New York 20 Oct 1826
Mr Stephen F Austin
My dear sir
There is so little intercourse between your country and this that
it is almost as difficult to communicate with you as tho you were in
the moon—I accidentally heard by a gentlemen in Vera Cruz who
had been at your settlement that you were still alive and progressing
well with your colony altho published dead several times not only in
our papers but also in the Mexican Sol with an Obituary notice
I have been myself nearly two years in Alvarado, Vera Cruz and
Nacotalpam—in the latter place I established a Cotton Gining
Mill and press for cleaning Cotton at the place of growth and thereby
relieving the manufacturers of the tripple expence of Carriage to
puebla—but the Mexican Manufacturers would not spin cotton
cleaned by machinery and the price for exportation would not pay
which compelled me to abandon the experiment with a loss of 4000$
in a year and one half hard labor
I observed at Nacotalpam that the low land abounded with live
Oak but the high price of labour and the difficultys thrown in the
way of all operations attempted by strangers will not permit the
cutting of it for exportation with advantage
This timber is now in request here and should the genuine live
Oak be plenty on the banks of the rivers in your neighbourhood
advantage might be drawn from it unless the Govt should interpose
some impediment to its exportation Will you do me the favor
to inform me whether it is to be had in your quarter, if so the
quantity and size, the facilitys in obtaining it—the probable cost
—whether men could be had there to cut it or must [it] be brought
out—the duties and impositions which might be incurred etc
The present mode of obtaining it in florida is to send out strong
parties with small vessels to transport it to the shipping place then
purchase the privilege of cutting and do the work themselves—-
The Mexicans of the bajos of Vera Cruz do not value this timber
and appear to be ignorant of its durability—Care must be taken
to distinguish between the Genuine live Oak and the bastard live
Oak which is much like it but will not last—There are no doubt
men with you perfectly well acquainted with it—
Should there be any opening for profitable operations of any
sort in your quarter you will oblige me by giving the needful
information I am now doing nothing—business of every kind is
extremely dull and as I am poor with a large family to support I am
perforce ready to embark in any operation which offers reasonable
advantages and with fair prospects of success there will be no
difficulty in raising sufficient capital
Cotton has revived a little in England by the last advices but
will probably continue low through the year—Hides and pork and
beef if to be had at your place might turn to acct as also bacon
cured in the Mexican manner for the Havana market—The Black
beans of Mexico called frijoles if raised in quantity would be an
excellent article of export—
If there is any regular mode of communicating with the U S
your place please inform me of it, as we shall always be happy to
hear of your welfare and to acquaint you with ours My younger
brother John P is established here as a commission Mercht under
the firm of Austin and Tailer their correspondent in Orleans is
Saml. T. Coit who will forward any letters sent to him
Cordially and Sincerely your friend and kinsman
Henry Austin [Rubric]
I took the liberty of braking the seal of this letter and was
agreeably surprised.
Yr Brother
______ J E B Austin