individual, y por consiguiente la del Estado. Confiado pues en lo re comendable de esta empresa, en los vivos deseos que animan a V. M. por la prosperidad de la Nacion, y en los servicios y sacrificios del exponente, se atreve a suplica a V. M. que en remuneracion de ellos se digne concederle en plena propiedad y con arreglo a las leyes que rigen en la materia, todas las tierras incultas que no se hallen cedidas en la Florida, comprendidas entre el rio Perdido al occidente del Golfo de Mexico, y los rios Amaruja y el Sn. Juan, desde Popa hasta su desague en el Mar por la parte de Oriente, por el Norte la linea de demarcacion con los Estados Unidos, y al Sur por el Golfo de Mexico, incluyendo las yslas desiertas en la costa. Por tanto, a V. M. rendidamente suplica, que en atencion a lo expuesto, y a las includables ventajas que resultan a la Nacion, se sirva acceder a este solicitud, y mandar al mismo tiempo se comuniquen las correspondientes ordenes a las Autoridades del Pays, prebiniendoles presten al exponente todos los auxilios y proteccion necesaria, asi para la designacion de los terrenos, como para llevar a efecto la empresa en todas sus partes: gracia que espera de la muniticencia de V. M. Enterado del contenido de esta exposicion, y atendiendo al distinguido merito de este sugeto, y a su acreditado celo por mi real servicio, como tambien a las ventajas que resultaran al Estado del aumento de poblacion de los citados paises que pretende, he tenido a bien acceder a la gracia que solicita en cuanto no se oponga a las leyes de esos mis reynos, y comunicarlo al mi consejo de Indias para su execucion en Real orden de diez y siete de Diciembre, del referido ano. En su consecuencia os mando y encargo por esta mi Real Cedula, que con arreglo a las leyes que rigen en la materia auxilieis eficazmente la execucion de la espresada gracia, tomando todas las disposiciones que se dirijan a su debido efecto, sin perjuicio de tercero, y para que el espresado Conde de Punonrostro pueda desde luego poner en execucion su designio, conforme en todo con mis beneficus deseos, en obsequio de la agricultura y comercio de dichas posesiones que claman por una poblacion proporcionada a la feracidad de su suelo, y a la defensa y seguridad de las costas; dando cuenta succesivamente de su progreso; que asi es mi voluntad, y que de esta cedula se tome razon en la Contaduria General de Indias. Fecha en Palacio, a seis de Febrero, de mil ochocientos diez y ocho. Por mandado del Rey Nuestro Senor: YO EL REY. Y para que conste firmo esta certificacion en Madrid, a quince de Octubre, de mil ochocientos y veinte. Don Evaristo Perez de Castro, Caballero de numero de la orden de Carlos 3d, del Consejo de Estado y Secretario del Despacho de Estado, &c. Certifico que la firma que antecede del Exmo. Sor. Don Antonio Porcel, Secretario del Despacho de la Gobernacion de Ultramar, es la que acostumbra poner en todos sus escritos. Y para los efectos convenientes doy el presente certificado, firmado de mi mano y sellado con el escudo de mis armas, en Madrid, a veinte y uno de Octubre, de mil ochocientos y veinte. EVARISTO PEREZ DE CASTRO. (TRANSLATION.) Don Antonio Porcel, Knight Pensioner of the Royal and distinguished order of Charles 3d, of the Council of State, and Secretary of State and of Despatch of the Ultramarine government, &c. I certify that, under date of the sixth of February, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, royal letters patent of the same tenor were sent by the late Council of the Indies to the Governor Captain General of the Island of Cuba and its dependencies, to the Intendant of the Army and Royal business of the Havana and its district, and to the Governor of the Floridas, that each should do his utmost in his particular department to give effect to the grant made to Brigadier the Count of Punonrostro, of various lands situated in West Florida, of the following tenor: THE KING. My Governor and Captain General of the Island of Cuba and its dependencies: The Brigadier Count of Punonrostro submitted to me, on the third of November last, what follows: "Sire: The Brigadier Count of Punonrostro, Grandee of Spain of the first class, and your Gentleman of the Bed Chamber in actual attendance, &c., &c., throws himself at your Majesty's Royal feet with the most profound respect, and submits to your Majesty: That, prompted by the desire of promoting, by all possible means, the Improvement of the extensive waste and unsettled lands possessed by your Majesty in the Americas, which, by their fertility, offer the greatest advantages, not only to your memorialist, but to the state, provided due effect, as is hoped, be given to the noble project formed by your Majesty's memorialist, of converting a small portion of those deserts into the abode of peaceable Christians and industrious inhabitants, who will increase the population of your kingdoms, promote agriculture and commerce, and thereby add immensely to your royal revenues. This enterprise should be conducted by a person who, with a knowledge of the country, would combine the intelligence necessary for comparing the progress made by other nations in similar situations, and particularly by the United States, which, within a very recent period, have advanced their power to an extraordinary height, and especially in the instance of the Mobile country, adjoining Florida, which, in the last six