Natchitoches July 30th 1828
Dear Sir.
I have Just Recd your friendly letter dated Austin 17th June,
which of us is in debt in our literary Accounts is a subject I am not
disposed to discuss at present, I will say that I am glad always to
Receive a letter from you and will with pleasure communicate
anything to you I may possess of sufficient Interest to excite your
attention— we were soon informed of the arrival of Genl Taran at
Nacogdoches. Col Piedras commanding at that post lately made us
a visit and spent ten days here, through him I Recd some
communications from the Genl particularly what he found the latitude,
longitude, Elevation and degree of heat at Nacogdoches, and that he was
waiting to meet us to designate the Boundary line? on that subject
I have only been informed officially that the treaty between our
Govt and Mexico relative to the boundary and some other matters
was Ratified by the Senate of the U States on the first of May and
Returned to Mexico to be Exchangd and might be expected back in
September and that the treaty of 1819
was Recognised generally,,
the treaty has not been published and will not be untill it returns, i
have not been informed of the Particular Stipulations. I have no
Knowledge of the oppointment of a commissioner on Our part,
there is a Report that I shall be named, but I have receivd nothing
official about it, If I should I shall Serve and have great pleasure
in being associated with Genl Taran for whose Character I feel the
greatest respect.— I am happy to learn that the Intestine
difficulties in Mexico have subsided, such might have been expected,
experience will no doubt tranquilise such Ebilutions, all governments have
experienced the Same; Primary schools and enlightning the people
is the Surest Course.
The Subject of Our Presidential Election has produced, and keeps
up more excitement than any thing has ever done in the United
States, the Choice of Electors conies on in November next, both
Parties affect to be sanguine of success, for my own part I believe
Mr. Adams will be Reelected, and the cause of the administration
seems to be gaining ground, the Printed paper Enclosed I think
is a fair Exhibition of the case as it now Stands.—
I am glad to hear that the Govt of Mexico have concluded to
settle those Belts of Neutral territory, it would have been impossible
to have kept those reserves free from Banditties of Murderers and
outlawes— There seems to be some difficulty between the three
Allied Powers against Turkey about the division of what may be
conquered from Turkey. France and England hang Back; but
Russia will go on single handed If they should decline We have
no certain Accounts of Actual fighting being commenced Nor of the
Russian Army crossing the Pruth. The Greeks will no doubt
become indepent of Turkey tho. not yet acknowledged, there is a
great Commotion in Europe, the English are Arming and so the
French. The Brittish are withdrawing their Troops from Portugal
and the French from Spain— Lord Wellington the Present prime
Minister has gone over to France, for something about Greece and
Turkey it is seposed. The Sperit for Internal improvement in the
U. S. was never at such a height Rail ways are taking place of
Canals as having the advantage of costing one third less, not being
interrupted by Frost, the carriages propelled by Steam can freight
as low and move Eight Miles an hour, whereas Canal Boats go only
four.—
I had last winter a Visit from Geo. Sibley of Missouri his wife
and her sister Miss Easton. they spent two Months with us and
took away with them Mrs Sibley, Hopkins Sibleys widow, and
her Daughter Ann. and son Harry; George has lived at Fort Ozage
and they all left here for that place, but on arriving at S. Charles
where Judge Eastons family Reside, George on Visiting and going
over a Tract of Land he had owned for 15 years near that place
which he never before had examined was persuaded to settle there
and there they all are, they live in the Town the land they are
improving comes within half a Mile; the Ozage farm and stock are
kept up where they have an hundred Breeding Mares and Jennies
etc. Judge Easton has the Dropsey and cannot live long, they
give an account of the Beauty and improvements of St. Louis,
Increase of Population and Wealth surpassing any Town in the
West, Cincinnati Excepted.— they speak of the New Splendid
Churches, Court and Market House as in an superior stile, the
Jefferson Barracks 6 miles below where two Regiments of U. S.
