I enclose for your information

1. a letter from Ed. Livingston with the first part of his answer to D’Herbigny’s opinion: the sequel not yet received.

2. a letter from Jas. Brown land agent respecting the claims of the U. States to lots & houses in New Orleans. He also announces further information and a survey without which we cannot well decide. I would therefore suggest the suspension of a determination on Gov. Claiborne’s letter on the same subject, till we have received the whole.

3. a translation of certain papers (in Spanish) put in my hands by Mr. Clark of N. Orleans & relating to Basstrop’s grant, to Maison rouge do. now claimed by Clark himself & to a vague concession of timber to the inhabitants of Opelousas. It seems to me that none of those grants was absolute. Basstrop was rather a trustee to give gratis 400 arpens a piece to 500 families equal to 200,000 arpens; & that being executed, he was entitled to the balance of the square of 12 leagues=144 sq. leagues. Clark’s grant was for only 36. sq. leagues & the conditions must be found in the orders of 14 July 1795 quoted in the grant of 20 June 1797—Opelousas district included at that time Attacapas.

Respectfully Your obedt. Sevt.