On this day at 7 O’clock, I sat out from Mr. Fortiers, and arrived at noon, at the house of Mr. Truards, the Judge of the County Court, for the County of German Coast. Judge Truard had invited to his house, the Justices of the Peace, and the other Civil officers of the County, & with whom I had the honor to dine.—The day passed pleasantly away, and I was pleased to find, that the American Government & Laws began to be understood & admired by the Company.—Judge Truard is a native of Paris, and has received a liberal education; he early emigrated to Louisiana, and is married to a Creole of the Country, by whom he has had several Children. I find in Mr. Truard the Character of an honest, intelligent man, & a Zealous American; he, alike with his guests, professed to be admirers of the principles of our Government; but were of opinion, that the American Judiciary was not adopted to the present State of the Territory;—they thought the Trial by Jury, was not desirable, & complained most heavily of the conduct of the Lawyers; Judge Truard, as well as his neighbours are cultivators of the Cane, and are greatly augmenting their wealth; I saw at Judge Truards some Peaches of an excellent quality; to the raising of which this climate is happily adapted.

In the neighbourhood of Mr. Truards, two Americans have established Sugar Plantations, Mr. Butler late of the Mississippi Territory, & Mr. James Brown from Kentucky; the former has a flattering prospect, and will probably make the present year fifteen Thousand Dollars; the latter is only preparing for the culture of sugar the ensuing year; he purchased his estate the last year for (I believe) sixteen thousand Dollars, and at present, he would probably refuse forty thousand Dollars.—My Indisposition Stil continues; but I persuade myself it will not prove serious.

I have the honor to be, Sir, Very respectfully, your mo: obt. Servt.