The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-07


against the validity of the De Basrop title which covered
over million Of arpens this Office, pursuant to the
quiremens Of the said act Of the Sd OF March 1851 Is
sued the necessary instructions in order that report
might be made by the land officers the several classes
Of claims under De Bastrop
That report has been received, and pursuant to the
third section OF the act will be laid before Congress at at
early day OF the ensuing session.
Pursuant TO the act of Congress- approved Sd March,
1851 for asceranDg snd settling the private land claims
in California the land commissioners, who had been ap
pointed perform the duties prescribed By that law az
ced organization In the early part the present year.
and held the first session at San Frsncsco and since thep
accordr to advics dated in August last they pre-
pairing hold session in that month at Los Angeles
suart to the order of the President They mad further
heen directed to hold session the 10th at Santa
upon their Of 10th August last the order
for the sessions at santa Barbara aud Monterey
voked and other session at San Francisco directed
70 take place on the 10th November. instead. The
urged by the Commissioners were, that they
might be able to despatch the cases at that place
which were ready for examination and hearing,
and which would remain in suspense some eight
nine months from date of their letter IL the order
for the sessions Santa Barbara and Monterey was
carried into full effect
In their communication to the department Of the 18th
OF August last they represented that since the orgau
zaon OF the Board In January last the Co soaers
have been ndustrously employed In informing them
selves in regard to the Spanish and Mexican laws ord
RANGES and DEGREES applicable to land titles in this State
In examining into the general nature character Of
those titles, and in taking testimony In
to be examined and considered necessarily required time
fer the law agent well for the Commissioners and
1t was rot until the nth utmo (July) that the arsu
mepts In the first heard were concluded and tho
eases submitted that on the I'd instantn (August)
their first decision made which embraces most Of
che leading and important legal questions which 1t Is
supposed will arise in the land claims in this State and
will form rule for their action in large portion OF the
that likely to be brought before then; that
"tbo whole number of cases then pending before the
Boardr was 2sS, and testimony had been taken in
116 Of them large portion Of -hichn then ready
for examination and hearing &c Since then this Office
has received the printed opinions Of the Commissioners
rendered In August last In the Of Cruz Cervantes
Pear.on D. Reading, and Carmen Sibrian De BerDsl
Referring to those opinions two of the Commissioners
(Metsrs Hand Hall and James Wilson in letter to
the department Of the 18th August advert them
Us showing that they have agreed upon and settled
far at their action Ia concerned Of the important
legal questions that likely TO arise under grants Of
land made by the Mexican governu MT the authority
Of the Mexican colonization law Of 1si4 and that In
connection with these three and another OF
similar character there also argued and submitted
to- them "a fifth In which the grant was claimed TO
have been made By the Spanish Governor Sofa in 1920
which claim upon the proof made they unable
to agree upon deciding In favor Of the petitioners and
which by their direction a majority Of the Board was
postponed for further evidence and argument;n aud
that the claim which Ia made In the names OF the heirs
nd devses Of Luis Psrslta to very large tract Of