Leona Vicario Feb. 5, 1831
Dr Sir
In my letter to Johnson I have said all there is to say, about
public matters—we get on slowly, but I think I shall succeed on the
main point, which is the Judiciary, I have been fortunate so far,
in keeping a harmonious understanding with all, and shall endeavor
to continue it. The petitions for land will all be dispatched next
week. The office has been searched for your petition in vain, it
cannot be found. This morning I told the secretary that I would
present another petition as your agent, he said that he would look once
more, and if the other could not be found that I could present a
new one, and the Govr has promised that it shall be immediately
dispatched. So that you may consider the thing as certain. Those
who asked for large quantities will get what ought to satisfy them,
and if they had confined themselves to reasonable bounds at first
their petitions would have been granted long since.
Father Muldoon leaves tomorrow for Monterrey, he appears to
be a true Austinian and I think he is sincere for he has obtained a
large bite of land from the Govr and looks to Texas as his only
home, and final resting place.
Chambers has been bedevilled here, by delays of one sort or
another, and is not yet dispatched by the tribunal and probably will
not be for a month to come. The obstacle to his admission as a
lawyer now is, the want of his certificate of baptism. Tomorrow
he presents a petition to Congress to dispence with that requisite,
and he will then be examd by the judges. I think he will be a usefull
man in Texas.
Matters are doubtfull in Mexico. The partisans of Pedraza are
begining to make a great noise and you need not be much
surprised if he should come on by land through Texas—if so treat him
with all possible respect and attention for he is justly entitled to it.
It is said that Teran is going to Texas soon. My confidence in him is
still unimpaired, I believe he is the best among them all. A
number of the first men in Mexico have obtained 11 League Grants in
Texas.
There is a rumor here which I do not like, which is that Zavala is
on the way to Texas, and Teran is going to repel him by force. I
know not where the rumor came from. I hope it is not so for I do
not wish to see the civil war of the Mexicans introduced into Texas.
Say nothing about it, for it is only vague rumor.
I wrote you from Monclova—from here by Jose Luís Carbajal [?]
by whom I sent the white horse, also the last mail- you have ac-
knowledged the receipt of mine from Bexar and Rio Grande, I
mention the others that you may know if any miscarry.
I am happy to hear of the safe arrival of Mr. Dwyer and family
and others from Alabama which you inform me of in your last letter,
the plan of sending the certificates by Grayson was a very good one,
I wish you to write to him, that I say he has a league of land in
Texas, and that he must hurry back to improve it, and bring a wife
and one hundred good families for neighbors—you see by Tonys
[Anthony Butler] letter that there are some snakes in the grass
round San Felipe. I have a notion who they are, perhaps I am
mistaken—you know that I have been very cautious in shewing his
letters—others have done it and critisized them and it is all charged
upon me.
Remember me to Sarah and Eliza and all friends
S. F. Austin.
You say nothing about the progress of the store house
I enclose Johnson letter to you lest it should miscarry. You
must make him pay his portion of the postage.
[Addressed:] Al Ciudno Samuel M. Williams Administrador de
correos en Austin