remained long uninhabited. The French still, however, claimed the country until 1763, when it was ceded as part of Florida to Great Britain.

Settlers slowly entered the country, and many very respectable British families located themselves in and near Natchez. During the revolutionary war, 1781, Governor Galvez, of Louisiana, invaded and conquered West Flo rida, and by the treaty of Paris, 1783, it fell once more to Spain, who held it until 1798, when it was given up to the United States.

The 9th of July, 1808, an act of Congress was passed to admit a delegate from Mississippi territory into Congress. June 17th, the assent of Georgia demanded to the formation of two states from the Mississippi territory. Georgia acceded to the demand, but the country remained a territory until December 1817. Previous to the latter date, on the 21st of January, 1815, a petition from the Legislature of the Mississippi territory, praying admission into the Union as a state. This petition was favourably reported on by a committee of Congress, December, 1816. An ac was passed the 1st of March, 1817, authorizing the people

of the petitioning territory to call a Convention, which was called, and met in July, 1817. The Convention, accepted the act of Congress, and proceeded to frame a Constitution of government. The Constitution was adopted on the 15th of August, and in the ensuing December was confirmed by Congress, and the new state took her station as a member of the Union.