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About the same time tho island of New Orleans, and all tho French territory west of the Mississippi, were cedcd to Spf/in. Sho soon became involved in a new war with England, and in 1799, Don Bernard do Galvez, tin; ablest of tho Spanish Governors of Louisiana, attacked and carried the British forts at Mobilo, Baton Rouge and Pensacola; and West Florida, including this Sea-coast, was surrendered to the Spaniards.
rIhus, in the course of n few years, our predecessors on thcso peaceful shores, had been subject to three flags?tho silver lilies of France?the gorgeous banner ol Spain?and tho blood-red cross of England?each of them representatives of tho faith of Christ?of.., chivalry, dominion and civilization 1
Tho Spaniards held Louisiana until tho year 1800, when it was ceded to Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of tho Fronch " Republic, with all it.s original metes and bounds, which carried its eastern boundary to the Perdido river.	.
Napoleon, with half of Europe in arms against him, and threatened by the maritime superiority of England, found himself unable to take possession of the province; and to provent its seizuro by the English, lie sold it to tho United States April 30th, 1803.
On the 30th November following, the American Commissioners, Gov. Claiborne, ol the Mississippi territory, and Gen. Wilkinson, of the U. S. Army, took possession and hoisted tho United States flag in tho Placc d'Armen.
Under this cession of Louisiana, tho United States claimed tho country to the Perdido, including this Sea-coast and Mobilo. But the Spaniards insisted that Pearl river was tho eastern boundary of Louisiana. They occupied Mobilo and Pensacola with a strong military force. The United States was not in a condition for war, and a complicated diplomatic controversy was carried on between the two governments.
In tlie meantime, somo eight or ten thousand Atnericahs lmd settled in West Florida, between Pearl river and tho Mississippi, and the 31st degree of latitude and tho Lake shore, under grants' from the British and Spanish authorities. Becoming dissatisfied with the frequent transitions, and the conflicting tenures of land and to increase the value of their-possessions?they determined to ^| set up for themselves. In 1810 they seized tho Spanish fort'at.^ Baton Rougo, orgnnized a convention, adopted a flag, declared thoir'^ independence, sent out military parties to enforco allegianco, Qnd^j very coolly proposed to be admitted to the Union as a sovereign*" State, or to bo annexed to the Mississippi or Orleans territories,Jjjnr