Nachitosh April 20—1825
Dr. Sir.
Mr. Sherboneir has just called at my House to inform me he was
about setting off for your Country. I was from home, and have but
a few minutes to write. If I had have had a longer notice should
have written you a longer letter. Should you see Mr. Sherbonier
you will find him well informed and intelligent, an Amiable
Discréete man Esteemed here by all who know him, you will collect
from him very correctly whatever has come within his knowledge,
I am sorry I cannot send you a list of the Acts passed the last session
of Congress, you will have understood for some time past a
considerable trade has been carried on from [St.] Louis to New Mexico,
this has Attracted the Attention of Government and a Road is to
be opened from St. Louis to Sta Fee. A council is appointed to
Reside at Chehuawa and another at Sta fee. this has opened the
Eyes of Govt. Relative to the Raft in Red River and Measures are
about to be taken to open it, when I believe Steam boats will be
able to assend within a day or two's Journey from Sta Fee, if this
is done the whole current of the Intercourse with New Mexico will
be by way of Red River and the whole valley of it will Soon be
settled, and the time may come when more cotton may go out of
Red River than now goes out of the mississippi. Cotton was sold
in New Orleans as high as 24 cents pr. lb last week the demand in
creasing, in England they will fall more than 50,000 Bales short
of the ordinary supply, they depended on Egypt for a supply
which has failed. Such as they have Received is so full of sand
it cannot be Worked and the danger of its bringing the Plague is a
stronger objection to it, the demand in the United States for our
own manufactories increases beyond all calculations, two million
Dollars worth of Articles of cotton manufacture of the U. S., were
exported to South America in a part of last year :—
Mr. Adams is President. Mr. Clay Secretary of State Mr. Rush
Secty of the Treasury. James Barbour of Virginia Secty of War.
Mr. Southard of N. Jersey of the Navy. Mr. Wert Atty. Genl- Mr.
McLean of Ohio Post master Genl so that there is no doubt but Mr.
Adams has an able Cabinet. Mr. Clinton of N. York was nominated
Minister to London but being lately appointed Governor declined
accepting the appointment. I do not know who is Nominated in his
place. Mr. Everett of Massachusetts is Minister to Spain in place
of place of Genl Nelson who wants to come home. Mr. Poinsette of
S° Carolina is Minister to Mexico. Col Forbs Charge of Affairs at
Buenos Ayres. Mr. Allen continues at Chili and Mr. Anderson at
Columbia, none appointed to Peru. Consuls are appointed for
several places.—
Red River is now higher than it has been since 1803 and rising.
it Must overflow Alexandria and it will injure the crops in many
places Bridges and Roads suffer much Bluclworths great Bridge Over
Red River is gone—Genl Lafayette is now in New Orleans in no
place has greater preparation been made to Receive him; he goes up
the Mississippi and Ohio and is to be at Boston the 17th of June the
Anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill. Our Congress have given
him 200,000 dollars and a Township of Land I believe not yet
located.—Congress has under consideration a Bill Reported by the
committee on Foreign Relations for the suppression of Pi [racy]
which did not pass with all the provisions. If it had it was thought
it would have Resulted in a War with Spain, the sections stricken
out were the Blockading the Island of Cuba Landing and persuing
the pirots. and Reprisals the Bill as it has passed augments our
Navy and Leaves some discretion with the President relative to the
employing of it. England has Recognized the Independence of all
Spanish America. France and Holland will do it.
You will oblige me if you will give me as Early information as
you can Relative to Mrs. Robinsons affairs. I want to write to her,
her eldest son is a Midshipman in the Navy and with Commodore
Porter and of high promise.—
Please to present my compliments to your Brother and to Mr.
Cook.—I shall be glad to Receive a letter from you Mr. Poinsette
will as soon as he arrives in Mexico move the Subject of the setling
our Boundary Line—I had a severe Pleuretic Attack in 03-xx-1825march
but
have got well.—
John Sibley [Rubric]
Col. S. F. Austin.