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Bailing master Farragut', commanding the sloop Alligator, in the service of the United Btates, 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 SlajorB Hargroves and Dupree wished to sea me. I said I would call the following morning Accordingly, on the '1th, 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 two 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 personal property of deceased. They even removed the locks from the doors. Next day they 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 commission of captain, was appointed commandant at .Pascagoula, witli orders to compel the inhabitants as far as Pearl River, to swear allegiance to the Convention. Returning westward, I fell in with said Nicola, James Havins 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.
Gkoj:gk Fahraout."
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 1 left New Orleans on tho 5th, on the felucca Alligator, ana proceeded to the residence of Sijneon Favre, on the east hank of Pearl River, and delivered to. him your commission asTustiCiTof the Peace, for the parish of Biloxi, with a copy of the Constitution of the United States, the Civil Code ana the acts of the Terirtonal 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. Then proceeded to bay of Biloxi, where I handed the commission of Justice to Jaquo Ladnior. Landod near the mouth of Pascagoula ltivor on the 13th, and hoisteJ tho United States colors. Hero I ovortook Korteeque coining, who had preceeded mo to distribute tho proclamation. I foil in witli several men who had left Dupree a fow days bofore. They informed mo 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 beon accomplished. 1 filled up a commission for Mr. Coming as Justice for Pascagoula, and dispatched him up the river to endeavor to recover from Dupree the property he had carried off. And, at the special request of the citizens, by wnom he is greatly esteomed, I prevailed on sailing master. Georgo Farragut, to accept a commission as J ustice. Tho 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 he hoisted there,.
The population of Biloxi parish may be estimated at 420. Pascagoula at 350, chiefly French and natives of the country?the most primitive, 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 vico. They appeal- greatly pleased to be undor tho protection of the United States."
The' first magistrates appointed by Gov. Claiborne, were excellent and influential men. Philip Saucier was from an ancient 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 kindness. Mr. Ladnier, (or, as the name was then writien, L?Adner), was not educated, but was a man of strong mind and inflexible
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firmness and integrity. Judge Favre was a man of education, fortune and high standing. He had originally lived in Mobile and on the Tombigbee river, but as far back as 1777, he was residing on Pearl river. Bartram, the celebrated naturalist, in his travels through Florida and Louisiana, states that, in that year, being at Mobile, on his way to the Mississippi, Mr. Favre offered him a passage on his boat as far as his residence on Fearl river, where he was entertained with much hospitality.
In 1812, the Indians from the extreme northwest to the Gulf, were manifesting a hostile feeling to the whites. The celebrated Teeumseh, and his brother, the prophet, were endeavoring to organize a general confederacy of the tribes. They were then in the Creek Nation, and were employing all their influence to exasperate the Choctaws, whose territory enveloped our settlements, and whose warriors were sufficiently numerous to have butchered the whole country in sixty days. Under these circumstances, Gov. Claiborne addressed the following letter to Judge Favre :
Nkw Ohj.eans, June -1th, 1811?.
Sir:?" Hiving received information that tlio Choctaws of the lower towns ?re committing depredations in the settlements 011 I'earl, Leal' and Chicka^awha rivers, and are disclosing a hostile disposition towards the United States, I have addressod to them a ? Talk,? which I herewith commit to your care. I request you to proceetl without delay to tho Nation, and after assembling tlio Chiefs and Head men, you will deliver and ox-plain my address, adding such observations and urging sucli means as your judgment and experience may suggest. During your stay you will make inquiries on the following points :	1st. Whether the Creeks and Choctaws havo been furnished with military sup-
plies? 2d. The number of warriors in the Choctaw Nation, and what portion of them are supposod to bo under Spanish or British influence?' 3rd. The name of tlio towns where the Spanish or Iiritisli have tho most imi ti ?nils, and tho names of the Chiefs and Mingocs of said towns. -1th. Whether Tecumsoli or tlio Prophet have been in the nation or sent thoir talks.
I confide greatly in yonr tact and experience."
This patriotic gentleman undertook, and ably performed this delicate mission. No man living, commanded to the same extent, the confidence of that powerful tribe. He checked the intrigues of the hostile agents, and stayed the tomahawk, then uplifted to strike.
The first arrest ever made in this county, then the parish of Biloxi, was made by Judge Favre. On the 10th January, 1811, he arrested one Wm. Bonl'ord, suspected of having stolen two negroes and three horses. There hosing no jail the prisoner was sent to New Orleans, and he was subsequently delivered on the requisition of Gov. Holmes of Mississippi, to Thomas Torrance, to be tried in the county of Amite, the negroes having been stolen from- Thomas Batchelor and Agrippa Gayden of that county.
Judge Ladnier, from some unintentional misconstruction of his authority, got into the hands 0/ Mr. Ellery, a prominent and


Claiborne, J.F.H Claiborne-J.F.H-125
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