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Each young lady, carrying a trousseau packed in a lit'1’ chest, anxiously waited as v, ^ representative of the Ursulines arranged a suitable marriage.1 \ The descendants of the Ca- \ sket Girls are still found on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. \ The treaty of Paris, Feb. 10, 1 1763, brought to an end-the long.-] fight between France and eng-land for supremacy in North America. The Most Christian King of France ceded to His Brittanic Majesty, the Mississippi River, the Port of Mobile and all the possessions on the left side of the Mississippi, with the exception of New Orleans, which he ceded to Spain.
The lilies of France over Fort i Conde at Mobile were lowered and the British flag was raised to the music of bagpipes.
The British were now in possession of the Coast; but their j rule was destined to be of short j duration. On May 8, 1779, His j Catholic Majesty of Spain declared war against England; and Galvez, the Provincial Governor of Louisiana, quickly commenced hostilities with his traditional enemy.
Within a space of two years Galvez forced the capitulation of every English stronghold on the River and along the Gulf Coast. Spain again came into possession of the territory of West Florida.
In the fall of 1800, Spain secretly ceded Louisiana to Napoleon, by the Treaty of San Hde-phonso, Spain, however, remained in actual possession of this territory.
A diplomatic triple play was executed at New Orleans in the fall of 1803; when Louisiana went from Spain to France to the United States within the space of 20 days.
When the war of 1812 was on the horizon, Governor Claiborne sent Dr. William Flood to organize the parishes of Biloxi and Pascagoula.
On the banks of the Pearl River, Flood chose Simon Favre, an educated and prosperous farmer to serve as justice of the peace. He then moved to Bay St. Louis where he commissioned Philip Saucier, a venerable gentleman of prepossessing manners with a patriarchal influence.	_	1
The flag of the United States was raised over the Bay on the 9th of January, 1811.
beautiful coast, a primitive people of mixed origin; retaining the gaiety and politeness of the French, blended with the abste-milousness and indolence of the Indian. The people are universally honest... a more innocent and inoffensive people may not be found ... I am greatly impressed with the beauty and value of this coast.
“The high sandy lands, heavily timbered with pine; and the lovely bays and rivers from Pearl River to Mobile will furnish New Orleans with a rich commerce, and with a delightful summer resort.” (Claiborne, pp.306-7)
The American Atlas of 1823, gives the population of Hancock County as 1,594. Concerning the climate of the state, the Atlas says: “The Bay of St. Louis, in the southern part, is esteemed as one of the most healthy places in that latitude; and is the retreat for many of the citizens of New Orleans during the sickly season. (American Atlas, 1823, No. 29.)
Hancock County of which Bay St. Louis is the county seat, was established Dec. 14, 1812, during the territorial era. On Feb. 5,1841, this county was divided and a portion of it was embodied in the newly formed County of Harrison.
Another division rook place Fe. 22, 1890, when Pearl River county was established.
This settlement was originally known as Bay St. Louis. Subsequently it was called Shieldsboro, after Thomas Shields one of the early settlers.
For many years both names were used. The Mayor and Board of Aldermen, at their first meeting Jan. 4, 1858, attempted to clarify the matter by incorporating the city under the name of the City of Shieldsborough.
This evidently did not meet with general approbation; so on March 2, 1875, the first name was restored, and the city incorporated as the City of Bay St. Louis.
“Similar appointments were made at Biloxi and Pascagoula; but it was impossible to find any inhabitant of these places who could read or write.
Flood’s report shows that he was a keen observer with a judgment bordering on the prophetic. Let us quote part of his report:
“They are, all along this