years, has received such an influx of emigrants, as to be converted from a desert waste into a rich commercial province, highly improved and peopled with more than three hundred thousand souls. A similar change would be effected in Florida within eighteen or twenty years, by the adoption of judicious arrangements, and by those exertions which your Majesty's memorialist proposes to employ for the promotion of his personal interest, and consequently that of the state. Relying on the merits of the case, and the lively interest felt by your Majesty in the national prosperity, and in the services and sacrifices of your Majesty's memorialist, he humbly requests your Majesty that, taking them into consideration, you would be graciously pleased to grant and cede to him, in full right and property, and the mode and manner required by law, all the waste lands, not heretofore ceded in Florida, lying between the river Perdido, westward of the Gulf of Mexico, and the rivers Amaruja and Saint Johns, from Popa to the point where it empties into the ocean, for the eastern limit; and, for the northern, the boundary line of the United States; and, to the south, by the Gulf of Mexico, including the desert islands on the coast. He therefore humbly prays, in consideration of the premises, and the unquestionable advantages to be derived by the nation, your Majesty will be pleased to grant this his petition; and, thereupon, direct the necessary orders to be given to the local authorities to afford him all due aid and protection, as well in designating the territory referred to, as in giving full effect to the whole enterprise. All which he hopes from the munificence of your Majesty." Having taken the premises into consideration, and bearing in mind the distinguished merits of the memorialist, and his signal zeal for my royal service, as well as the benefits to be derived by the state from an increase of population in the countries, the cession whereof he has solicited, I have judged fit to grant him the same, in so far as is conformable to the laws of these my kingdoms, and to make it known to my Council of the Indies, for its due execution, by a royal order of the seventeenth of December, in the year aforementioned; wherefore, I charge and command you, by this, my Royal Cedula, with due observance of the laws to such cases pertaining, to give full and due effect to the said cession, taking all requisite measures for its accomplishment, without injury to any third party, and, to the end, that the said Count of Punonrostro may forthwith carry his plans into execution, in conformity with my beneficent desires in favor of the agriculture and commerce of the said territories, which require a population proportionate to the fertility of the soil, and the defence and security of the coasts, he giving regular accounts of his proceedings, for such is my will; and that due note be taken of the present Cedula in the office of the Accountant General of the Indies. Dated at the Palace, the sixth of February, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. By command of the King our Lord: I, THE KING. And I confirm this exemplification, at Madrid, the fifteenth of October, one thousand eight hundred and twenty. Don Evaristo Perez de Castro, Knight of the order of Charles 3d, of the Council of State, and Secretary of Despatch of State, &c. I certify that the foregoing signature of his Excellency Don Antonio Porcel, Secretary of Despatch of the Ultra Marine Government, is that which he is accustomed to put to all his writings. And for the proper purposes, I give the present certificate, signed by my hand, and sealed with my seal of arms, at Madrid, the twenty-first of October, one thousand eight hundred and twenty. COPIA. Don Antonio Porcel, Caballero pensionista de la real y distinguida orden de Carlue tercero, del Consejo de Estado y Secretario de Estado y del Despacho de la Goberna cion de Ultramar, &c. Certifico que con fecha de nueve de Abril, de mil ochocientos diez y ocho, se espidieron por el extinguido Consejo de las Indias reales cedulas de igual tenor al Gobernador Capitan General de la ysla de Cuba y su distrito, al Intendente de exercito y real hacienda de la Habana y su distrito, y al Gobernador de las Floridas, para que cada uno en la parte que le tocase dispusiera lo conveniente a que tubiese efecto la gracia concedida a Don Pedro de Vargas, de varios terrenos situados en las Floridas; cuyo contenido es el siguiente. "EL REY. Mi Gobernador y Capitan General de la ysla de Cuba y su distrito. Confecha de veinte y cinco de Enero ultimo, me hizo presente Don Pedro Vargas lo que sigueSenor: Don Pedro de Vargas, Caballero de la real orden militar de Alcantara, tesorero general de la real casa y Patrimonio de V. M. con el mas profundo respeto a V. R. M. espone. Que hay una porcion de tierras vacantes y despobladas en el territorio de las Floridas, y deseando que si V. M. se digna premiar sus tales cuales servicios y las pruebas de lealtad que le tiene dadas, sea sin el mas minimo graba men del Erario, ni perjuicio de tercero como puede en el dia verificarse con algunas tierras de aquel pais a V. M. suplica que por un efecto de su soberana piedad se digne concederle la propiedad del terreno que esta comprehendida en la siguiente demarcacion, asaver. Desde la embocadura del rio Perdido y de su bahia en el Golfo de Mexico, siguiendo la costa del mar, subir