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Sailing master Farragut, commanding the sloop Alligator, in	-
the service of the United States, sent the following statement to Governor Claiborne:	.
" On the 2d December, 1801, I arrived in the bay of Pascagoula. On going ashore next day, a number of men gathered around, and said Majors Hargroves and Dupree wished to see me. I said I would call the following morning Accordingly, on the 4th, I found them at the house of the late John B, Nicolet, On my arrival they ran	up the Hag of	,
the Convention Next day they pressed John B. Boudro?s schooner, and tTwo	others owued
by Anthony Krebs and Augustine, a mulatto. These they brought before	Mr. Nicolet?s
house, and loaded with negroes, dry goods, liquors, provisions, furniture,	etc.?the per- ... ? . v
sonal property of deceased. They even removea the locks from the doors. Nextdaythey proceeded up the river, the destination being the residence of their leader, Dupree, two	.
miles south of the 31st degree, the line of demarcation. Peter Nicola, with the commis- ?	/	I'j
sion of captain, was appointed commandant at Pascagoula, with orders to compel the in-	'->?	r
habitants as far as Pearl River, to swear allegiance to the Convention. Returning westward, I fell in with said Nicola, James Ilavins and two other men, names unknown, at the Pass of Christian. They were ordering the people to Pascagoula to take the oath.
There were no Spanish authorities on the coast. They had retired to Mobile.
George Farragut.?
On receiving this information Gov. Claiborne dispatched Dr. Wm. Flood, a prominent citizen of New-Orleans, as commissioner to the sea coast, with special instructions And on the 25th of January, 1811, he made a long and interesting report, from which' the following passages are extracted :
? In compliance with your instructions I left Now Orleans on the 5th, on the felucca Alligator, ana proceeded to tho residence of Simeon Favre, on .the east bank of Pearl River, and delivered to him your commission as Justice of the Peace, for the parish of Biloxi, with a cony of tho Constitution of the United States, the Civil Code ana the acta of the Terirtorial Legislature. I next landed at Bay St. Louis and the Pass of Christian, displaying the United States flag at each place at 2 P. M. At the Pass I presented to	^
Philip Saucier your commission as Justice for Biloxi parish, with copy of the laws, etc.	f
Then proceeded to bay of Biloxi, where I handed the commission of Justice to Jaque Ladnier. Landed near the mouth of Pascagoula River on the 13th, and hoisted the United States colors. Here I overtook Forte?que coming, who had preceeded me to distribute the proclamation. I fell in with several men who had left Dupree a few days before. They informed me that Col. Kemper, commanding the Convention forces, had disbanded, telling his men that in getting under the jurisdiction of the United States their' object had been accomplished. I filled up a commission for Mr. Coming as Justice for Pascagoula, and dispatched him up the rjver to endeavor to recover from Dupree the property he had carried off. And, at the special request of the citizens, by whom he is greatly esteemed, I prevailed ou sailing master. George Farragut, to accept a commission as Justice. The other commission"I handed to Benjamin Goodin, who lives twenty miles up the river.
There is but one house at Bayou Batrie, but I caused a flag to be hoisted there,
The population of Biloxi parish may be estimated at 420. Pascagoula at 350, chiefly French and Datives of the country?the most primitives simple and contented people I have ever seen. They seem to desire only the mere necessaries of life, and to be without ambition, passion or vice. They, appear greatly pleased to be under the protection of,the United States.?	'
The first magistrates appointed by Gov. Claiborne, were nt and influential,, men. Phili"	p??	???	>.?:x*te&uxaaz
family in France?a man of mark
cellent and influential,, men. Philip Saucier- was from -an '-dncienff family in France?a man of mark in his day?with the high sense^^^ of honor of the old cavalier, and noted for his hospitality and/kind IStgll
ness. Mr. Ladnier, (or, as the name was then was not educated,-but was a man of strong mind


Claiborne, J.F.H Claiborne-J.F.H-077
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