Meanwhile the Creoles themselves accepted their very rapidly changing fates with something much like apathy.  In March, 1803, the French Prefect Laussat arrived to make preparations to take possession of the country.  He had no idea that Napoleon intended to cede it to the United States.  On the contrary, he showed that he regarded the French as the heirs, not only to the Spanish territory, but of the Spanish hostility to the Americans.  He openly regretted that the Spanish Government had reversed Morales’ act taking away from the Americans the right of deposit; and he made all his preparations as if on the theory that New Orleans was to become the centre of an aggressive military government.

    Corruption of the Spanish Government.

His dislikes, however, were broad, and included the Spaniards as well as the Americans.  There was much friction between him and the Spanish officials; he complained bitterly to the home government of the insolence and intrigues of the Spanish party.  He also portrayed in scathing terms the gross corruption of the Spanish authorities.  As to this corruption he was borne out by the American observers.  Almost every high Spanish official was guilty of peculation at the expense of the government, and of bribe-taking at the expense of the citizens.

    The Creoles not Ill-Satisfied with it.

Nevertheless the Creoles were far from ill-satisfied with Spanish rule.  They were not accustomed to self-government, and did not demand it; and they cared very little for the fact that their superiors made money improperly.  If they paid due deference to their lay and clerical rulers they were little interfered with; and they were in full accord with the governing classes concerning most questions, both of principle or lack of principle, and of prejudice.  The Creoles felt that they were protected, rather than oppressed, by people who shared their tastes, and who did not interfere with the things they held dear.  On the whole they showed only a tepid joy at the prospect of again becoming French citizens.

    Preparations to Turn the Country Over to the United States.

Laussat soon discovered that they were to remain French citizens for a very short time indeed; and he prepared faithfully to carry out his instructions, and to turn the country over to the Americans.  The change in the French attitude greatly increased the friction with the Spaniards.  The Spanish home government was furious with indignation at Napoleon for having violated his word, and only the weakness of Spain prevented war between it and France.  The Spanish party in New Orleans muttered its discontent so loud that Laussat grew alarmed.  He feared some outbreak on the part of the Spanish sympathizers, and, to prevent such a mischance, he not only embodied the comparatively small portion of the Creole militia whom he could trust, but also a number of American volunteers, concerning whose fidelity in such a crisis as that he anticipated there could be no question.  It was not until December first, 1803, that he took final possession of the provinces.  Twenty days afterwards he turned it over to the American authorities.