•THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 371 the American newspapers a treaty made by Don Luis de Onis, Spanish .Minister, with the American Congress, which treaty was already signed by the King and approved by the Sovereign Congress of the Cortes. 1 Asked; How, having obtained in 1797, a passport from the Spanish .Minister, he has not applied sooner for the Settlement he intends to make in this Province1-Answered;-that, since the year above mentioned, he went to reside at Saint Louis (J\fissouri) which ter- ritory belonged, then to Spain; h_e had there lead mines, the produce of which he exported to Havana, until the year 1800 [sic], when the American Government having prohibited the working of mines by private enterprise, he lost all the benefit of his labor; but now, in view of the new system of Government adopted by Spain/ he resolved upon aplying for authorization to settle in this Province Asked; If he, or his associates have with them any merchandize, to declare the same in whicl2 case it should be sequestered and re- turned to them previous to their leaving this territory, or otherwise, it should be seized upon as unlawful~·-Answered, that all the prop- erty he has with him, is an escopet, a pistol, two horses, some clothing for his personal use, and the necessary amount of money for his traveling expences; that, those who accompany him are not under his control,.and joined him at· about six leagues from Natchitoches; Still, he is s:1tisfied that they have no goods of illicit trade. Asked: If he has any further statements to make; Answered in the negative, He, further, ·ratified the ·foregoing answers, and declared himself to be 53 years of age; Whereupon, he signed these presents, with me and assisting witnesses-Moses Austin-Antonio Martinez- Baron de Bastrop-Francisco Montes-Ylario de la Garza.
MosEs AusTIN's APPLICATION FOR CoLONIZATION PERMIT.'
[December 26, 1820.]
Sefior Gov 0 r-Xefe Politico D 0 Moses Austin, natura.l de La Prov• de Conecticut en los Estados Unidos de America ·y residente en La del Misuri con todo respecto ante V S rei)resenta y dice, Que sicndo vusallo de S M: C quando La Prov• de Lu Luisiana se enageno a La. Nacion Francesa, y cle esta despues a Los Esta.dos Unidos, como acreclitan los docu- mentos credenciales qe a V ·s ha presentado, se vio el qe exponc precisado a permanecer a ella, sin intentar su emigracioR por no 1 'l'he Florida Treaty, ratified by the Spnnlsh Government Ocfo'tx>r 24, 1S20. • The reestablishment In March, 1820. or the Constitution or 1812. • 'l'bls copy is in the ),la.nu of Ba1·on de Bo.su·op.
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