It appearing by the protest of the Master and Mate of the
Schooner Lady of the Lake of and from New Orleans and other
evidence herewith presented, that a part of the Merchandise shipped
on board of said Schooner were damaged by the sea water that
leaked into her, and the said Goods having been insured by the
Louisiana Company and their being no port wardens or other
Officers here specially appointed to attend to such matters—
Therefore the Undersigned Consignees and Owners of said Goods
petition that appraisers be appointed to examine said Goods and assess
the damage under oath and should the damage amount to more
than 5 per Cent on said Goods your petitioners pray that the goods
so damaged may be sold at public sale under the direction of said
Appraisers for the benefit of the Underwriters
Keep and Groce
To the Honbl. Stephen F Austin Judge of the Brazos, Colorado
and San Jacinto
United Mexican States Department of Texas
Jurisdiction of the Brazos Colorado and San Jacinto
I Stephen F Austin Principal Judge of the Jurisdiction
aforesaid having seen the above petition of Keep and Groce have thought
proper to appoint and by these presents do appoint Samuel Sexton,
Samuel M Williams and Elias R Wightman inspectors or appraisers
to examine and estimate the damage done to the Goods refered to
in the said petition and should the damage on any of the articles
amount to five per cent that they assess the proportion of said
damage and sell the articles so damaged at public sale, after giving
10 days public notice for a/c of the Concerned and that the said
Appraisers furnish the parties with a Certificate specifying the
proportion of damage said goods may have sustained Given under
my hand this [19 ?] day of July 1825 In the District of San
Felipe de Austin
Stephen F. Austin [Rubric]
Department of Texas
District of San Felipe de Austin
This day personally appeared before me Stephen F Austin Judge
of this Jurisdiction Samuel Sexton, Samuel M William and Elias
R Wightman who took an oath well and truly to inspect the goods
submitted to their inspection refered to in the petition of Keep and
Groce and to assess the proportion of damage on said Goods and
to do and perform the other duties required of them in the order of
Judge Austin on the subject to the best of their abilities
S. F. Austin [Rubric]