Page:United States v. Samperyac.pdf/3

120 Rh   the superior court of the Territory of Arkansas, on the 21st of November, 1827; stating that he, an inhabitant of the Province of Louisiana, on the 6th of October, 1789, addressed a petition to the governor of the said province and its dependencies, asking a grant of land in full property, on Strawberry River in Arkansas district, containing ten arpens in front by the usual depth; that on the 11th of October, 1789, Miro, the governor of the Province of Louisiana, made the grant as requested, and at the same time issued an order of survey to the surveyor-general of the province, to the end that the boundaries of the grant might be deﬁned for the purpose of making a title in form; that this grant was secured by the treaty between the United States and France of the 30th of April, 1803, and would have been perfected into a perfect title under the government under which it originated, had there been no change of sovereignty; and the bill prayed the court to conﬁrm the said grant, according to the provisions of the act of Congress before mentioned, and that process be issued against the attorney of the United States for the Territory of Arkansas, to appear and answer the bill.

The petition of Samperyac, and the order of survey, in the Spanish language, attached to the bill as exhibits, translated by James H. Lucas, the sworn interpreter and translator of the court, were as follows, namely:—

Bernardo Samperyac, wishing to establish himself on Strawberry River in the Arkansas district, prays that you will do him the favor to grant him ten arpens of land in front by the usual depth, being the lands of his Catholic Majesty, and not causing any prejudice; a favor your petitioner hopes to receive from your bounty; and he will ever pray to God for your health.

B S.

New Orleans, 6th Oct., 1789.

New Orleans, 11th Oct., 1789.

The surveyor of this province, Don Charles Trudeau, will