Parras, Sept 5th 1823.
Dear Austin
I had the satisfaction to receive your letters of the 9th and 24 July
dated in Bexar, but you speak of one from Monterrey by private
conveyance which I never recd, that of the 9th I answered by last mail
supposing that you have an arangement made to convey letters
from Bexar to the Collorado.
I am extreemly happy to hear that the all essential article corn
is likely to be plenty among you, and particularly that Ally has a
good share for I feel in my heart for those adventurors, who must
necessarily have suffered much
I am sorry to find myself so situated that I cannot accompany you
in the woods, but such are the circumstances that it is not in my
power, it is true that my whole heart and soul is in Texas, that I
look forward with delight to the time when I shall be planted
amongst a number of confidential friends on the orilla of the
Colorado, but I am of opinion that the shortest method to obtain this,
and to place me in the situation to be useful and comfortable, is to
persue my present object which may produce something with which
to begin I would willingly accept the offer you make but that
I would have to spend money continually without receiving any
for some time, and the life of a surveyor is so hard, that he ought
always to have a certainty in view—My present object is a trip to
Orleans altho I take only money for my expenses, jet I hope to
do something for this reason I am desirous that you should write
a few lines to Mr J. H. Hawkins conserning me. I shall probabilly
have leave here the first of October and be in Orleans some time
in November, if I succeed I shall return immediately, if not I know
not what I shall do, my subsequent movements will always depend
on circumstances In this place I am the intimate friend and daily
companion of the family named Viesca one of whom you seen perhaps
with Dr Ramos in Saltillo, this family is rich, large, respectable,
learned, sensible, and honorable, they believe not in this d—d foolish
religion and possess two very fine libraries of miscellaneous and
scientific Books, two of the sons talk of going with me, but it is
uncertain yet-—more than all, I believe I could marry a little niece
about 14 years of age, but she is not well educated and her part will
not be more than 10000—the whole connection is free from Indian
blood—at all points I shall be happy to hear from you, and assure
you that nothing can give me more pleasure than the flattering
prospects of a friend whom to me is so dear. I flatter myself that
Providence will reward your indefatigable perseverance and
industry tho we know well that these works of providence depend at
present on this confused and instable govt-—Zacatecas has declared
herself as independent as Great Britton, but it is understood that
Negrete will use the weighty argument of lead and powder to prove
to them that they are rong.
Andrews [Rubric]
[Addressed:] Al Caronel Sr Dn Estevan Austin Bexar ó el Rio
Colorado Texas