Batture Cases. Some

fifteen years vefore the ce ion of Louisiana to the United Stutes, one Gravier had purchased a plantation along the. Mi i ippi adjoining New Orleans. Portions of it had been cut up into lots and formed the village of St. Mary. Meantime an alluvial deposit or river beach had begun to form along the levee of the Gravier plantation and was used as a boat landing by the citizens of St. Mary, though the batture, under the law, still formed a part of the Gravier estate. This estate was purchased in 1808 by Edward Livings ton, of New York, who immediately began improvements on the batture for his own private ends. The people raised a great outcry, but Livings ton obtained a favorable verdict and proceeded with his improvements. Finally, however, the Territorial Court, in 1809, de ided to appeal to President Jefferson, on the ground that the batture was public property under a French law which gave alluvions to the government. By Jefferson’s orders, he having a private grudge against Livings ton, the latter was dispo e ed of the batture. Livings ton immediately brought: suit against Jefferson and the United States Marshal. The suit against the President was not allowed, but the Supreme Court decided that the batture be restored to Livings ton. 67