[From Williams Papers, Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Tex.]
April 18. 1831
I have drawn on you this day for one hundred dollars in favor
of Mr. Joseph Powel, who let me have that amt. here. I think I can
get along with this. I should not have wanted any but I have agreed
to pay the office charges on the petitions that are pending from all
Texas, which will amt. to upwards of 200 dollars I expect.
The present governor has carefully separated from the petitions
all who are not native Mexicans, and will reject them all, he hates
all foreigners as he does the devil and he must hate the old boy
mortally for he is a fanatic en extremo.
Arciniega can safely go on and issue the titles, that had the
restriction, there will be no difficulty altho no definite or satisfactory
answer could be had from the Govr. As a genl, rule you must tell
Arciniega never to consult on any subject, unless he wishes to get
himself and everybody else into trouble.
I have done all I could for Madero, which is as much as to say
that I have effected nothing, for this Govr. thinks that Madero is
a heretic and the more he suffers the better, as it will only be a
taste of hell in advance. At Matamoros I may [do] something and
will attend to it. Inform Madero of this, or if as I presume from
a hint I saw in one of your letters that you and Madero and his
Comitiva are at cross questions because a paper was sent through
another hand than yours, you can get Arciniega to communicate.
There is nothing new here since my last which was on the 16th—
the retail bill is asleep and I think it probably will so remain. The
pasquinades that were put up against Aguirre have not had the
effect which the shop gentry expected, and I think the matter will
not be moved again.
I send Johnson two seals, such as are used in this place.
S F Austin [Rubric]
I paid forty dollars on the grants which I sent by Rodriguez which
you must collect
[Addressed:] Mr. Samuel M. Williams San Felipe de Austin
Mr. Powel