St Louis Apr 8 1821
My Dear Son
I wrote you from Herculaneum a few days after my return from
St Antonio and inclosed you a Draft on your brother for 150
dollars at New Orleans I was in hopes to have sent you 50 Dollars of
Kentucky money from this place but as yet I have not been able to
obtain shall continue making exertions until I can obtain as much as
will releave you I much wish to see you return to this country
before I leave it for the Spanish province of Texas. I have made a
visit to St Antonio and obtained liberty to settle in that country—
as I am, ruined, in this, I found nothing I could do would bring back
my property again and to remain in a Country where I had enjoyed
welth in a state of poverty I could Not submit to I therefore made
an exertion and obtained what I asked for a right of settlement for
myself and family the situation I have marked out is on the Colorado
about 3 Days sale from New Orleans or rather from the Belise a
most delightful situation and on the Bay of San Bernard the
Harbour is good with 12 or 13 feet water over the Barr after which—
25 or 30 feet for some miles up the river with boat Navigation, 150
miles—I have asked for leave of settlement for 300 families and
(200) Thousand Acres of Land to open a Port Town at the mouth
of the River which has been granted me by the Governor of the
Province of Texas and has gone on to the Vice King for his
confirmation, I have been offered as many Names of respectable families
as will make up the Number but untill I return I shall not admitt
any as my wish is to have the lands survey'd before I introduce any
families at all. I shall take with me about 30 young men to
commence the settlement and return after your mother next year. I
have now a proposition to mention to you which is this you are a
Spanish subject born and was baptised by a Roman Priest and are
recorded as such at the church of St. Genevieve, I shall obtain a
Record of this fact and if you will go with me I can get you
introduced at the College at Monterey a large City about 500 miles south
of St Antonio at this place I shall be able to support you a year or
more and you will there learn the Spanish language which will be of
more Consiquence to you than you can now conceive of and as its not
likely you will be called for to join the Navy of the United States
for some time you cannot be better imployed—the college at
Monterrey or Royal Mountain has now 400 students from every part of the
Spanish provinces, by which means you will have an opportunity to
visit the City of Mexico and become acquainted with the Country
generally and make friends with the young men of first families in
that Country. Mr Woodson who will hand you this letter can tell
you much more than I can write you and what is more he has this
moment offered to lend me 50 or 60 Dollars Kentucky Bank paper
to pay the balance of your Expenses so that you may return home
to your Dear mother and also to a father that has felt for your
situation but could not until now help you, when you receive the money
from Mr Woodson you must give him a Receipt to be repaid Dollar
for Dollar and return him thanks for his uncommon Kindness for
without his friendship I do not know how I should have made up the
money I hope you will not loose a moment after you have paid your
Bills but leave Kentucky without delay. Mr Woodson can tell you
of my prospects in the Spanish country and his opinion of your
visiting Monterrey you may also obtain the opinion of Mr Holly if
you please. If you examin Melishes Map of the United States you
will find the Bay of San Bernard and the River Colorado at the
mouth of which I calculate to lay of the Town of Austina, which
will be in a few years equal to New Orleans in Consequence if not in
wealth.
God bless you my son
Moses Austin
[Addressed:] Mr James E. B. Austin Near Lexington Kty—
Politeness—Mr Woodson