New Orleans Novr 23,1821
Dr Brother,
Enclosed is the permit which I issue to settlers, you can use the
same form,—
I wrote you that I did not wish you to risk anything in this
enterprise, if you can conveniently Ship Some Corn, or Shorts, or Flour
to Joseph H. Hawkins it will help, also if the Blacksmith or any
other kind of tools were saved at the mines send them, also
everything belonging to the estate at Little Rock with my books etc.—
If H Elliott will come on I think I can benefit him, but I shall not
wate for him or any other of my friends in your country, neither
shall I advise them to come—they must take their own course—if they
come to me, I will do for them all I can, but if others who are on
the ground apply for any appointment in my power to procure I
shall get it for them if I can without delay—I sent Brother Brown a
Spanish Grammar he must borrow a Dictionary at St. Louis and
apply himself to study—he ought to go out with some good surveyor
as chain carrier if no better can be done, so as to learn the art of
surveying, he will find it of use in Texas and he must now learn to
work,—he had better employ himself in this manner untill I get
things under way—
If any of you write to me direct to the care of Ambroise Sampyrac
Nachitoches and pay the postage, or I shall not get the letters.
I leave here the day after tomorrow, and the vessel sails the same
clay—it will probably be one year before I return to the U States,
in the mean time take care of our Dear Mother, and make no
calculations on me, or Texas until I get better under way in that country—
Send on as many settlers of good character as you can—I have no
doubt of success and think that all who join me will do well, but I
advice no one to come, no man shall reproach me for leading him
into difficulty should things result badly—
Give my love to Mother and Sister and Brother- I wrote them a
few days since and sent Mother some opium by Honey in the Dolphin
also to Uncle Austin and family—
Honey wishes mother to live with him. on this subject she must
do as circumstances require, he will furnish everything—
S F. Austin
[Addressed:] Mr. James Bryan Herculaneum Missouri