New Orleans Novr. 10. 1821
Dr Brother
The enclosed notice will inform you of the progress of things as to
the Settlement.
Mr. Morgan of the firm of Sexton and Morgan of Alexandria has
just called on me relative to the debt you owe them, and says he
[expects?] to send it up to Missouri— he says they will take any
kind of property or if the debt is secured wate any length of time,
I told him I knew nothing about your capacity to pay them, but did
not think it could be paid at this time in any way—
If you come or send anything to this country, these debts will
distress you, for gods sake keep beyond the reach of this State, for a
stranger here may lay in jail twenty years, he can not take the
benifit of the insolvent or any other law that would releive him—
The vessel will return in about 60 days and the result of the trip
published, and if you could send some corn etc. to go round in her
it would be an advantage, but I do not wish you to advance any
thing that will imbarass you in any way— you have your family
and Mother with you—take care of them I will do the best I can for
us all I will write to Mother and Sister by the Dolphin also to
Browne—I wrote to Browne to get a certificate of his and my
residence under the Spanish Govt, and of his baptism, dont let him
neglect this— perhaps Francois Vallé and some others of the old
Settlers of upper Louisiana would move, I will see that they are
well provided for if they come
Write me directed to the care of Ambroise Sampyrac Nachitoch
and pay the postage and let me know what is the State of Fathers
business, what is your real Situation— What are your prospects
and intentions— I have thought that I had cause to be dissatisfied
with you, perhaps I may have been wrong, and perhaps not—be
that as it may, let the past be forgotten for ever— Your family
shall participate fully in whatever advantage I may be enabled to
Secure in Texas. I wrote you that as yet no land was granted to
any of us. When I return however I shall lay off a number of Two
League tracts and get the titles secured—
I hope you have answered all the letters directed to me at
Herculanium. be particular and do this punctually and inform them
of the present state of the Settlement etc.
The Emigrants who come from Missouri ought [to] bring one
years provisions and go all the way by water—their stock might
be taken by land
There is a great opening for commerce if you are in a situation
to embrace it—but as I before said risk nothing yet. you have but
little, and your family depends on that little for Support—
Will Henry Elliott come on or not ?— I shall write to Mr Bates
by the [Captain]
I should like to know the [exact] situation of my Fathers Estate,
and of your affairs—
S. F. Austin
[Addressed:] Mr. James Bryan Herculanium Missouri Mail