por la bahia del Buen Socorro, y de la Mobila, continuar por el Rio de Mobila hasta tocar la linea norte de los Estados Unidos, y baxar por ella con una recta al origin del Rio Perdido y siguiendo por el Rio de la Mobila abaxo y la bahia de su nombre volver por la costa del Mar acia el Oeste con todas las calas entradas e yslas adyacentes que pertenecen a la Espana en la epoca presente hasta llegar a la linea del oeste de los Estados Unidos y volver por la del Norte comprehendiendo todas las tierras baldias que corresponden o puedan corresponden a la Espana y estan en disputa o reclamacion con los Estados Unidos, segun el tenor de los tratados, y asimismo el terreno baldio y no cedido a otro particular que hay entre el Rio Hijuelos en la Florida Oriental y el Rio Santa Lucia tirando una linea desde el nacimiento del uno al del otro y siguiendo por la costa del Golfo de Mexico, desde la embocadura del Rio Hijuelos, hasta la punta de tancha, y doblando esta por la costa del Golfo de Florida hasta la embocadura del Rio Santa Lucia con las yslas y cayos adyacentes." Enterado del contenido de esta esposicion, y atendiendo al merito de este sugeto y a su acreditado celo por mi real servicio; como tambien a las ventajas que resultaran al Estado de la poblacion de los citados paises, he tenido a bien acceder a la gracia que solicita, en cuanto no se oponga a las leyes de esos mis reinos, y comunicarlo al mi Consejo de las Indias para su complimiento en real orden de dos de Febrero proximo pasado. En su consequencia os mando y encargo por esta mi real Cedula, que con arreglo a las Leyes que rigen en la materia y sin perjuicio de tercero auxilieis eficazmente la execucion de la expresada gracia, tomando todas las disposiciones que se dirigan a su debido efecto, como tambien al aumento de poblacion, agricultura y comercio, de las referidas posesiones; dando cuenta succesivamente de su progreso: que asi es mi voluntad, y que de esta Cedula se tome razon en la contaduria general de Indias. Fecha en Palacio, a nueve de Abril, de milochocientos diez y ocho. Por mandado del Rey Nuestro Senor: ESTEVAN VAREA." YO EL REY. Y para que conste firmo esta certificacion en Madrid, a quince de Octubre, de mil ochocientos y veinte. ΑΝΤΟΝΙΟ PORCEL. (Signed) Don Evaristo Perez de Castro, Cabellero de numero de la orden de Carlos 3o. del Consejo de Estado y Secretario del Despacho de Estado, &c. Certifico que la firma que antecede del Exmo. Sor. Don Antonio Porcel, Secretario del Despacho de la Gobernacion de Ultramar, es la que acostumbra poner en todos sus ascritos. Y para los efectos convenientes doy el presente certificado, firmado de mi mano y sellado con el escudo de mis armas en Madrid, a veinte y uno de Octubre, de mil ochocientos y veinte. (Signed) EVARISTO PEREZ DE CASTRO. (TRANSLATION.) Don Antonio Porcel, Knight Pensioner of the Royal and distinguished order of Charles 3d, of the Council of State, and Secretary of State and of Despatch of the Ultramarine government, &c. I certify that, under date of the ninth of April, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, royal letters patent of the same tenor were sent by the late Council of the Indies to the Governor Captain General of the Island of Cuba and its dependencies, to the Intendant of the Army and Royal business of the Havana and its district, and to the Governor of the Floridas, that each should do his utmost, in his particular department, to give effect to the grant made to Don Pedro de Vargas, of various lands situated in the Floridas, of the following tenor: THE KING. My Governor and Captain General of the Island of Cuba and its dependencies: Under date of the twenty-fifth of January last, Don Pedro de Vargas manifested to me as follows: "Sire: Don Pedro de Vargas, Knight of the Royal Order of Alcantara, Treasurer General of the Royal House and patrimony of your Majesty, with the most profound respect, at your royal feet, exposes-That there is a quantity of vacant and unpeopled land in the territory of the Floridas, and desiring that, if your Majesty shall deign to reward his passable services, and the proofs which he has given of his loyalty, it may be without the least burthen on the public treasury, or in prejudice of any third person, as may be done at present by some lands of that country, he beseeches your Majesty that, by an effect of your sovereign goodness, you would deign to grant him the property of the land which lies comprised within the following limits: that is to say ; from the mouth of the river Perdido, and its bay in the Gulf of Mexico, following the sea coast, to ascend by the bay of Buen Socorro, and of Mobile, continuing by the river Mobile, till it touches the northern line of the United States, and descending by that in a right line to the source of the river Perdido, and following the river Mobile in its lower part, and the bay of that name, returns by the sea coast towards the west; comprehending all the creeks, entries, and islands, adjacent, which may belong to Spain at the present time, till it reaches the west line of the United States, then, returning by their northern line, comprehending all the waste lands which belong, or may belong, to Spain, and are in dispute or reclamation with the United States, according to the tenor of the treaties, and, also, all the waste land not ceded to any other individual, which is between the river Hijuelos, in East