Mexico October 18. 1834.—in the city prison
T. F. McKinney,
My much esteemed friend. It is difficult for me to express to you the
satisfaction I have derived from the arrival of Messrs. Grayson and Jack
on the 14 instant—2 You must have experienced the desolate situation of a
long imprisonment far removed from your friends, with even a doubt that
some of them had forgotten you or were indifferent as to your situation,
to be sensible of the pleasure I have recd from hearing from you all in
Texas, and knowing that I still occupy a place in your remembrance, and
in your regard. I sincerely thank you all— No new ties were needed to
bind my heart and affections to the people of Texas, I can however never
forget this last act of kindness—it came at an interesting moment I had
borne all with calm fortitude up to the beginning of this month. At that
time I heard so many unfavourable rumors, and one in particular, that my
friends at home (except my own family), were careless about me and were
indifferent as to my fate that my spirits began to sink The idea of being
cast off contemptuously by those whom I had, at least, tryed to serve faithfully was worse than death. I am now entirely relieved from that idea—
and am in better spirits than since my arrest Nothing could have depressed
them but the above idea
I hope the representations brought by Grayson and Jack will have a
favourable effect The only objection is that they are in the English
language Nothing should be sent in that language It does great harm I
think I now understand the rumors that have reached me of unfavourable
impressions against me in the cabinet, on account of representations from
Texas Those Impressions were made, but they proceeded from
communications that were intended to benefit me, and had quite a contrary effect
owing to the high toned and inflamatory language used. I am convinced
that no representations have been made against me, and no unfair means
used against me by any persons who belong to Texas, and I acquit all
persons of such a suspicion I say this because in my letter to my brother
in [law] of 26 August I expressed a doubt on the subject I regret that
I entertained any such doubt I was induced to believe amongst other
things that the minister of relations Lombardo was personally hostile to
me, and that Col. Almonte had made a very unfavourable report about me
and Texas— all this I now find to be quite incorrect Almonte's report
was favourable, and the minister is not my enemy
Under all these false impressions I wrote on the 6 of this month by
Capt. Offutt on the subject of representing All those letters were written
under erroneous impressions made by false information, and I wish Mr. P.
[Perry] and W. [Williams] to destroy all my letters of 6 October and
not to show them to any one whatever
How much difficulty have I been involved in by the excitements in Texas
You know how much I have been opposed to most of the events of the
last two years It will be a lesson to me for the future, and I hope that
hereafter the people of that country will not abuse or suspect me or any
one else, who advises, Fidelity to Mexico, and opposition to violent men
and measures—which has always been and now is my motto, and I hope
will in future be the motto of all Texas
I am pleased with the representation from Brazoria or Colombia signed
by Waller and Wharton. I shall return to Texas, as a farmer determined
to have nothing more to do with the public matters of this, or any country
for I wish for harmony This is too important a matter for individual
and public happiness and prosperity to be suspended or jeopardized by
stickling etiquette, and under this view I am the first to say that no obstacles
to personal harmony with all men will be raised by me on account of the
past political events, altho I am the only one who has suffered by them
The Whartons have heretofore taken a hostile attitude, or at least an
unfriendly one towards me They never had any cause, as I think, to do so.
However be it that W. H. W. [Wharton] is a friend or foe, the
representation above mentioned is calculated to benefit me and was evidently intended
to do so and I therefore thank him so far as he had any agency in it, and
authorize you to tell him so—and also that I look on that measure as a
step on his part towards personal harmony, if he intended, it as such, I
meet it with corresponding feeling, and if we do not shake hands as friends
in future it will be his fault not mine John [Wharton] is of course
included in these remarks.
I am weary of a troubled life I wish for a calm and quiet one on a
farm along side of my sister and her flock of little ones The society of
new countries is thin and bad at best—why should it be made worse by
dissentions that separate families who might enjoy each others society as
friends and neighbors and thus cast a rose or two upon the thorny path of
human life? I am weary of such things—if I know myself I am made
for social intercourse and enjoyment of friends and neighbors.