Troops are kept called the School of practice they mention as an
Elegant Establishment giving great life and vareity to St. Louis.
the Troops that were at Council Bluff are movd down a few miles
above Old Fort Ozage and is called the Cantonement Levinsworth
where is a Regiment, the State of Missouri is rapidly advancing
in population Wealth and improvements and are for the Reelection
of Mr. Adams Col Benton to the contrary notwithstanding—
Our Town of Natchitoches improves slowly, we have a large
tolerable handsome and well finished Catholic Church Nearly done
a good looking Belfrey and a good Bell. Several New Houses have
been built since you were here, but the distraction of the great fire
is scarsily repaired, all the Small Towns on the Steam Boats
navigable Waters seem not to flourish. If an inhabitant wants a
Twist of Tobacco he sends for it by a Steam Boat to his Agent in
N. Orleans, it is sure to come in a few hours, at half what the little
Jew shops would take for the Same Article—Alexandria from that
cause, the Overflow and unhealthiness of the place is almost
abandoned Houses and Lotts have fallen 800 pr Cent or More.—
The Planters in this Parish since the fall of Cotton (many of
them) are preparing for sugar, the Ribbon Cane brought from
China comes to perfection in about a Month less time than the
Creole cane no doubt from the experiments already made it will
succeed well in this Parish; but you have the soil and climate for
that Article; but cannot be extensively used without Slaves.—
Our Election for Govr Members of Congress and state Legislature
is just over have not got the Returns for Govr, or Congress,
Judge Derbigney, Butler, Marigney and Genl Thomas are the
Candidates for Congress in this district Brent and Overton, we have
from this Parish in Our Legislature A man by the name of Dyers
Debleau and Benja Matyear.-— Johnston Our Present Sheriff was
married a few days ago to the Daughter of Mr Benjm Bullitt—
Col Quarles of Arkensas to Madme Grosvenor— Mr. Cable and his
wife live apart. Several Accidents have hapened by steam Boat
Boilers Bursting, the car of Commerce lately, and killed and
wounded 57 persons. Two have been Burnt and one sunk in Red
River.—
I did not see Capt. Jones, probably when he called I was out
about three Miles where My family are at a Summer residence;
where we have good Water and Air. No Musketoes and Milk not
Bitter, Mr Cable has informed me he had sent you a Packet of
papers which will keep you Along till you Receive more-— If the
Govt of Mexico was better organised, so that one might be
protected in person and property and Religion I should feel Enclined to
move into it.
17th-July. By the Steam Boat Beaver we have the Election
Returns so far as to assertain that Judge Derbigney has a Majority
of Votes for Governor, that Judge white a young man (son of
Doctr White who died Parish Judge of Attackapa) and lately been
Acting as City Judge of New Orleans, has been Elected Member
of Congress in place of Mr. Livingston; Derbigney and White are
for the Reelection of Mr. Adams President. Mr. Livingston for
Jackson Mr. Marigney and Judge Butler opposed to Derbigney as
Governor are Jacksonites. The Votes of Louissiana will be for
Adams (President). Mr. Gurley of Batton Rouge (Adams) is
Reelected by a large Majority. Missouri and Illenois for the
administration ; and we now believe Adams will certainly be Reelected—- I
sepose you were Acquainted with Our Captain Grosvenor; while
he was in your Country: Accounts Came on here Satisfactory to
his wife that he had another wife in New York, she had a decree
Nullifying her Marriage with Grosvenor, and was in March last
married to a Col Quarles, a Lawyer from Little Rock in Arkensa
Territory, the Col after living here with her a short time went to
Arkensas and Returned sooner than he had appointed he soon
appeared dissatisfied and went away Again, it is thought will not
soon if ever Return to her again. The Col is a light made, small
Man Very Genteal, well informed, a Schollar, and stands high at
the Bar is I should think under 85.— there is a Col Oden living
here from Arkensa also, a Man of Wonderfull Physical and
Intellectual powers, was, but not now an intimate friend of Col Quarle's—
John Sibley [Rubric]
P. S—you have not informed me about my claim on the Estate
of Mc. Farlane.—Since Writing the above we have had more
particularly the Return of our Election Derbigney will be our Governor-
White for Congress in place of Livingston. Gurley Reelected—
Overton in place of Brent.