335
PAPERS OF l\IIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR
quested my perusal of them; I thanked him, [ 71 ] used the liberty. The instructions were liberal throughout, making not the most remote allusion, to a claim of the Neches, as [the] Western Boundary of the United· States. You will discover, that in dating my note to J\Ir. Overton, I use the name, "Sabine Pass," and in reply he that of "i$abiµe River." We immediately after the examination o.f our re- spective commissions, had an interview of some length, in which allusion was made, to the claim of Texas, to one half of the waters of Sabine Pass, and Sabine Lake, immediately after which, I mentioned to him that I had been informed, his government had instructed him, to claim the Neches, as its western boundary; he denied the authority of my informant, to make the statement, and assured me it was not the case I mentioned to him my great surprise at hav~ng been informed of it, and expressed the pleasure it afforded me to receive his assurances to the contrary. I then requested to know of him, whether he was in possession of Melish's map, published at Philadelphia, and improved to January 1818, he replied he was not, his. government, he said, had been at great pains to procure it, without being enabled to do so. I stated to him my readiness to yield, the west bank of Sabine Pass, and Lake, provided the map referred to, represented it to be Sabine River, and in the event of our not being enabled to procure the map, if I could induce my government, to waive its instructions to me, heretofore re- ceived, directing a claim of half the waters of the Pass, and Lake, I would recommend it, provided the governmmt and citizens of Texas were allowed to erect wharfs and works of all descriptions whatever, to the main chminel of the Pass, Lake, and River, he assented to my propo- sition which I concieve most important both to the government and its citizens, for with the establishment of the line, at low water mark, with- out. this acknowledged priviledge, the United States by a literal con- struction of the convertion of the two countries, on the subject; could deny to Texas, any encroachment on the soil, immersed beneath low water mark, for any purposes whatever, and I conceive this concession, along [al]l the waters, that are to define the line to the 32nd degree of North Latitude, more impo!·tant th[an] the actual ownership of half of the Pass, and Lake, and his Excellency the President and yourself I hope will concur in the estimate I place on the concession I have the honor to state has been verbally yielded. We have agreed to renew our interchanges today, and determine ~efinit~ly as ~o the manner of our proceedings, of which you shall be immediately mformed after they transpire.
I am with very great respect, and consideration, Your obedient servant, l\femucan Hunt
To
His Excellency,
David G. Burnet, Actg Secretary of State.
P. S. Since writing the above, Commissioner Overton has shown me the correspondence of his government on the subject of Melish's l\Iap, 71 Words missing where document is torn.
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