Show this to P. and W. [Perry and Williams] without any delay that
they may know my wishes as to my letters of 6 October and distroy them.
Remember me to Mrs. McKinney and to Col Groce and all his children
and to my friends in genl.
S. F. Austin [Rubric]
7 oclock at night
just as I had sealed this and was about sending it to the post office
I rec.d the oficio of the chief of that department informing me of my
election as a member of the state legislature of Coahuila and Texas. No event
of my life has afforded me more gratification, not because I desire office,
or to have anything to do with public matters, far from it— I sincerely
wish to avoid them—but situated as I now am I should be worse than cold
hearted and insencible not to feel the greatest degree of gratitude and
thankfulness for this distinguished and unequivocal evidence of the
confidence and esteem of my fellow citizens and fellow laborers, because it is
a vindication of what is dearer to me than life or liberty—of my reputation
I thank them I hope it may be in my power to thank them by some act,
some service more substantial than these words This hope is all that can
diminish my repugnance to entering again into the confused and entangled
public matters of our adopted country I believe however by the laws my
election is nulo because I have a causa pendiente and I think it quite
doubtful whether I shall be at liberty before January or February My case is
before the judiciary, and the executive cannot interfere with it I have no
doubt the president Santana is friendly to me and to Texas I therefore
advise you to prepare to go to Monclova so as to be there by the first of
Jany- or before.
I rec.d Williams letter—cannot answer it or the chiefs by this mail which
will close in an hour and so will my prison for the night U. debe visitar a
mi hermana amenudo, y debe ser mas prudente y mucho menos estremoso
en todo—lo digo como amigo. qe le ha dada bastantes preuvas qe lo soy
verdaderamte—basta
Many strange things have occured during the last year of revolutions
all over Mexico which deserve the name of Anarchical phynomina The
Robinson business may be classed in the number W. should go to
Monclova in person. He should collect all the oficios of Teran and the Govr- of
the state by which R. was banished I saved him and those who came with
him from those orders—these in addition to the April law rendered it
impossible for the Govt- to regrant that Colony to him or extend the time to
the Nashville comp.y Secretary Santiago del Valle I presume will recollect
that he was much hurt at me for requesting that the time should be extended
to the Nashville Co. for he said I knew it was impossible as they were all
citizens of the U. S. and the April law was then in force It could not
be granted to R. or extended to the Nashville Co. this was impossible
I enquired if it could be done and gave offense by making the enquiry
It was applied for by a french Co. and others and would have been granted
to some one, had I not procured it just as I did I thought it was my duty
to Texas to try and keep it out of the hands of those foreign companies, for
they have only done harm or at least as yet have not contributed much to
settle the country. They would have had no sympathy for the old settlers
my object was to settle that country so as to form a barrier against the
hostile indians My intentions were good and had the genl good in view
Why am I now abused for doing what it really was my duty to Texas to do
Chambers and Williams both know the history of all that matter. The
fact is I deserve the thanks of the people instead of their abuse, as to the
upper Colony.
I am of the opinion that the the rough answer given to Noriega and some
other things of like character that I never knew anything about untill a
week or so ago, have or will prolong my imprisonment six months at least,
beyond what it would have been under a different course Thus I suffer
for the hot headed acts' of others as I have done in many instances my
general character is mildness and I have pursued conciliation as a system—
but at moments I have been goaded into impatience and even passion
Is it not rather strange that those moments, and they are few, are never
forgotten all my mildness and prudence is over looked and merged in
the recollection of some one or two rash expressions or an isolated act
that of itself may appear intemperate, without knowing all the circumstances This is not just Ben Franklin or Job wd. have had their moments
of ruffled temper in some situations I have been placed [in]
Remember me to the chief H. Smith, I hope he will not take it amiss
if I advise him to sign Enrique and not Henry I am pleased with his appointment and Burnetts—give Burnett and the good Dr. Miller a shake
of the hand for me—in fact to all—all—everybody—
S. F. A.