New York 5 Sept 1830
My Dear Sir
From some cause or other we were Eight weeks without any of the
news papers from your Colony, or any inteligence from there;
during that interval, some one arrived here from St Louis, who reported
that he had seen some person there direct from Texas, who said you
was dead, and that it was generally believed in St Louis, this gave
me much anxiety, until a few days since, I was agreeably relieved
from this state of suspence, by the receipt of six of the Texas
Gazettes, by the Editor of the Journal of Commerce by the same mail,
up to the 12 July, which he sent me, and a new Orleans paper
containing an article from one of your papers as late as the 22 July, by
which I observed you were recommended as one to represent your
Colony, to the Legislature, you having written to me, that your
health was impared by the fatigue you had encountered, caused me
to feel very apprehensive that the report might be correct— I
considered it a very hard case, that just as you were commencing to
reap and enjoy the benefits of your great exertions, that you should
be taken off, and your Colony left to revert to its original nugatory
state-— Thank God the report proved false, and that you were yet
alive, and I hope may live many many years, and be fully compensated
for the many deprivations, you have been subject to, in the
enjoyment of seeing your Colony marching on with rappid strides,
untill it reaches the sumit of your most ardent anticipations—
I wrote to my friend Gildemeister in July last a very particular
letter, in which I discribed such good qualities of your Colony, as I
was acquainted with, stated the low price of the land, the
inducements held out by the Mexican Government to Swiss and German
Emigrants, and urged him, to endeavor to prevail on some of the
most capable, and inteligent to visit it, and judge for themselves of
the qualities, and advantages of the Country,— I recommended them
going direct to New Orleans, so as to arrive there in the healthy
season, and that on enquiry of your agent Mr. Breedlove, or the
Mexican Consul, the proper way would be pointed out to them to reach
your Colony— I learnt that he had a Brother in Business in Bremen
to whose care I directed my letter, therefore presume there is no
doubt but he will get it, and I hope will be able to do the needful—
From that state of quietness, and almost torpor in which the
world was slumbering for such a length of time, we are now electrified
from day to day with the wonderful commotions, and rappid
succession of important events, with which Europe in particular
has been convulsed within a year past, such as the Crescent having
succumbed to the Russian Eagle, by which the passage to the Black
sea is thrown open, a commercial Treaty concluded by this Country
with the Sultan, of the Port[e],—the Dey of Algears submitting to
the arms of France, and his piratical City, the Blue Beard for so
many years of all Europe, stormed and taken possession of in a
few hours, and what is most wonderful, and much more important
a revolution in France, of four days existence causing a tyrannical
King (Chas the X) to abdicate his throne, and run off, it is
supposed to join as worthy a King as himself Ferdinand in Spain,
the streets of Paris deluged with blood, and the whole Empire in
commotion, a regency formed, the Duke of Orleans placed at the
head of it, La Fayette at the head of 80,000 National Troops,
quietness again restored, joy, and congratulations through out the
Metropolis, causing wonder, and even approbation in England., and
universal delight in this Country—
Spain it is thought will follow next, and speedily, see the article
from the Madrid papers, in the paper which I inclose, which paper
contains the particulars of the recent revolution in France, which
may reach you by the regular mail first, should this packet not have
a short passage— The Independence of the late Spanish Colonies
in South American, it is thought will soon be acknowledged by
Spain— We had accounts from Venezuella yesterday by an arrival
from Porto Cavello in 18 days passage, all quiet there, and the Capt
tells me that the congress had decided on tolorating all religions,
a very important step, what a wonderful advantage it would be to
Mexico, if they would do the same, they had also forbidden all
foreign Merchants doing business in their own name, except from
those countries which had acknowledged their Independence—
The Mexican Minister is at present in this City, he was in our
office yesterday, I hope his visit to this Country, will impress him,
with favorable ideas in regard to our Government, Institutions,
Customs etc, and that he will be able to transmit the good effects
of them home— Mr. Treat the Brother of the Gentleman who
made you a visit some time ago, is appointed, vice consul in this
City, for Mexico, he is a particular friend of Henrys I had the
pleasure of passing part of an evening with the one who was with
you, (a few evenings since, and had some interesting conversation
with him, relative to your Colony, and he promised to call, and
pass an evening with me, but left Town, without doing so, he had
not positively decided on returning to Texas, but thought it
probable he should, and if he goes I think he said it would be in October
next— Mr. Prentiss called on me the other day to request a loan
of your pamphlet, he tells me he is appointed the Agent to sell the
Tract of Land, adjoining yours that was granted to Dr.
[Woodbury?] whose Brother I wrote you some ume ago, was going to see
you, to consult you about it, cannot recollect his name at this
moment—
I saw by the Texas Gazette the sloop Nelson advertised for this
place and saw her reported as having arrived in the Mississippi,
I think, but she does not make her appearance yet, I hope she may
come as I hope to hear from you by her, and I suppose Mr John
Austin will come in her as I have heard he was also coming this
way, if he comes I shall calculate to hear a great many particulars
about Texas, I hope they have not suffered by the tremendious
Gales, that have caused so many disasters lately-— There was a
letter received here a few days ago from Matamoras, stating that
Henry was going to your Colony with his Steam Boat— we wait
anxiously to know if it is correct, it is a long time since any letters
have been received here from him,- it was reported that there
was a vessel to leave Matamoras about the 12 July, for this place,
by which he may have written, but she has not made her appearance
yet— If he had of gone there, in his individual capacity, some
time since, you could probably have pointed out to him, a way of
doing something to advantage, ere this, while I fear the Del Norte
Enterprise, is a going to result unfavorably, poor fellow he has
traversed the world, beat the Bush, in every Hemisphere, contended
with almost unexampled perseverance, with the freaks of fortune,
had a fortune at various times as it were in his grasp, and have
frustrated, Blocade, Wars and peace have so intervened as [to]
distroy his well founded hopes of success, the all powerful ingine
Steam does not appear to enable him to stem the current that has
set against him, should he have gone or go to your Colony, I will
yet hope, that there is some good fortune in store for him—
I have been pondering in my mind what I could do to benefit my
situation, and it has occurred to me that I might establish myself in
New Orleans to advantage, if I could through your aid obtain a
reasonable proportion of the products of your Colony (such as are
suit to that place for sale) would it be consistent with your
arrangements, to give me the agency of your Business there, and could you
prevail on those colonists, or any part of those who are turning
their attention to Sugar and Cotton to consign those articles to me,
I presume there is no great quantity produced at present, but it
will increase every year and must ultimately become very important
these Ideas have suggested themselves to my mind, and should like
to hear your opinion on the subject, perhaps I may find some one
here who has capital, to join me, or if you can suggest anything
better will thank you to point it out I am tired of dredging for a
mere salary, but am afraid to give that up until I can find some
thing that promises better— Henry should be with you tell him
his Family are all well at New Haven
yours very affectionately
A. Austin
8 Septr,
No further news from Europe, people are very impatient for
further intelligence to know what kind of a Genl the French people
decide on, and whether the country generally acquiese in the measures
that may have been adopted in the Capital—and what the other
powers on the continent say to it— We have had several roomers
that the English Government had assented to the opening the West
India ports to our Trade, but they proved premature— The
Negotiations on that subject are said to have been broken off, until the
ceremony was over in burying the King,—
[Addressed:] Colo Stephen F. Austin, Sn Filepe de Austin Texas