The Franco-Texan bill provided for the sestablishment of a French company, with authority to introduce 8,000 French colonists who were to settle near forts, at least twenty in number, erected and maintained for twenty years by the company along the northern and western frontier from Red River to the Rio Grande. The company was to receive for its services 3,000,000 acres of land, provided the colonists were introduced and located according to contract. Other concessions to be granted the company related to the working of mines and to trade and commerce. (Austin City Gazette, July 21, 1841.) The bill passed the house of representatives of the fifth congress but was defeated in the senate.—Editors of The Quarterly.
