Nashville Nov1" 1st 1826.
My dear Judge.
After a lapse of several years since our first and only acquaintance
took place, and altho we have never since that time corresponded
with each other—on my part I have often turned my memory to
scenes and events in which you were a party concerned; and have
carefully noted the progress of your arduous and responsible
undertaking with feelings anxious for your complete and full success.
I have had the pleasure several times of reading letters from you
to our common acquaintance Colo Erwin—in which you have
somewhat in detail given a history of the progress of your settlement, your
views, prospects, etc and I feel well assured from my knowledge
of you that you will realize all you have anticipated.
My principal reason for addressing you at this time—is, to take
the liberty of introducing to your acquaintance my acquaintance
and friend Colo Benjamin F. Foster, who will hand you this. Col°
Foster is a young gentleman of high character and respectability
in this State both on his own account, and the numerous respectable
connexions he has here. He has been selected by the Texas
Association of this place to go out to Texas as their agent, for the
purpose of procuring settlers on the land granted to them by the
Mexican Government and make such other arrangements as will tend to
the benefit of the company.
A young man and a stranger—in a foreign land—he will no doubt
be much assisted by the council and advice which you my dear sir
will be able to give him, in relation to his undertaking; And I can
say to you with truth that you could not extend your kindness and
friendship to one more deserving of them than Col° Foster. And I
assure you my dear sir that it would be highly gratifying to me
that you would do so.
I have often thought of paying you a visit and may yet drop
unexpectedly upon you. I should much like to talk over our Mexican
connexion, and all the viscissitudes we have since underwent, which
I fondly hope will some time or other take place—perhaps your
business may at no distant day call you into this part of the world—
if so depend upon it I will not forego the opportunity of seeing you.
If you have an opportunity and are not too much engaged in forming
your new settlement, I would be very glad to receive a letter from
you—in which I would like to find all the little matters relating to
yourself particularly—whether you think of marrying—if you have
any prospect there—or whether you could not make an adventure
among us. as also the general condition of your settlement and your
opinion as to its future advancement—Nothing connected with you
and your new country would be uninteresting, to me¡ who subscribes
himself,
John D. Martin.
Colo. S. F. Austin.