1396
A?vfERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
that we do not hesitate to think according to our best judgment and the means we had in our power to ascertain facts neces.sary to predi- cate any just ideas-that there may still be a town erected on the east side of the Rio Colorado some two or three miles from the mouth, and on the margin of the Bay-We discovered to our ad- miration and surprise-one of the most beautiful situations for the building a large commodious and tasty commercial town that our utmost imagination could conceive. A large amphitheatre, a semi- circular Bluff of about 6 or 8 feet above high-water mark of very perminant dry soil, and ascending back to an extensive and beautiful prairie, about 2000 bars in diameter, making a very regular curve- resting one end on the Rio Colorado and the other on the bay the margin of both being remarkably straight and regular-in the front of this amphitheatre is a low rich marsh prairie though no stagnant waters the beauty of the whole and particularly the Colorado is past discription. _ "re are very confident that a mere trifle will open a canal from the Colorado through this low la.nd to the Bay, and a bayou already flows up to meet it, which must have a full communication with the Bay as it had the appearance of being agitated by the swells from the Bay, though we were not prepared to examine for the want of a water-craft-and here it is certain that vessels can lie safely at anchor and be admitted into the Colorado by means of this Bayou, and Canal should there be insupurable obsticles to ascending the river, which we trust is not the case. We will now only refer you to a diagram accompanying this petition, as nigh the true Situation as we We your Petitioners beg leave to ask the favor of a grant of land embracing said site with the privileges of laying out said contem- plated town, Binding ourselves immediately to erect and main- tain a post of defence against the hostile Indians, and commence the building of warehouses, and other necessary Houses for the recep- tion of !migrants as expected (in case of a grant) from Missouri and Tennessee as well as elsewhere-Subjecting ourselves to all the rules and regulations of Government to taxes imports, tonage and duties of whatever descriptions, name or nature, conforming our- selves to the laws of the Government regulating ports and harbors. And that we may avail ourselves of the advantage of your knowl- edge and experience in the laws and customs of the Mexican Govern- ment, as well as your patronage, and advice, and direction, we woulrl _solicit, your participation, equally with you~ Petitioners in all its profits and emolime.nts to which entent we bmd ourselves to convey an equal right whenever we shall be ennabled so to do. "\Ve would are able to delineate without an actual survey. And therefore in consideration of the above.
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