The only reason why the title in this case is not considered perfect in itself, arises from the fact that the concession by Morales (although based upon an English grant made prior to 1780, when Spain acquired West Florida from the English) was made by him after the retrocession of Louisiana by Spain to France under the treaty of St. Ildefonso, in October, 1800; the government of the United States contending, that in the purchase from France of Louisiana, she acquired all that country east of the Mississippi river known as West Florida; a claim never made good until 1810, and after the people about Bayou Sarah, assisted by others from Mississippi, had, by force of arms, driven the Spanish troops from their chief post at Baton Rouge, declared their independence, and appointed delegates to frame a constitution; when, by proclamation of the President of the United States, the country was declared to belong to this government and to be within the jurisdiction of the territorial government of Orleans.

But the obvious justness of recognizing the official acts of the Spanish authorities during these ten years of rule, as being entitled to some consideration, has induced Congress to confirm, so far as is known to the committee, all the established concessions to land made during that time. Wherefore, the committee report a bill confirming to the claimants the land in question.

The Committee on Private Land Claims, to which was referred House Bill 346, "For the relief of the heirs and legal representatives of Ignacio Delino, have had the same under consideration and submit the following report:

The committee adopt and make a part of this report the report from the Committee on Private Land Claims of the House of Representatives, submitted by Mr. Sandidge on the 23d of May, 1856.

For the reasons therein set forth, the committee are of opinion that the heirs and legal representatives ought to be confirmed in their title to the lands claimed, and they therefore report back the bill, without. amendment, and recommend the passage thereof.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, May 23, 1856.

Mr. SANDIDGE, from the Committee on Private Land Claims, made the following report:

The Committee on Private Land Claims make the following report on the claim of the heirs and legal representatives of Ignacio Delino:

On the 21st of September, 1803, Ignacio Delino, a captain in the permanent regiment of the province of West Florida, representing that he had a large family of children, several of whom desired to engage in agricultural pursuits, applied to Don Juan Ventura Morales, governor or superintendent of said province, then in the possession and occupancy of the Spanish authorities, for a concession of two thousand arpents of land, to be located on the west bank of Pearl river, at about four leagues from its mouth.

The application was referred to the royal attorney for taking cognizance of such applications, and by him reported favorably on the 26th of September. The quantity of land asked for, though exceeding the

usual amount provided for in the regulations, was recommended to be conceded "on account of the inferior quality of the soil," the most of it being useful only for the pasturage of cattle.

Whereupon, on the 28th of the same month, Morales, the governor, gave an order of survey, and on the 29th and 30th of November following, Trudeau, royal and private surveyor of the province, surveyed and located the grant for two thousand superficial arpents, on the west bank of Pearl river, at about twelve miles from its fall into the Rigolets, as is shown by his return with the figurative map of the same. And on the 18th of January, 1804, a title was issued by Morales for the land as it had been surveyed and reported to him.

In accordance with the requirements of a law of Congress, P. Dennis de la Ronde filed with Messrs. Cosby & Skipwith, the commissioners appointed to adjust private land claims in that country, his notice of claim, with proofs of title to the land in question.

Amos Kent, register of the land office at Greensburg, in which district the land is situated, certifies that notice and evidence in support of a claim of P. Dennis de la Ronde to the herein described land was filed and recorded in the book kept for that purpose by Commissioners Cosby and Skipwith, and that it does not appear that the claim had ever been confirmed or reported by them.

Mr. Wilson, Commissioner of the Land Office, states, in his letter of the 6th June, 1854, that the claim in question was not to be found in the indexes of the record books of his department. Why the claim was not reported by Cosby and Skipwith is not known; had it been done, there is no doubt but it would have been confirmed, as were all others of a similar character acted on by them; and believing the claimants should not lose their rights because of the failure or neglect of the commissioners, and for the reasons stated herein, and others given by the committee in reporting the claim of Mrs. Magdalene Broutin, widow of De la Ronde and mother of the present claimant, and being fully satisfied of its justness, they herewith report a bill confirming the lands to the heirs and legal representatives of Ignacio Delino,

1st Session.

No. 270.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

AUGUST 7, 1856.-Ordered to be printed.

Mr. BIGGS made the following

REPORT.

[To accompany Bill H. R. 347.]

The Committee on Private Land Claims, to whom was referred House bill No. 347, "to confirm the title of Ruhama Whitaker and Rebecca Whitaker to certain lands in the State of Louisiana," adopt as their own the report of the House Committee on Private Land Claims, submitted by Mr. Sandidge, on the 23d May, 1856, and for the reasons therein set forth they report back the bill, without amendment, and recommend its passage.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, May 23, 1856.

Mr. SANDIDGE, from the Committee on Private Land Claims, made the following report:

The Committee on Private Land Claims, to whom was referred the memorial of Ruhama and Rebecca Whitaker, for the confirmation of title to certain lands in Louisana, adopt as their own the report and bill of the Committee on Private Land Claims of the last Congress. upon the said memorial, and ask a concurrence therein by the House..

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, February 2, 1855.

The Committee on Private Land Claims, to whom was referred the memorial of Ruhama Whitaker and Rebecca Whitaker, praying the confirmation of title to two tracts of land in Louisiana, have had the same under consideration, and report:

That the following letter, addressed by the Commissioner of the General Land Office to the Hon. John Perkins of the House of Representatives, fully explains the nature of the claim, and embraces the views of the committee thereon. They therefore adopt it as their report:

"GENERAL LAND OFFICE, September 20, 1854. "SIR: I have the honor to return herewith the memorial and accompanying papers of Ruhama Whitaker, widow of the late Aquilla. Whitaker, and of Rebecca Whitaker, her daughter.

"This memorial represents that Aquilla Whitaker went to Louisi