Mexican Consulate
New Orleans May 24, 1830
Col Stephen F. Austin
Dear Sir You have herewith a letter from Mr Sutherland of
Alabama on the subject of land selected for him by his brother in
your Colony, I have long Known these Gentlemen as merchants,
and from their General Character as men and merchants, together
with the Capital they would introduce into Texas I should think
it would be good policy to Extend the time as asked for in his letter
unless it be entirely contrary to your Colonization Laws and beyond
your powers to grant—
Such men as the Mess Sutherlands Settling in a new Country
is well calculated to give character to the Country, and draw after
them other Settlers of equal wealth and respectability, I am well
aware of the difficulty of a merchants winding up his business in a
Country like Alabama and have no doubt that Mr. Sutherland has
given himself as short a time to effect the object as he can do it in.
In order to more effectually prove to you his determination to
locate in Texas Mr. S. will this fall build a House on the land
designated, and next Spring put into Cultivation a part of the Land
Jas W Breedlove [Rubric]