Florida, and the river St. Lucia, drawing a line from the source of one river to the source of the other, and following by the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, from the mouth of the Hijuelos to the point of Tancha, and doubling this, by the coast of the Gulf of Florida, to the mouth of the river Saint Lucia, with the islands and keys adjacent." Considering the contents of this exposition, and attending to the merit of the individual, and his accredited zeal for my royal service; as also to the advantages to result to the state from peopling the said countries, I have thought proper to accede to the favor which he solicits, in as far as it be not opposed to the laws of these my kingdoms, and communicated it to my Council of the Indies, for its accomplishment, in a royal order of the second of February last. Consequently, I command and charge you, by this my royal cedula, that, conforming to the laws which regulate in these affairs, and without prejudice to third persons, that you efficaciously aid the execution of the said grant, taking all the measures which may conduce to its due effect, as also to the augmentation of the population, agriculture, and commerce of the aforesaid possessions, giving account, from time to time, of the progress made, for this is my will; and that due notice shall be taken of this cedula, in the office of the Accountant General of the Indies. Dated at the Palace, the ninth of April, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. I, THE KING. By command of the King, our Lord: I confirm this exemplification, at Madrid, the fifteenth of October, one thousand eight hundred and twenty. (Signed) ΑΝΤΟΝΙΟ PORCEL. Don Evaristo Perez de Castro, Knight of the Order of Charles 3d, of the Council of State, and Secretary of Despatch of State, &c. I certify that the foregoing signature of his Excellency, Don Antonio Porcel, Secretary of Despatch of the Ultra-Marine Government, is that which he is accustomed to put to all his writings. And, for the proper purposes, I give the present certificate, signed by my hand, and sealed with my seal of arms, at Madrid, the twenty-first day of October, one thousand eight hundred and twenty. VOL. VIII. 35 (Signed) EVARISTO PEREZ DE CASTRO. DECISION June 18, 1822. Of the Commissioners under the 6th Article of the Treaty of Ghent, done at Utica, in the State of New-York, 18th June, 1822. Ante, p. 221. Boundary of United States to be established. THE undersigned Commissioners, appointed, sworn, and authorized, in virtue of the 6th article of the treaty of peace and amity between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, concluded at Ghent, on the 24th of December, 1814, impartially to examine, and, by a report or declaration, under their hands and seals, to designate "that portion of the boundary of the United States from the point where the 45th degree of north latitude strikes the river Iroquois, or Cataraqui, along the middle of said river into Lake Ontario, through the middle of said lake until it strikes the communication, by water, between that lake and Lake Erie; thence, along the middle of said communication, into Lake Erie, through the middle of said lake, until it arrives at the water communication into Lake Huron; thence, through the middle of said water communication, into Lake Huron; thence, through the middle of said lake, to the water communication between that lake and Lake Superior;" and to "decide to which of the two contracting parties the several islands, lying within the said rivers, lakes, and water Ante, page 80. communications, do respectively belong, in conformity with the true intent of the treaty of 1783;" do decide and declare, that the following described line, (which is more clearly indicated on a series of maps accompanying this report, exhibiting correct surveys and delineations of all the rivers, lakes, water communications, and islands, embraced by the 6th article of the treaty of Ghent, by a black line shaded on the British side with red, and on the American side with blue; and each sheet of which series of maps is identified by a certificate, subscribed by the Commissioners, and by the two principal surveyors employed by them,) is the true boundary intended by the two before-mentioned treaties; that is to say: Description of the boundary of the United States. Beginning at a stone monument, erected by Andrew Ellicot, Esquire, in the year 1817, on the south bank, or shore, of the said river Iroquois, or Cataraqui, (now called the St. Lawrence,) which monument bears south 74° 45' west, and is eighteen hundred and forty yards distant from the stone church in the Indian village of St. Regis, and indicates the point at which the 45th parallel of north latitude strikes the said river; thence, running north 35° 45′ west, into the river, on a line at right angles with the southern shore, to a point one hundred yards south of the opposite island, called Cornwall island; thence, turning westerly, and passing around the southern and western sides of said island, keeping one hundred yards distant therefrom, and following the curvatures of its shores, to a point opposite to the north-west corner, or angle, of said island; thence, to and along the middle of the main river, until it approaches the eastern extremity of Barnhart's island; thence, norther!", along the channel which divides the last-mentioned island frore he |