Monclova 15th. April 1835

My friend,

I received yours of the 1st inst by yesterdays mail for which I feel much obliged to you and am sorry that I cannot write you definitely as to our business, but such is the uncertainty of every thing that depends upon a Mexican Congress, that I am at as great a loss now to say when we shall be probably dispatched as I was when we left home—some cussed thing or other is constantly thrown in the way and the congress is disposed at any the slightest pretext—to keep from business that judging from the gate they have traveled for the last six weeks, it is fair to conclude that they have business enough to occupy them for the next twelve months, however I feel as certain of success as ever.—Doct. Miller will receive the appointment of Chief by this Mail—and Politico Smith will be permited to go into supreme retiracy—God be praised for this little.—

Mr. Williams recd. a letter from Col. Austin by the last mail—he is still in Mexico and on bail— Congress has made a spirited and highly honorable representation in behalf of the Col. which was sent in by the last mail, and the acting Govnr sends one by this.—This I hope will effect his discharge and that we may have the pleasure of his company home.— Augustin Viesca arrived here yesterday evening and to day qualified, it is to be hoped that he will grease the wheels of Govt and thereby accelerate its motion.—Hell to pay and no pitch.—

Wars and rumours of War.—

Want help from Tejas—keep your guns in good order—however enough on this subject, for further information I refer you to Mr. Jack to whom Mr. Williams has sent all of the warlike news.—just think we have had one fight between the Militia of this town and the regular troops of Santa Rosa—no body killed and what is worse not a gun fired nor were the contending armies at any time nearer each other than the short distance of three leagues—but the best of the joke, Williams, Peebles, Milam, DeWitt and myself were volunteers and like true patriots shouldered our guns and marched to the Govt House to wait orders, when we were soon informed that we could return to our homes but to keep ourselves in readiness to turn out whenever call[ed] upon—thus ended this memorable fight-

Tell Paschal that I claim my fee as priest and think extremely hard of his unadvised conduct in taking to himself a wife in my absence.-- By the way I suppose I had as well correct a small mistake that you complain of, to do which I do not know how I can better do it than to tell you that I will say that it was John, Tom or anybody else, or you may say so, and to tell you the honest truth about it I was told so when I read the letter to Mr. Williams but then you know it would have cost me some little labour to have corrected it, and as I partake in that verry much of the Mexican character, I concluded I would give you something to do in a leisure moment—

God speed you in your labours— Tell the boys howde, I hope to be with you all soon.—

F. W. Johnson [Rubric]

G. Borden Jnr. Esqr.

[Addressed:] Gail Borden Jnr. Esqr. Sanfelepe de Austin