Jany. 21. 1828
Dr sir,
I recd, your letter stating that you wish to decline serving as one
of the Ayuntamiento, and feel somewhat discouraged at your
determination—As you personal friend, I should say you did right, but
as a friend of this colony, I must say you are doing wrong—It is
very important to get good men, and men of business in the
Ayúntamto. I feel no individual interest on the subject and as a mere
individual I am indifferent who are elected—but in all matters
connected with the welfare of this colony I cannot feel or think
indifferently—As for myself I shall devote my whole time and attention
to the land business and have some idea of taking a trip into the
United States in order to try and bring out a large number of
families in a body, but I do not wish to leave the colony again, even
for a moment, untill I see the local government well organised, and
this cannot be done without putting good men in office
I am getting very tired and worn down with the business and
were it not my duty to the settlers who are here never to abandon
them, I should give up my last contract with the Govt for the
settling of the new Colony, and either settle myself down on a Stock
farm, or seek some other country where I might hope to find
harmony but it is my duty to persevere and for that reason, and that
alone, I will go on—
you are wrong to decline serving for I think you can do an
important service to the colony as a member of the Ayuntamto but
you have a right to do as you please, tho if you are elected the law
compels you to serve—
I have heard of no opposition to Ingram and I think he will
be unanimously elected I am sorry to say that Kinny has also
declined serving, tho, he is excusable for his business I expect will
compell him to devote all his time to his private affairs—I have not
thoroughly known Kinny untill last winter he is a usefull and
valuable man and I wish it was in my power to aid him in his
pecuniary difficulties—
My friend we must all be united and harmonious—without this
the colony never can flourish—-poor Pettus is broken up—he has been
imprudent in the highest degree—and has abused me and every
one else—if I had the means of aiding him I would freely do so—
he is in misfortune—-let that alone be remembered and all his abuses
forgotten—I send you a valuable neighbor (I hope) in Mr. Robison,
I have nearly given him a small place merely because I think him
a good man
Think better of the matter and say you will serve- My respects
to Mrs Bell I can let you have some fig roots next year if the slips
I brought from Bexar grow
S F Austin [Rubric]
Mr J. H Bell