St. Louis was founded in 1764, under the auspices of the French
government, by M. Laclede, who named it in honour of the reigning
monarch, Louis XV. In 1770, it passed into the possession of Spain, and
as the seat of government for Upper Louisiana was occupied by a Spanish
governor. In 1800, Louisiana was retroceded to France, from which
government it was purchased by the United States during the presidency
of Mr. Jefferson. St. Louis increased slowly until the introduction of
steam navigation on the western rivers; but during the last seven years
its population has increased from 8000 to 30,000. It contains fifteen
places of worship, viz., two Episcopalian churches, two Roman Catholic,
two Methodist meeting-houses, two Presbyterian, one Associate Reformed
Presbyterian, one German Lutheran, one Baptist, one Unitarian, an
African Methodist, and an African Baptist meeting-house, besides a
Jewish synagogue. A third Roman Catholic church is in progress, and the
number of Roman Catholics in the city is not less than 14,000. The
buildings are of brick or stone, and generally present a handsome
appearance.
PAGE 5. "Father of waters," &c.
When the Mississippi is at its lowest stage, the depth of water at St.
Louis is four feet; when full, the depth is twenty-nine feet. The width
of the river is three-quarters of a mile; the average velocity four
miles an hour; the average descent of the stream six inches in every
mile.