San Felipe de Austin July 11 1830
Dr Brother
I wrote you a few days ago to Potosi and to Philadelphia and now
improve the opportunity presented by Cap Brown who goes direct
to new york in the Sloop Nelson he is a settler here and has a
good house at Brazoria, and intends returning immediately with a
new vessel suitable for this trade— I[t] would be a good
opportunity for you to send out your goods. Col Jesse Woodberry who
was here with you goes out in the Nelson and will return in her
should you wish for information write to Austin and Tayleur New
York. The first of that house John P. Austin is a cousin of mine,
a brother of Henry, Horace, etc. Woodberry will do his business
with them.
Fisher the collector of Galveston has recd orders from Govt to
suspend the custom house at Galveston for the present the reason
assigned is that no custom house is wanting, owing to the exemptions
from duties and other laws in favor of Texas.
I made an engagement with Mr Morton to put me up a small brick
house in this place that would do for you to winter in, but he has
been taken sick, and I fear a total disappointment. The steam mill
is going and does very well, and I will have a house ready, either
here, or at the point on the bay—
I think it will not be material which place you land at, Brazoria
or Harrisburgh, the water over red fish bar is about the same as over
the Brazos bar 5 feet— it will be more convenient to send goods to
Trinity from Harrisburgh-— I think that you might bring out a
considerable assortment and some indian goods among them one
hundred troops are stationed on the Brasos at the upper or San
Antonio road and a small store would do well there to supply them
and the Indians— there has been a great emigration and this fall
it will be much greater than ever. I need some articles. I hold the
commission of full colonel of the militia, the law requires that I
should provide myself with an uniform The uniform is that of a
colonel of infantry of the Mexican Army, with gold epaulets and
gold or yellow mounted sword etc.—The uniform coat and the
epaulets ought to be made in a particular manner, and unless you
could meet with some one in Pha who could give instructions about
them, it would be difficult to get them of the right kind-— Tho I
must have a Sword, Sash, and belt, yellow Mounted. I also want
a military surtout with a standing collar, handsomely tho plainly
trimmed with black silk cord and pantaloons trimmed in the same
manner— All of navy blue clothe, also a scarlet wescott with gold
round cord on the edges, a pair of boots and yellow spurs— As I am
the highest militia officer of Texas it is expected that I should
provide myself with these things and a handsome set of holsters.
Also a yellow bitted bridle—I cannot use an american saddle, but
should like a Spanish saddle well rigged— that I can get here—
I want Vattel's law of nations in Spanish, a portable writing desk,
and a large plain secretary and book case to keep my private papers
in-— such a thing cannot be got here except at great cost.
If Tanner makes a good profit out of the Map I sent him he ought
to give me one of his best bound and last American Atlass, it is the
best now extant and would be very useful to teach the children
geography—
I have sent the Texas gazette containing the law of 6 april to the
Editor of the Nat. Gazette where you can see it I wish you to
subscribe for that paper and for the quarterly review for me, and
have them sent in packages to an agent in new Orleans to be sent
out by private conveyance by water, otherwise I shall not get the
half of them, and if such an arrangement cannot be made it will be
useless to take them.
Our colony matters are getting on very well, there is the utmost
harmony among the settlers and between them and the Government.
All the difficulties which appeared to be brewing when you were
here about stopping emigration from the U. S. have passed away
and I have been officially informed that I can go on and introduce
the whole number of families I have contracted for and finish all
my contracts— My standing with the Govt, has always been good
and it is better now than ever, for they know more of me owing to
the investigations which the stir in april created, by which it has
appeared that I am the only empresario that has done any thing who
has performed his duty and followed the law in good faith. The
advertisements in the U. S. papers by D A. Smith and others to sell
millions of acres in Texas has done great harm for all that kind of
speculation is fraudulent and it threw a shade of suspicion and
censure at first, over all the empresarios. My letter to Learning that
was published in the Nat. Gazette has made some of those speculating
gentlemen my bitter and deadly enemies—and they are now secretly
at work in Mexico to try and get revenge by injuring me— they will
find themselves gnawing a file—
I wrote to Learning to send me a genealogical account of my
mothers family— call on him for it. Also bring or send me the
number of the Nat. Gazette that has my letter about selling Texas
lands—I wish for it to send to the Govt, in case those gentry should
attempt to injure me, also get the newspapers that contain their
advertisements on the subject.
Instead of roaming about in other countries to speculate I have
devoted my life to the arduous task of trying to redeem this country
from the wilderness and I have succeeded greatly beyond what was
supposed possible, for I was ridiculed by some for attempting such
a thing. I had no capital, and have supplied its defect by personal
labor and attention, and by putting my shoulder to the wheel in
earnest and in good faith. I have not made a fortune for my self
(except in lands which now have no value) and probably shall not
live to derive much personal benifit, but I have greatly benifited
many others, hundreds of them, and made them and their families
rich who were worth nothing before, and I have opened and enlarged
a fine field for human enterprise and human happiness. This has
always been the main object of my ambition and not a mere
avaricious view to personal speculation. I have no fears that my motives
or my acts will not receive the reward in public opinion which they
merit, or that a few speculators can materially injure me, but they
may harrass me. In a democratic republic enemies are sometimes
more troublesome and dangerous than in any other form of Govt,
for popular opinion is as often moved by whim or accident, as by
reason or justice
Farewell I long to see you that we may all settle down on a quiet
Stock farm, far from the reach of politics or popular whims—
S. F. Austin