France and England in North America. a Series of Historical Narratives. by Francis Parkman: Count Frontenac and New France Under Louis XIV

The occupation by France of the lower Mississippi gave a strong impulse to the exploration of the West by supplying a base for discovery stimulating enterprise by the longing to find gold mines open trade with New Mexico and get a fast hold on the countries beyond the Mississippi in anticipation of Spain; and to these motives was soon added the hope of finding an overl

The occupation by France of the lower Mississippi gave a strong impulse to the exploration of the West by supplying a base for discovery stimulating enterprise by the longing to find gold mines open trade with New Mexico and get a fast hold on the countries beyond the Mississippi in anticipation of Spain; and to these motives was soon added the hope of finding an overland way to the Pacific