I regret much to say to you that we have had no rain since your
departure from here, which has so much discouraged the Colonists,
that several of them think of leaving the Country and some have
already made their preparations to go back, which may cause a
serious injury to this Province [by checking?] an increase of
population, and improvements. But I am of the opinion that they would
all remain if they had in their hands titles for their lands, for this
reason, I have sent John Austin to wait upon you on your way to
the settlement, and to have done at once with that business. Some
more families have arrived, nearly the 300 are here and the others are
on their way; so we may complete the whole proceedings in a very
short time. Therefore, I request you to be pleased to come with
John, or to send the Commissioner Baron de Bastrop, for the
purpose of having done entirely with this business.
San Felipe de Austin June 20, 1824.
Estevan F Austin