"Sam": or The history of mystery./ By C. W. Webber.

214 " SAM:" OR, THiE HISTORY OF MYSTERIY.
the Tombigbee to the head of navigation, marched from the
landing now known as Cotton Gin Port against a stronghold
of the Chickasaws, situated about twenty miles west of it.
Aware, however, of the approach of their enemies, and encouraged by some English traders, the Chickasaws repulsed
the attack, and compelled the French and their allies to an
inglorious retreat.
D'Artaguette, who simultaneously descended from the
Illinois with fifty Frenchmen and a thousand Indians, had
been still more unlucky. Not hearing anything of the
other expedition, he too had ventured a separate attack on a
more northerly fort of the Chickasaws, in which he fell,
severely wounded. His forces were repulsed and hotly pursued. Himself and several others, taken prisoners, were
burned at the stake. In consequence, no doubt, of the
expense of this war, the "card money" system which prevailed in Canada was introduced in Louisiana also.
Three years after, the whole strength of New France was
again exerted for the conquest of the Chickasaws. At a
post established within their country, at that bluff on the
Mississippi now the site of the city of Memphis, twelve
hundred French soldiers were assembled, with twice as many
Indians and negroes. But the ranks were soon thinned by
sickness, and the French were glad to purchase peace by
withdrawing their forces, leaving the Chickasaws still independent and indomitable.
The process for vacating the charter of Carolina had been
delayed by the privilege of peerage, enjoyed by several of
the proprietaries. To bring this to a conclusion, it was proposed to buy the province, and the bargain for that purpose
was presently confirmed by act of Parliament. Seven of the
eight proprietaries relinquished to the crown all their interest
for the sum of ~17,500, to which were added ~5000 more
for arrears of quit-rents, claimed to the amount of ~9000.
Lord Carteret, the eighth Proprietor, surrendered his rights
of jurisdiction, but chose to retain his interest in the soil,
his share of which, in the territory north of the Savannah,
was specially set off to him next to the Virginia line, which
had been lately run, and marked as far westward as the
Blue Ridge.