Jesse Thompson and J. C. Payton to John Sprowl, 08-11-1826 Jesse Thompson and J. C. Payton Project Director and Editor Andrew J. Torget Creation of XML version Debbie Liles Initial TEI Formatting Stephen Mues Programmatic and Manual TEI P5 Compliance Ben W. Brumfield Digital Stephen F. Austin Papers 07-01-2010 John Sprowl San Felipe de Austin, Texas Ayish Bayou, Texas Eugene Barker, ed., Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1919: The Austin Papers, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1924), 3 vols., Vol 1, Part 2, pp. 1405-1406 Eugene Barker's summaries and footnotes Letter 08-11-1826 Programmatic restructuring and manual clean-up to comply with TEI P5 2.3.0 Restructured to meet TEI P5 standards Digital creation of XML file

Distress at prospect of abolition of slavery. Intention to hasten back to the united States. Trouble in Edwards's colony.

San Felipe de Austin 11th August 1826

Dear Frend I fondly Employ my pen to let you know I am well though my family is not veary well they are on the mend theare has not been any veary daingerous caises in my family hoping these few lines may find you and family Enjoying good health,

Dear frend I have been Enjoying myself as well as any man on Earth could in my circumstances, until I have acquired the disagreeable information of the Government within the last Twelve Hours, relative to the prohibition of slavery within this Colony whitch information I have acquired from such sources as leaves no doubt on the subject upon whitch I Fell [feel] my self Entirely ruined from the moast flatering prospects. I feel as though I shall make every arangement so soon as is practicable to be in the United States with my property this I communicate for your information, at the same time I am compeled to in join secracy on your part; I truely regret the change of prospects being highly pleased with the cuntery whitch is completely throne into dispear; I wish you to consult your interest and do accordingly as you may think best Theare is hardly any room for doubt on the subject of our having to relinquish the right of slavery.

I shall conclude having nothing more to comunicate of importance; you may expect to see me shortly I am as ever your Frend and Obt. Servt.

Jessee Thompson

Dear Frend I beg leave to address you a fiew lines to let you know I am yet living and family all enjoying good health excepting my little son Alexander he having a attack of the Fever though he appears to be better, most fortunately praying those few lines may find you and Family Enjoying good health peace and prosperity I have nothing more to comunicate than is in the above whitch is reather unpleasant to me who have a knowledge of the most provable fact; on my own part I am undetermined what I shall do not being veary well satisfyed with the Tratement I have recd- from our Empresario; I must conclude by subscribing my self your true frend until death

J. C. Payton

Dear sir I again Enjoin it on you as secracy not Let your best frends no it at least the negroes might get hold of it and you no the nature of a greate many people in hast yours

Jesse Thompson

[Addressed:] John Spowl. Esqr. deastrict Ayush Bayou