Stephen F Austin to Samuel M Williams, 04-29-1835 Stephen F Austin Project Director and Editor Andrew J. Torget Creation of XML version Debbie Liles Initial TEI Formatting Stephen Mues Programmatic and Manual TEI P5 Compliance Ben W. Brumfield Digital Stephen F. Austin Papers 02-23-2011 Samuel M Williams Mexico Monclova, Coahuila Eugene Barker, ed., The Austin Papers, (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1927), 3 vols., Vol 3, pp. 68-69 Eugene Barker's summaries and footnotes Letter 04-29-1835 Programmatic restructuring and manual clean-up to comply with TEI P5 2.3.0 Restructured to meet TEI P5 standards Digital creation of XML file

Butler's machinations to injure him. Butler's unpopularity in Mexico. Does not understand Mexican politics. Nobody does; just waiting. The four hundred league law

[From the Williams Papers. Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Texas.]

Mexico April 29 1835

My friend

Recd. yours of 8 instant and the letters and papers enclosed— The letter from Butler to you of 7 May [1834] explains to me a circumstance that occured a few days previous to that when I was in the inquisition— on the 10th I was put in communication, and I think on the 15th or 14th I was told by a friend of Butlers that he, Butler, had just recd a letter from you from which it was quite evident that you was my enemy, and I was acquainted with it so as to be on my guard etc— Now at this same time he writes to you in a way to try and influence you against me— The object of all this is very plain— It was no doubt hoped that the information communicated to me would cause irritation in me, and induce me to write to you under those feelings and thus it was expected an irritable state of feelings might perhaps be produced between you and me— This is the only solution I can give to the affair, and I am the more induced to construe it in this way because Butler has tried to irritate me, all he can against Mason and Hotchkiss, and I presume he tried to irritate them against me— I have never in all my life known so bad a man— He left here to day for the U. S. and as he was the only enemy I had in Mexico I believe I shall be at liberty to leave here for Monclova in two weeks— Is it not strange that the only man in Mexico who is not anxious for my complete liberation should be the representative of my native country?— This bad man had succeeded in irritating me very much against Mason but I have now entirely suspended my opinion as to Mason for I do not believe [what] Butler has said about Hotchkiss' enmity to me—his object evidently has been to envolve and entangle me all he can

I have never known so bad and base a man— Should he find that his enmity to me is unpopular in Texas, he will then try and make Mason and Hotchkiss the scapegoats— he has not one friend in Mexico amongst the foreigners and is dispised by most of the Mexicans

I thank the Legislature for their kindness. I am fully comprehended in the Amnesty, if it ever passes, and I now think it will—my only enemy is gone—

I say nothing about politics— I do not understand those of the day— who does? Keep quiet and still in that state—look on—matters will go in masse, one way or the other before long—at present everybody is looking on, for something—no one knows what— Almonte goes to the U. S. tomorrow he is truly a good man and friend to Texas— I most sincerely thank my good friends Johnson and Peebles for their welcome letters, and also Carbajal. Show them this and remember me to them very particularly— I hope I shall arrive soon to go home with you all— a few days will show the result of Tonys absence— I think it will be favourable—

I do not write home by this mail—you can inform them that I am alive—

[Rubric]

D. V. [Don Victor Blanco] has informed you all of the evils produced by the impolitic 400 league law its results are bad enough but nothing in [com]parison to what I at first expected—it produced] a great excitement here [ve]ry great indeed it has injured me, altho it [oug]ht not— but so it [is] I have to bear many sins not my own—

[Addressed:] (Coahuila) D. Samuel M. Williams Monclova