His Excellency
The Governor of the Province of Texas
May it please your Excellency Since leaving your City some
circumstances of a very unpleasant nature have come to my knowledge
which I consider it, my duty to communicate to your Excellency in
Exoneration of any blame or suspicion of blame that might be
attached to me in consequence of my being in company With a man
that may have conducted unwisely and thereby drawn disgrace on
himself and endangerd my reputation
The day before I left St Antonio for the United States, Kirkham
the man in whose company, I visited your Capital mentioned to me
that five Spaniards would leave your city with us for Nachitoches,
but did not say that they had any intention to leave the City in a
Clandestin manner or to committ any act in violation of your orders
or that of Society. Nor was there intentions made known to me
untill after I had arrived at the River St Marks, when I learned from
Kirkham that the Spaniards would come up with us at the River
Colorado at which place he Kirkham had agreed to delay for them
and that they was to bring with them a Number of Mules which he
Kirkham had told them he would purchase and give them a safe
conduct to the United States. I objected to have anything to do
with them or detain for them unless they brought with them a
pasport, and expostulated with him for having given them any
encouragement to bring out mules in as much as it Was expressly against
Orders of the Governor he then said that he had not given them any
other encouragement or words that would induce them to bring out
Mules except that If they should do so, he should purchase them, he
then said that the Spaniards had made a brake on the Kings Yard of
Mules and Horses and taken ten or twelve and Escaped, that before
they left St Antonio they had stated to some of there friends, that he
Kirkham was to detain at the River Colorado with the Other
American and Conduct them with in, the United States, it was with real
regret that I Found myself implicated in this transaction and placed
in a situation to create doubts—as to my true intentions in visiting
your City, the object of this letter is therefore to remove from the
mind of your Excellency—any Suspicion if any exists or may have
been created, from the conduct either of Kirkham or the Spaniards,
that Stole the Mules and also to request them to be examined as to the
fact, whether I had an interview with either of them or Whether they
communicated to me there—intentions.—I do not pretend to say that
Kirkham made any agreement with them touching the theft, of the
Mules— if he did it is unknown to me he most positively denies
any communication with them except what I have before stated, that
he would purchase the Mules. It is therefore to be clearly
understood, that I do not accuse Kirkham of any, Crime but it is that I
write this letter in consequence of being told that my Name had
been called in question and touching the theft of some mules and
which might lessen the confidence of your Excellency in the
Declarations, I made when at your City of my real intention and motive in
Visiting the Capital and to assure your Excellency by our most Holy
Religion that, I had nothing to do with or any knowledge of—the
intentions of the Spaniards who Kirkham told me was to make a
Journey to Nachitoches in our Company, it is to do myself Justice
that I make this communication to you at this time, and for no other
object. I again Repeat to your Excellency that If I am admitted to
reside With in the province of Texas it will be my Study to regulate
my conduct in such a manner as will strengthen the Confidence of
Your Excellency in my good intentions, and Respectfull attachment
to the Government under which I live
praying your Excellency to accept of my profound Respect,
M Austin
Nachitoches Jany 26 1821
To His Excellency A Mons Martines
Governor Civil and Military over the Province of Texas