Nacogdoches 3rd Feby 1824
Dear Sir
I have the pleasure to acknowledge the Receipt of your letter,
the date I cannot refer to as I am from home, I can only thank
you for the confidence you place in me,—I have made all the
enquierys in my power for the carractors you requested but can
procure nothing worth writing Prater was plundered of much of
his stock which is an evidence in his favour as I have not known
an instance of their stealing from each other—This part of this
District is setling very fast we have now a majority and have
punished and driven off most of the bad carractors, last week four
men made their escape from the officers sent to apprehend them from
the upper settlement about the Tenaha viz Jeffry Brown Henry
Brown James Hogan and Waller Hogan enough of their property
has been etatched to pay for the solen property and the expences
An order has been received here from Saleauder [Saucedo] at St
Antonio for Elections to be held for alcaldes, the Election was held
Bean was elected for the Naches Juan Seguan and myself for Nacogdoches
and John J. Williams for the liesh Bayou.
I am sorry that it is not in my power to send you the President's
Message the following is from the best sources that the american
government will not interfere between Spain and her colonies but
if any other nation assists Spain the United States will immediately
assist the Colonies a minister has been sent to France to make
known this intention The United States are equiping three Ships
of the line and Frigate and Sloops of War for immediate service-
some officers from the United States Garrison was at my house
yeasterday they inform that Great Britain has inform the
American Government through her minister that what ever course the
United States adopts with the Spanish colonies will be adopted by
England, all Idea of the Colonies being invaded by a French army
is given up by the best informed people and it is supposed that
Spain is too weak to do anything by herself she now keeps 20000
french troops in Spain to keep down her own subjects—
As I feel much interested in the welfare of your settlement I
give you the following report spred here and gone to the United
States;
that the people are much dissatisfied with Austin think he has
no right to sell the lands that [he] compels every man to take a
league at $700 [to pay] half down that many would leave the
settlement and that Austin will about abandon the settlement the mans
name was Gibbons. [He lived at the] St Antonio crossing of the
Ba[Brazos]
I have not time to say more
Anthoy R. Clarke [Rubric]
[Addressed:] Col. Stephen Austin Brassos.