PAPERS OF l\IIRABEAU BuONAPAHTE hnrAU 4-11 In 1805, the Baron applied for permission to establish on the Trinity in Texas, a colony to be composed of French families and Choctaw In- dians. Juan Bautista Elguezabel at the time was Governor pro. tern. of the Province. He was favorable to the enterprise, and readily granted the Baron's petition; but the higher authorities of the country, refused to ratify the act, and of consequence the project was never car.- ried into execution. The following is a translation of the letter, dated Bexar 18th Octr. 1805, which the acting Governor addressed to Nemecio Salcedo, Commanding general of the Northern provinces, announcing what he had done. "'fhis day I have granted to the Baron de Bastrop, vassal of his Majesty, inhabitant of Ouachita in the province of Lou-_. isiana, License to emigrate from that country to this, and to estab- lish himself in his province on the lands and rivers between the Trinity and this Capital (Bexar) with a Colony of seventy or a hundred fam- ilies of the same class, and of Choctaw Indians, faithful dependents of the Spanish Dominions, on account of their having agreed to con- form to the conditions and regulations prescribed by the Viceroy, and approved by his Majesty, and to subject themselves entirely in their establishment to the rules, conditions and orders existing in that juris- diction, the particulars of which I have informed said Baron verbally, not having thought it suitable to do so by written communication, on account of the risk of the papers, by some event, falling into the hands of the Anglo-americans."- Although failing in his colonising attempt, the Baron removed-we know not where-to Texas; and was residing at Bexar at the time that Moses Austin arrived there in 1820, seeking the same privilege which the Baron had sought some fifteen years before. During the residence of the latter in that providence, he had acquired much influence with the people and the public authorities and was able to assist his old acquaintance in his project in a very e8Sential manner, as will be made to appear in our future pages when the subject shall come up in its chronological order. The Baron was a good man; and died at Saltillio, beloved by all, and was buried with becoming honors; altho' his in- terment was followed by a very ludicerous and singular circumstance. The Baron was placed at rest, not with his martial cloak around him; but in a new suit of fine black cloth, provided for the occasion. A Mexican came at night to rob the corps; and whilst h~ was in the _act of removing the coveted apparel, one of the arms of the deceased, in slipping thro the sleeve of the coat, happened to strike the theif on on [sic] the side of the head; whereupon the rascal fled in terror and con- sternation, believing that the Barron had come to life. The :Mexican was immediately taken ill and died in three days from the effect of the fright,-confessing the above circumstance to the Priest who at- tended his last moments. The next colonizer in order is Richel. R. Keen. Altha' a native citizen of the Unites States he obtained from Ferdinand 7th of Spain, a deed to the entire territory of Texas. He was bound, on his part, to introduce into the country a certain number of Catholic settlers. The contract, however, was afterwards annulled by the Cortez, on the ground that the King possessed no authority to make such a grant. The national domain could not be thus disposed of and alienated with- out the concurrence of the popular branch of the Government, and the
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