Parras May 16th 1823
Dear Friend Austin,
After I closed the answer to your favour of the 8th Inst. I recd that
of the 11th—since the date of my first times are a little changed,
having an opportunity of company I have determined to set out
tomorrow evening for Durango therefore if you write me from Monty-
you may direct your letter to that place from which I will also write
you on my arival—In the inclosed you will see my intentions, which
however, may change with a change of circumstances but if I should
not find it extremely necessary to take a trip by sea in the fall for
my health and can possibly obtain the necessary capital, I shall
prefer my establishment in Texas to all others, as being that which
whilst best calculated to procure me a comfortable living may tend
to promote your designs and interest in the colonization of your
district, and place me in a situation to give you some proofs of my
gratitude for your friendly disposition, as respects the surveying if
the Baron de Bastrop will give me a liberal part, (if all is under
his controle) I will take upon myself all the active operations of that
office, which I will execute in the nicest manner leaving to him the
recording alone and in order to be eligible I will apply to congress
for a letter of citizenship, under the pretext of erecting machinery,
promoting agriculture and manufacturies—I wish you to say frankly
in your letter if you think a tribe of these sodomites will be of
service or injury to your settlement for this must always be in the
bargain, if they go they must be allowed to steel a little so as not
to get out of practice
Andrews [Rubric]
May 17th I have concluded to remain here until June therefore if
you write from Mty. direct it here
[Addressed:] A Sr. Dn Estevan Austin Anglo Americano
Monterrey,