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HISTORY OF THE CLAIM.—The heirs of Don Joseph Vallieré, formerly captain in the 6th regiment of the Spanish army serving in Louisiana, claimed title to a large tract of land situated partly in the State of Arkansas and partly in Missouri, on the following facts and documents:—

1. The register of the land-office at New Orleans certifies that among the Spanish records under his custody, and forming part of the archives of his office, is a book bearing this title: No. 4, subdivided into volumes or sections, under the title of a "Register de los Primeros Decretos de concession de tierra;" which book exhibits at volume 6, page 31, an entry in Spanish, of which the following is a translation: —

""11th June, 1793. To Captain Don Joseph Vallieré, in the District of Arkansas, a tract of land situated on the White River, extending from the Rivers Norte Grande and Cibolos to the source of the said White River, ten leagues in depth.""

2. The surveyor-general of Louisiana certifies that amongst the records of the surveyor-general's office under his charge, in bundle N, No. 37, he finds a plat of survey and proces verbal, in the Spanish language, of which the following is a translation:—

""Don Carlos Trudeau, royal and private surveyor of the Province of Louisiana."

"I certify having measured in favor and in presence of Don Joseph Vallieré, captain of the stationary regiment of Louhisiana, a portion of land situated in the jurisdiction of Arkansas, on the north and south banks of Rio Blanco, Rio Cibolos, on the west or superior limit, by the fountainhead or origin of the most western branch of the said Rio Blanco, and by vacant lands of his Majesty, separated from said vacant lands by a line beginning at the same fountainhead of the north-western branch