New Orleans 20th May 1826
To Col. S. F. Austin,
Sir,
Since I had the honor of seeing you in the City of New Orleans I
have never relaxed in my good opinion of your settlement in Texas:
but pecuniary embarrassments together with other circumstances
have hitherto prevented my making a visit there since I went down
in the Schooner Lively which then belonged to you.
The Bob Roy, Capt Jn° F. Field who is charged with the note, will
arrive at the mouth of the Brassos (weather permitting) in about
ten or twelve days. By said vessel on her return I should be happy
to hear from you as I as well as Capt. Z. Butler who sailed the Lively
after our first arrival here in 1822 have still a great inclination to
become Citizens of your Colony: which the settlement of our private
interests in this State has hitherto prevented, yet with you we hope
that our inclination has not been lost sight of; Capt Field is in a
certain measure acquainted with the embarrassments which have
heretofore prevented us from being with you which I hope will not
be the case this Summer.
The Rob Roy sails with a full freight and passangers for the
settlement all of which I exerted my feeble interest to forward with a
firm belief that I was enhancing the interests of the Colony which
has been my constant study since I had the honor of your
acquaintance in this city.
Accept Sir, my sincerest regard for your welfare and that of your
Colony: to the enterprising settlers of which I tender the warmest
sentiments of respect and flatter myself with the reality of one day
becoming a neighbor and friend among them—
James Norton.