84 
PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
u Influenced by considerations of humanity, which promises' 
speedy civilization to a race of men who enjoy every mental and 
bodily endowment which nature can bestow, and which requires only 
art to perfect, as well as by views of policy, which secures to my 
country a fruitful and populous island, possessing every advantage 
of security and supplies for vessels, and which, of all others, is the 
most happily situated, as respects climate and local position, I do 
declare that I have, in the most solemn manner, under the Ameri¬ 
can flag displayed in Fort Madison, and in the presence of nume¬ 
rous witnesses taken possession of the said island, called Madi¬ 
son’s Island, for the use of the United States, whereof I am a 
citizen; and that the act of taking possession was announced by 
a salute of seventeen guns from the artillery of Fort Madison, and 
returned by the shipping in the harbour, which is hereafter to be 
called Massachusetts Bay.—And that our claim to this island may 
not be hereafter disputed, I have buried in a bottle at the foot of 
the flag staff in Fort Madison, a copy of this instrument, together 
with several pieces of money, the coin of the United States. 
“ In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature, 
this 19th day of November, 1813. 
Signed , David Porter 
u Witnesses present: 
w Signed, John Downes, lieutenant U. S. N. 
James P. Wilmer, lieutenant U. S. N. 
S. D. M‘Knight, acting lieutenant U. S. N. 
John G. Cowell, acting lieutenant U. S. N. 
David P. Adams, chaplain U. S. N. 
John M. Gamble, lieutenant U. S. marines. 
Richard K. Hoffman, acting surgeon U. S. N# 
John M. Maury, midshipman U. S. N. 
M. W. Bostwick, acting midshipman U. S. N. 
William Smith, master of the American ship Albatross 
William H. Odenheimer, acting surgeon master U. S. N. 
Wilson P. Hunt, agent for the American North Pacific 
fur company. 
Benjami^Clapp. ^ citizens of the United States.* 1 
