The first Europeans who visited Texas were led here by La Salle, who landed near the entrance of Matagorda Bay, on the 18th of February, 1685. La Salle was a brave and gallant knight under Louis the XIV, King of France. Born of a good family, and intended for the priesthood in the Catholic Church, he had received a finished education. He was a man of great talents, of an enterprising spirit, and possessed firmness of mind which danger and adversity seemed only to strengthen. He kept his own secrets, relied upon his own genius, and bore without a murmur whatever ills befell him.

A squadron of four vessels was provided and furnished by the King, and the whole number of persons embarked in the enterprise was three hundred. The squadron first touched land near Sabine Bay, but, making no discoveries, and being unable to get any information from the Indians, they proceeded westward, and sailing through Pass Cavallo, entered the Bay of St. Bernard, since known by its present name. One of the vessels was wrecked in attempting to land. The others landed in safety, and a camp was formed on the west side, near the entrance of the Bay. The little colony was greatly refreshed by an abundance of game and fish. They were charmed with the country. The herds of buffalo and deer that were seen grazing on the prairies, the innumerable wild flowers that covered the earth, and the birds that warbled in the trees, led them to believe that they had found an earthly paradise.

But these bright prospects were soon clouded. Troubles arose with the Indians. Their chief supply of provisions was lost. Sickness began to thin their numbers. Disagreements arose between La Salle and the leading men of the colony. A captain of one of the vessels set sail for France, carrying away most of the ammunition. Finally, the settlement was abandoned, and a new location was selected on the Lavaca river, and a fort was there erected, and named St. Louis, in honor of the King.

La Salle, the leading spirit of this infant colony, being of an adventurous disposition, and being intensely desirous of ascertaining the exact mouth of the great Mississippi river, started on the business of exploring the vast regions between Texas and Illinois; and after enduring incredible hardships, and meeting with many wild and romantic adventures, was finally murdered by one of his own men.--The Indians, on hearing of La Salle's death, attacked fort St. Louis, and killed or scattered all the colonists. This was the end of the first European colony in Texas.