Nashville August 29. 1825
Dear Sir
Strange as it may appear it is true that I have never until two
days ago seen your lengthy epistle to me on various subjects of 18th
February last this is owing I presume to my absence from this State
in Georgia and South Carolina from November until April last and
my attention to my election for congress from that time until the 5th
inst. in which I was again 2d on the list having 3 others to console
with me in disappointment since when I visited this place for the first
time since November last and here find your letter previous to seeing
of which however I have seen our old fellow sufferer Genl Leftwich
and his grant and several meetings of the Texas association. They
had some difficulty in arranging matters with the Genl about his
compensation expenses etc. etc. which however now appears settled by
allowing him his expenses and about $200 pr month for services and
the stock is selling at about 100 pr ct advance It is now believed that
Doctr Robertson one of our most worthy citizens will go out as agent
and take with him a large connexion and many respectable friends
you will find him a great acquisition to the settlement of your new
Country, he possesses sterling integrity good sound sense mildness
of manners and conduct and firmness suited to the undertaking and
with all a good stock of practical experience in the ups and downs of
life—I was a stockholder but poverty prevents my holding on to it—
The old business of A. Erwin Groce & Co. and Erwin & C° of which
you have heard so much and so varient from the true state of the case
keeps me in poverty and at present on the limits prescribed for
unfortunate debtors from which I shall be released in about twenty
days as I have twice within the last 7 years given up my last knife
and fork to creditors I did expect to have escaped this ordeal but
so it is owing to party feelings growing partly out of my defending
myself and neighbours against Genl Jackson & Co. with eventual
success excites feelings of hostility from that quarter and the
circumstance of Mr. Groces leaving the country with property causes some
to suppose I had knowledge of it which he knows is not the fact and
the circumstances of my living on a good tract of land and having
the use of 14 negroes which are mortgaged to the government for
three times what they would sell for furnishes a pretext for some
illdisposed persons to say that I hold property and withold it from
my creditors Even your neighbour Mr. Groce who knows these facts
as well as I do sometimes I am told indulges himself in saying we
are all rich and owe him and refuse to settle with him etc etc In your
letter you ask how this matter is above you have the answer all of
which I could prove by Mr. Groce himself in a court of the United
States and by Record Testimony in the city of Augusta were he
here—no man wishes Mr. Groce to prosper more than I do It is true
he joined me in a merchantile business in which business I had been
prosperous for more than 20 years—Both our objects were to make
money in which I lost upwards of $100,000 of my own capital and
Mr. Groce near $50,000 leaving us jointly bound for large sums which
both he and myself exerted ourselves to settle and at our last meeting
in Augusta James Erwin Mr. Groce and myself each executed our
notes to Col. McKinne for about ten thousand dollars which each
were to pay and was to exonerate Mr. Groce from all other liabilities
in Georgia and he exonerated us from him for all claims by him on
either of us. Mr. Groce left the country without paying his note it
was paid by us and I presume is the claim about which James Erwin
has been writing Judge Thomas to which you allude in your letter
in this latter part, however, I may be mistaken as I seldom see
James Erwin and when I do we speak and feel somewhat different
about Mr. Groce. I make more allowances for his misfortunes and
his disposition to turn molehills into mountains that he does I have
no knowledge of any other unsettled business between him and us
which would require references as to what was said in Mr. Groce's
letter to which you allude and which I had answered which answer
Mr. Groce had not shown you—I viewed it all as intended for your
eye and others and his own gratification whilst talking about it. as
to either myself or family having anything to fear from any thing
Mr. Groce could publish either in this country or that it is all a
mistake—we have no fears of the kind As to your expressions of
personal regard I assure you it is reciprocal—I view you as
instrumental in doing much good for yourself and friends and wish you long
life and continued prosperity.
Yours very respectfully,
Andrew Erwin.
P. S. as I write a bad hand and dislike Copying I send you the
above writen by my son George Washington Erwin, from a Copy
written by myself Since writing the above Doctor Felix Robertson
has been appointed sole agent for the Texas association and will
depart thence in October or November next
PS. In addition to all I have said I wish to be remembered
affectionately to Mr Groce and all his Children that are with him, my
regard for all of them as old acquaintances is undiminished and
had Mr Groce been as cautious in speaking of my means and
Intentions to relieve him as was his duty and his Interest I do believe I
should have Effected that Desirable object long since, he has Injured
me without Bennifiting himself—I however am Blessed with a family
who view Enemies and Misfortunes as removeable by time and proper
Exertions where truth and Justice is right in front as the poler star,
this rule we adhere to and of Course fear nothing man can do or
say— my best respects to Mr Westall and family and all other
acquaintances with you
A E
[Addressed:] Stephen F. Austin Esqr. Care of Jacob Cable
Nachitoches Louisiana