at home Decr. 8th. 1835.

Genl. S. F. Austin Dr Sir. I have heard with pleasure of Your return from Our Army, knowing as I do the materials of which the Army is composed, I mean the insubordination, and the impossibility of keeping up any thing like discipline, in the absence of all Law, I do think my d Sir, that You did err'd materially in the appointment of Your Staff. You placed Men in Office that would stop, at nothing short of Your ruin etc etc The proceedings of the whole Convention proves to my mind the old adage that give Men power and they will help themselves—they have made appointments which will down the Whartons in our Section, say the appt. of L. C. Manson as 1st. Judge in our district—agst. which there will be a strong and very public remonstrance, as will many Others, known to Yrself—

[The rest of the letter is taken up with the writer's anxiety about titles to his land.]

Jas. P Caldwell

[Addressed:] Genl S. F. Austin San Felipe De Austin