Eatenton putnam County Georgia 7th April 1830
Colonel Stephen. F. Austin. Dear Sir I am informed by Capt
James Lusk of the State of Ohio Butler County that he visited
Texes about four or five years past and that he became personally
acquainted with you and yur province my friend Lusk gave me
leave to make use of his name in addressing you, my motive for
this address is that I wish to emigrate to your province from the
history of Texes I am well pleasd and from the information of
Lusk and others that have viewed the province I believe I Shall
like your province Dear Sir I now wish you to inform me by
letter as Soon as practicable on what terms I may obtain land in
your province that I may move my family thirty in number twenty
of my family is black servants the balance ar a wife and children
my oldes Son is 18 years old a daughter that [is] nearly 17 years
of age If I Should emigrate in all probability a considerable
number of respectable citizens of the State of Georgia will
probable i migrate with me Some macannick of difrent Trades Some
members of the Baptist and Methodist Episcopal Church Some
off hoom are welthy and ranks amongs those in the first Circle in
this State please give mee a Sketch of the Constitution of your
province with a Sketch of a code of your laws and whether a Slave
holding province or not and with regard to religion whether a
man will bee allowed to worship agreeable to the dictates of his
own conciens or not I feel disposed to visit your province So
Soon as I can have a answer from you from Capt Lusks
Statement to mee it is your wish for your province to bee Settled with
good Society as soon as practicable If I should not bee answered
by you I Shall visit your province in the cours of twelve months
for the purpose of viewing the cuntry and if I Should like make
arangement to emigrate there— I was born in the State of
Virginia my father move[d] to the then frontiers of Georgia when I
was a Smal boy in the year 1782 if I Should move I can bring
with mee recommendations from his Excellency the Governor from
the Judges of Court and the highes Military officers in the State
your answer in Some way will bee thankfully received directed to
Eatenton putnam County State of Georgia, Capt Lusk told me
that I might do well to write to you on the Subject and was of
opinion that you would bee pleased to See citizens from Georgia
emigrating to your province I have therefore troubled you with
this address with due respect your humble Servt
Thomas Carter
To the Honourable Stephen F Austin
[Addressed:] Colonel Stephen F. Austin Province of Texes in
the Town of Saint philip D. Austin's on the River Rio brasses by
the way of Alexandria Louisinia