"Whereas, by an act of the Congress of the United States, passed the fourteenth day of May, in the year one thousand eight hundred and twelve, entitled "An act, to enlarge the boundaries of the Mississippi Territory," there has been annexed to the said territory, all that tract of country lying east of Pearl River, west of the Perdido, and south of the thirty first degree of north latitude:-- And, whereas, the same is declared by the act aforesaid, to be a part of the said territory, and to be governed by the laws thereof now in force, or such as may hereafter be enacted, and the laws and ordinances of the United States relative thereto, in like manner as if the said tract of country had originally formed a part of the said territory.-- Now, be it known, that by virtue of the powers in me vested as governor of the Mississippi Territory, and in order that the benefit of the laws and ordinances aforesaid may be extended to the people inhabiting the said tract of country, I do hereby erect the same into a county, and by these letters made patent, do order and declare that the said county shall be called and known by the name of Mobile, and do further declare that the laws of the Mississippi Territory, and the ordinances and acts of Congress, relative thereto, are in force within the said county of Mobile, and that the inhabitants thereof are entitled to all and singular the jurisdiction, rights, privileges, and immunities that respectively appertain to the counties of the Mississippi Territory, and moreover-- I do invite and enjoin the inhabitants of the said county, to be obedient to the laws, to maintain order, and to demean themselves as peaceable citizens. In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the Mississippi Territory, to be hereunto affixed, and signed the same with my hand. Done at the town of Washington, the first day of August, A. D. 1812, and in the 37th year of the independence of the United States of America. David Holmes."

As described in A bibliography of Mississippi imprints, 1798-1830.

Original available upon request. Use scanned or microfilm copy.

Part of the Douglas C. McMurtrie's Mississippi imprints.