Pacheco

The claim in this case is founded on a grant made by Governor Mieheltorena on the fourth of November, 1843. *934 It appears from tlie expediente, a copy of which is contained in tlie transcript, that one Mejia petitioned the governor on the twenty-sixth of September, 1848, for a grant of a tract of land lying at the base of the hillocks which penetrate into the valley of San Joaquin, with the same number of sitios as belonged to Francisco Rivero, to whom the government of the department had granted, but who had neglected to occupy it during two years from the date of his grant. The governor made the usual reference of this petition to the prefect and the secretary for information. The latter officer reported that the land had been granted to Francisco Riv-ero since 1841, but that inasmuch as the latter had failed to comply with the condition requiring him to build a house within one year, which should be inhabited, he (the secretary) was of opinion that he had forfeited his right to the land, and that it might be granted to Mejia, the petitioner. On the third of October, 1843, the governor ordered the title to issue in conformity with this report. In the decree of concession,…