New Orleans February. 10th 1833
I presume to address you on a subject which has occupied, more
or less my attention for the last two years, viz, a permanent residence
in the Texas Country. Circumstances have prevented me from
carrying my wishes into effect thus far, and being now at N. Orleans
where I have been residing for the last three months, my wishes
strongly combining with the facility of reaching the Spanish
Country, prompt me to carry my desire into effect. When I left New York
where my life thus far has been passed, to visit this place, I was
induced to believe from representations made me, that I should find
a lucrative practice in the profession of the Law in this city. Altho
I may not perhaps have given it fully a fair experiment, yet a strong
desire to live in a climate less fatal, and a country, less expensive, as
my means are limited, induce me to seek Texas as a country more
congenial in most respects to my wishes, and I flatter myself to my
future prospects in life also. Had I have determined upon settling
in your country, when I left N York, I should have brought to you
introductory letters from your cousin, I believe, with whom I am
well acquainted, having boarded with him upwards of a year—I
mean the Mr. Austin, who is with a Mr. Harmony, a Spanish
Merchant of N York— Mr. A. has told me that he intended settling
in the Texas soon himself. Mr. Meigs family of N York, (whom I
have often heard speak of you and Cap. Austin,) I am intimately
acquainted— I presume you were formerly acquainted with my
Father, Amasa Jackson, who married the daughter of Oliver Phelps
of Suffield, Connecticut. My Father was for many years a Merchant
in New York, and became unfortunate a short time before his death
which happened about seven years ago. Should your answer to this
communication be at all favourable, so as to justify my visiting your
country, I will endeavor to visit it immediately, and will bring with
me from this place such letters as will be satisfactory to you. I have
mentioned the above, thro, fear that you may [receive] many
applications of this sort, from worthless persons, as the idea is somewhat
prevalent that the Texas is resorted to by those, and those only from
the U States, who are ruined in property and character. To be
candid with you Sir, I would say, that I am poor—, willingly, ardently
willing to engage in any honourable occupation for a livelihood.
Misfortune has hitherto attended my steps, and being yet in the
meridian of life, I am very solicitous in your new and rising colony, to
lay the foundation for future success and happiness. If you can
afford toe the least gleam of hope, I will embrace it with eagerness
and will endeavour to the extent of my limited ability to promote
the interests of your flourishing colony in every practicable
manner—
May I then request you, Sir, to address me at this place as soon as
may be practicable, imparting to me such information in reference
to my locating in your country, that I may act upon it with due
deliberation. Naught, but the most serious obstacles will prevent me
from becoming a resident of that land, so that I feel myself prepared
to suffer many trying inconveniences. I have attended to my
profession, which has been that of the Law, tho I have had in the last few
years experience in mercantiling pursuits-— I am now engaged in
the profession of Law in this place. I shall await the recpt. of your
Letter with some impatience, and I must again beg you to excuse
the liberty— I have taken in troubling you on this subject.
Oliver P. Jackson
[Addressed:] Col. Stephen Austin San Felippe Texas.