The Journeys of Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, Volume 1 Page: 19 of 330

INTRODUCTION

volume. It is well to note, however, that
the documents published by Margry give a
much more favorable view of Beaujeu's
conduct than do the accounts of Joutel or
of Cavelier. The course of La Salle during
his Texas journey is shown, even by
his friends, to be highly erratic, while
Beaujeu appears in the light of the practical
man of affairs. The careful student
of the period must acknowledge that there
is a great deal of uncertainty and vacillation
in La Salle's movements during the
critical moments of this unfortunate expedition.
Perhaps the vicissitudes through
which he had passed during two strenuous
decades of frontier exploration had affected
his judgment and rendered him what he
proved to be-an unfortunate leader.
Any formal estimate of the character of
La Salle would clearly be out of place
in this work. Gravier, in his D