At the City of San Fernando de Bexar, the 23d day of December,
A D 1820: The Governor of the Province of Texas, Colonel Don
Antonio Martinez, in order to obtain detailed information about
the condition of affairs and movements on the frontier of the United
States, and the assembly of men in Galveston Island, summoned to
appear at this office the foreigner Moses Austin, who arrived to-day
in this city, with two other persons. Said Moses Austin being
present was required through the Baron de Bastrop who had promised
well and truly to discharge the duty of Interpreter, to make true
answers to such questions as might be propounded to him, answered
as follows.
Questioned as to his name, native country and residence—
Answered : That he is a native of the State of Connecticut, actually a
resident of Missouri, is a catholic, a merchant and dealer in lead ore.
Asked:—Whence he came, who accompanied him, and what is his
object in entering this Province? Answered: That he came from
Missouri through Nachitotches, that he had been accompanied by
a negro boy belonging to him, and two other Americans; that he came
to this Province for the purpose of applying to the Government for
authorization to settle himself in it with his family, inasmuch as he
had already been a subject of the Government of Spain, as is proved
by a passport, which he presented, signed by Don Carlos Martinez
de Irujo, Minister Plenipotentiary of His Majesty, signed at
Philadelphia, the 13th July, 1797; and that it is his intention to provide
for his subsistance by raising sugar and Cotton.
Asked: what observations he made on his way from Missouri; if
he knows anything about the movements of the banditti on the
frontier of the United States, if he has seen, or heard, anything of the
state of affairs in Galveston Island, and to state whatever incident
may have called his attention.—Answered: That he has observed
nothing on his way from Missouri; that he had only heard it said at
Natchitoches that Long has been abandoned by his men, 20 or 30
men only still remaining with him; that Lafitte has abandoned
Galveston Island, after having been attacked by an American frigate,
and that the President of the Congress had promised a reward of
500 Dollars for the apprehension of Long [Lafitte] That Lafitte
repaired to South America, but that, on his departure from Galveston,
he captured an American ship, and put to death all her crew, except
two men who made good their escape; and finally, that he has read in
the American newspapers a treaty made by Don Luis de Onis, Spanish
Minister, with the American Congress, which treaty was already
signed by the King and approved by the Sovereign Congress of the
Cortes.
Asked; How, having obtained in 1797, a passport from the Spanish
Minister, he has not applied sooner for the Settlement he intends
to make in this Province?—Answered,—that, since the year above
mentioned, he went to reside at Saint Louis (Missouri) which
territory belonged, then to Spain; he had there lead mines, the produce
of which he exported to Havana, until the year 1800 [sic], when the
American Government having prohibited the working of mines by
private enterprise, he lost all the benefit of his labor; but now, in view
of the new system of Government adopted by Spain, he resolved
upon aplying for authorization to settle in this Province
Asked; If he, or his associates have with them any merchandize,
to declare the same in which case it should be sequestered and
returned to them previous to their leaving this territory, or otherwise,
it should be seized upon as unlawful ?—Answered, that all the
property he has with him, is an escopet, a pistol, two horses, some clothing
for his personal use, and the necessary amount of money for his
traveling expences; that, those who accompany him are not under
his control, and joined him at about six leagues from Natchitoches;
Still, he is satisfied that they have no goods of illicit trade.
Asked: If he has any further statements to make; Answered in the
negative, He, further, ratified the foregoing answers, and declared
himself to be 53 years of age; Whereupon, he signed these presents,
with me and assisting witnesses—Moses Austin—Antonio Martinez—
Baron de Bastrop—Francisco Montes—Ylario de la Garza.