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La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

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CHAPTER XXIII.1684.A NEW ENTERPRISE.<strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> at Court : his Proposals. — Occupation <strong>of</strong> Louisiana— Invasion <strong>of</strong> Mexico. — Royal Favor. — Preparation. — ADivided Comm<strong>and</strong>. — Beaujeu <strong>and</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>. — MentalCondition <strong>of</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> : his Farewell to his Mo<strong>the</strong>r.When <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> reached Paris, he went to his oldlodgings in Rue de la Tru<strong>and</strong>erie, <strong>and</strong>, it is likelyenough, thought for an instant <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> adventures <strong>and</strong>vicissitudes he had passed since he occupied <strong>the</strong>mbefore. Ano<strong>the</strong>r ordeal awaited him. He mustconfront, not painted savages with tomahawk <strong>and</strong>knife, but — what he shrank from more — <strong>the</strong> courtlythrongs that still live <strong>and</strong> move in <strong>the</strong> pages <strong>of</strong>Se>igne* <strong>and</strong> Saint-Simon.The news <strong>of</strong> his <strong>discovery</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> rumor <strong>of</strong> hisschemes were <strong>the</strong> talk <strong>of</strong> a moment among <strong>the</strong>courtiers, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>n were forgotten. It was not sowith <strong>the</strong>ir master. <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>'s friends <strong>and</strong> patronsdid not fail him. A student <strong>and</strong> a recluse in hisyouth, <strong>and</strong> a backwoodsman inwhat was tohis manhood, he hadhim <strong>the</strong> formidable honor <strong>of</strong> an interviewwith royalty itself, <strong>and</strong> stood with such phi*

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