Robert Cooper Grier

“ The large tracts of land appurtenant to the mission establishments, were never vested in the church, or any other corporation or individual, by any grant of a legal title. The missionaries and Indians had an usufruct or occupancy of the land, at the will of the sovereign. The record shows, that though the lands now in question had formerly been occupied by the mission, they were not so at the time this grant was made. ”

“ Within the space of two years Cervantes entered on the land, built on it, and cultivated it, and continues so to do. On the 10th of February, 1841, juridical possession was delivered to him by metes and bounds with the customary formalities.
The objections to the validity of this grant are: 1. That it was not approved by the departmental assembly. 2. That the land is within the ten littoral leagues. 3. That it belonged to a mission, and it was therefore unlawful to grant it. ”

“ This concession, dated April 1, 1836, was presented to the departmental assembly for confirmation. The committee reported in favor of the grant-'on the 12th of July it was returned to the committee for its reformation.' This concludes the expediente as certified from the archives. ”