New Orleans 7 Octo— 1836
Genl S F Austin
My dear Sir
I drop you a line by the Urchin to apprise you that I am on my way to
Texas, and purpose coming out in the Independence, Capt. Wheelright
having promised me a berth.
I regret to find our fiscal concerns in a worse state than when here last—
The credit of Texas public and private seems to be entirely prostrate and
to make matters worse an unprecedented pressure for money has been
occasioned by the order for specie payts at the land offices— Yet from, a
conversation with Mr. Breedlove this morning I have reason to believe the
subscribers to the 200 M loan would yet renew the contract and pay up on the
terms of the compromise as they understand it, that is to be at liberty to
locate their scrip when they please, but without a preference— At Mr
Breedloves request I shall Meet some of the parties at his office in the
afternoon for the purpose of learning what they will and what they will not do
for your information for they consider the honour of the Comrs as pledged
to see the contract complied with— For my own part I see no chance of the
public credit being restored until this contract is satisfactorily settled
No other loan can be effected or other scrip sold until the public faith
shall be made good as to this—
Williams I am told could do nothing with Scrip here, and they write me
from New York will not be able to do anything with it there— The Texas
fever has subsided all over the country and I have found myself unable to
raise money enough for the expenses of my family on any terms, or to sell
land at any rate— The statement of Col Willson and Capt Postlewaits
[Postlethwaite] damn'd everything in the upper country—and any person
offering Texas lands either for sale or as security rati great hazard of being
considered a swindler
My health was somewhat improved when I left Lexington but the
Mississippi water has reduced me very much and I have some fever today which
makes me very feeble—
H Austin [Rubric]
[Addressed:] To Genl. S. F Austin Columbia Texas Pr. Urchin