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Show 84 APPENDIX TO PART III. ncvet· have made another appeal, until J made one through our government to the ambassadot· of his catholic majesty, had I not rc ·<"'cived orders to that effect; it not being known at the time those in~tructions were given, that the propt·iety of the seizure had been contested between your excellency and myself. Dut, as you have II07u had time fully to rc consider the business, it mny not appear in the same lig·ht that it clid when I had the honor to address you before. Your excellency may be induced to conceive that th6 measure of seizing tll \- notes, plans, meteorological and astronomical observations, &c, fot· pat·ts of the Mississippi, Missouri, Osage, Kaus and Arkansaw rivet'S; waters acknowledged by the Spanish government to be within the known territoriei of the United States, may not he justifiable. Whatever may be yom· opinion on those subjects I am at an entire loss to conceive, how, and upon what principle you could imolve in that seizure, letters from individuals to individuals, the contents of which could in no wise be interesting to the Spanish goi'Cl'llmcnt. I hav' therefore once more to appeal to your excellency, with a hope that the time you have had for deliberation moty induce you to conrci,·e it prope1·, and but an act of justice to deliver up the papers seized at Chihuahua; and hope your excellency will have tile g·ooclncss to address them to me in a packet, to the care of the commanding oflicet· of this place. 1 f the continuation of an amicable understanding between the two nation~ i<> ::m object of estimation in the mind of your excellency, the final dcmar·cation of limits lllltst be considered as the first great step to he taken tow:.~rds its accomplishment; and to enable my govcmment to form. a correct idea on that subject, it was rec1uisite they should be •well acquainted with the g·eo~;rapltical situation of the h eads of the Arkansaw und Heel ri vet·s, the former part of which I had acrolllplished, and conld with all c<tsc have canicd the remainill!; patt of that object into execution, (afte r· discovering my mistake of the Rio del None for the Hed river) hacl 1 IJeen permitted by the go\'Cl'nOl' of New. Mexico, instead or which I was hurried through the COlllltly t<,Chihuahlla, wiLhoul having time p;ivcn for the absent part or my p <.lt'ty :md l>ag~af;c to join me, by which means I was obl iged to appca1· in a g·arb ancJ marmet· cntil'cly incompatible with the rank 1 have the hono1· to hold, and in sotnc clq~rce an indignity to the country whose commission I bear. And to add to my mortific.~ tion, wus thcu dcpr·ivcd or the infol'mation 1 had obtained at the 1·i~quc of out· lives and the su!lcring of unknown mise1·ics. The in · formation contaiucd in my noLes were nut only of a geographicalna· APPENDIX TO PART III. ture, but also such as would enable the executive of the United States to tal< e some steps to ameliorate the barbarous state of various savage tribes ·whom I visited; anrl I may be permitted to add, would have added in some small clc~1·ee to the acquirement of science, which is for the general bene fit of mankind. 'Vhen I left Chihuahua, I wa.!) infot·mcd my sergeant and party were detained ncar the place, in order that they should not be per· mitted to join me. That by n separate examination they might be intimidated to make a declaration to justify the conduct observed to· wards us. This I am consr.ious must have failed, but am at an en. tire loss to conceive why they should have been detained until this time, when your excellency as ·urt,;d ) IC they should follow immediately. Thci1· detention has been ol considerable private injury to myself, and an insult to my government. When I marched from Chihuahua, your excellency officially informed me that every thing was pr·cpared fot· my transport to our lines, but was much surprized to have to pay for the hire of horses, &c. demanded of 111e at the first place where we changed our escorts; as I neither concci vcd it just that I should pay for an involuntary tour I had taken through your territories, neither was I prepared to clo it; but as your officers were responsible, and gave their receipts for the transport, and from the orders received by captain Viana at Nacogdoches, I was obliged to hire beasts to take me to Natchitoches, although an escort of your tt·oops were furnished. I here, with tl.e greatest pleasm·e embrace the opportunity of acknowledging the polite treatment I received from yom· office1·s in general on my route ; but in a particular manner to colonels Cordero llert·ara; to captains Barela and Viana, with lieutenant Malgares ; to all of whom it would be my greatest pleasure to have it in my power to r·etum the compliment. \Vill your excellency do me the honor to pt·esent my high rc~ spccts to your lady, and my compliments to Mr. Truxillo and father Roc us. I am, sir, With the most profound consideration, Your obedient servant, (Signed) Z. M. Puu~, captain. His exccllcllcy governor S.1lcctlo. |