MY HUSBAND FRANKLIN MILLER SURREY

PREFACE

Histories of Louisiana under the rule of France have been little more than narratives of events. None has given primary attention to the development of institutions. The present contribution, begun in 1909 as a seminar paper, is intended within the field chosen to remedy this omission.

In elaborating the theme an efifort has been made to bring together all that is pertinent and available in French and English records. Every library in the United States likely to contain material on the subject has been visited. As the chief source of information naturally is France itself, the stores of the archival centres and the libraries there have been freely drawn upon. The work, in fact, is based, very largely, on unpublished documents.

For suggestions, criticism and guidance in the performance of my task I am greatly indebted to William R. Shepherd, of Columbia University, under whom it was carried on. To him I express my sincere gratitude. I desire to convey my sense of appreciation, also, to Mr. Waldo Leland, of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and to M. Abel Doysie, of Paris, for aid in utilizing the French archives. To librarians and others who have placed their collections at my disposal I am duly thankful for the many courtesies received.

N. M. Miller Surrey.

New York, April, 1916.