Nacogdoches August 21st 1826
Col Steven F. Austin
Dear Colonel I beg leave to call on you for information on
certain points Relative to the Conduct of some of your people.
when Col Pettis was at Ayish Bayou he asserted there was no law
nor authority in Nacogdoches and that Jose Anty Sauceda Esqr. had
no authority to do what he Done and that your Honer had Command
to the River Sabine by which he stimulated the Opposers of the
Law and authority to Raise a Company for that purpose promising
them you would Recognize them for which John A Williams went
to the Brassos
And by the Last mail John Sprowl Esqr. of the Ayish Bayou has
Recd a Letter as he states from Jesse Thomson and Payton in the
hand write of Joseph white and Bound him to profound Secrecy on
which the said Sprowls prophicied that one half of your Colony and
the people here would be out of the Country he was askd If they
would be drove out he answered no they would go out of their
Own accord I insisted on knowing If it was anything that might
Effect the Government or the interest of the people he Refused
to answer me But Told Mr. Thomas It was the subject of Slavery
and that no hope Remained on that Subject thereby Creating much
Rumor
from what I have seen and heard among the friends of Edwards
and many others and now from your Quarter I am led to believe
something like a Revolution has been aimed at and probably yet
on foot
I beg you to write me on those points and Explain those
particulars so as no more Confusion may arise to the injury of the
Government your Colony nor here.
Please inform me If Mr. David G Burnett is yet with you he
wrote me a Letter when I was sick and before I was able to answer
I heard he had left your Colony, But If he should yet be with you
give him my Compliments and inform him I am Ready to
Correspond with him and serve him in all cases in my power agreeable
to the Duty Of a friend
Jas Gaines