Republic of Texas,
Nacogdoches July 20, 1821.
Dear Sir—I wrote you fully from Nachitoches, relative to the
confirmation of my father's grant by the governor general, and
council of the four internal province, enclosing you copies of the
documents delivered me by Don Erasmo, the agent on the part of
the Spanish government, and who is authorized to conduct myself
and settlers to the lands granted.
We are thus far on our way to explore the country, and select the
most judicious sites for our settlement.
We found several families at this place, who held a council upon
our arrival, and resolved to remove within the limits of the lands
granted my father; the inducements to their removal being the
advantages of a situation nigher to the sea, and consequently to the
seat of trade.
I have not the boundaries of the grant before me, but understand
it will include the harbor of Mata Gorda, and the mouth of the
Colorado river.
I met here a gentleman who travelled through the grant, and who
assures me it is the richest and best watered part of the province.
All travellers unite with our much lamented Gen. Pike, in alleging
the climate to be one of the most delightful in this, or any other
country.
I had both verbal and written correspondence with a number of
gentlemen who proposed to migrate to Texas, and become settlers
within the grant. As I have not leisure to write them all, be pleased
to make known through the public prints:
1st. That I shall comply with the condition of the grant, and
effect the settlement to the full extent, and in the same manner
contemplated by my late father.
2d. That I shall explore the country, and then select the most
judicious points for our settlement.
3d. That a port has been established by the proper authority, in
the Bay of St. Bernard, which will at once secure great facilities
to commerce.
4th. That I am authorized to introduce and settle on the grant,
three hundred families; and they are permitted to carry with them
all the property, effects and supplies they think proper.
5th. That every facility will be given calculated to aid the settlers,
and they will be secured in grants of land proportionate to the
numbers of each family, and the force or means they possess of
carrying on useful and agricultural pursuits.
Liberal grants of land will also be made to mechanics of all
descriptions who will become settlers; but no settler will be received,
or grant made to any individual, who does not produce satisfactory
evidence of good character and industrious habits; and the settlers
will supply themselves with certificates to this effect from some court,
magistrate, mayor, justice, notary, or other public officer.
The objects of this settlement are entirely agricultural. The
richness of the soil, healthfulness of the climate, contiguity to the sea,
and other natural advantages, promising a reward to our labors,
which few spots on the globe could furnish to an equal extent.
I shall return to Natchitoches in Louisiana, by the 25th Sept. and
after a visit to Herculaneum, in the state of Missouri, shall proceed
with the settlers to the points of location.
All persons desiring information, will address me at "
Herculaneum, Missouri," and their letters shall be answered immediately
on my reaching that place.—As the communications will be numerous,
it is expected that the applicants for information will pay the
postage on their letters.
I will publish on my return, the point at which the settlers had
best convene, and in the mean time, those who may come on should
not descend the Mississippi river below the mouth of Red river, nor
go farther into the interior than Natchitoches.
Persons wishing to become settlers will forward me to
Herculaneum, their names, occupation, number and description of their
families and the number of work hands they would employ.
Mechanics will be particular in describing their trades, and the
number of persons, including apprentices, attached to their families.
A port having been legally established in the Bay of St. Bernard,
the settlement will at once be secured in a direct communication
with New-Orleans and other places, from which supplies can be
obtained.
You have already been informed that the Spanish constitution is
in full force in the internal provinces. And Don Erasmo, the
commissioner appointed to conduct us to the lands, brought to Louisiana
proclamations, promising security and protection to all persons who
have left the country during former troubles, and who would not
return.
I understand a number have already embraced the offer.
Such parts of my letters as you cause to be published calculated
to give information to the settlers, I hope the newspapers in
Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri will republish.
Very respectfully,
Stephen F. Austin,
P. S. All persons who were citizens of Louisiana at any time
prior to its cession to the United States, will find great facilities in
obtaining grants for land in this province.