Galveston Island Sept. 5th- 1836.—

Dear Sir,

From the grateful recollections with which, not only myself, but the people of Texas generally, are impressed, for your immeasurable acts of kindness to our pioneers in the cause of Liberty in an unknown land—your munificent donations, as disinterested as it was valuable, at a period when our struggles were considered at best, but visionary and chimerical, and your personal persistency in enlisting the sympathies of your generous countrymen—have decidedly marked you as a person most deserving of one of our first trophies of victory. You will, therefore, receive by the first safe conveyance the Tent of Santa Anna—that vampyre who sought to fatten on the life blood of young Liberty in our now blooming land. With that tent are associated feelings of triumph and horror—the one at the chivalrous efforts of our victorious little band, annihilating at one fell swoop the Hydraheaded monster of Tyranny, with his innumerable myrmidons, on the plains of San Jacinto —the other at the infernal mandates of the deeply crimsoned Tyrant, issued under cover of that tent, which traversed through rivers of gore—reckless alike of the wailing of unprotected womanhood, or the manly confidence of the brave soldier, in the open prostration of his arms.— In that tent slumbered that Fiend, under the consociate demon tutelage of his pillow, who planned, and had executed the foul massacres—and ruthless murders—of the Alamo, and La Bahia—and then sat in noon day, the sleek hypocrite, on whose lips hung the word of promised mercy—but whose signal immolated to his indomitable spirit of desolation, nearly in his presence, the brave Fannin, and his worthy compatriots! whose blood flowed, even while the echo of mercy vibrated in their ears.— But now, while the monster withers under the upas blast of retributive justice, the tree of liberty overshadows our fertile plains.

The memorials of Liberty are a nations dearest pledge of the virtue and valor of its ancestry, and are always justly prized by posterity as a beacon of example. And what prouder monument to new born freedom in Texas, than the tent of the Tyrant, that doomed its destruction, while its glimmering star shone dimly through the darkness of oppression, but now, despite of the united councils of despotism, and concentrated force of numbers, blazes in meridian brightness even over the Rio Grande del Norte.—

With what different emotions was my mind excited when standing under the tent of the immortal Washington, at York Town—from thence through the vista of the past, might be seen the source from whence the invaluable blessings of civilization, literature, and happiness have flown to a people justly and preeminently proud of their almost exclusive right to the appelation of freemen— and these the Genius of Universal emancipation taught her impressive lessons to her highly gifted son. Oh what an antithesis! the foul den of the furious tiger, and the unsullied abode of peace and honor—the one a memorial of valor, intrepidity, and a nation's benison— the other of dishonor, perfidy, and execrations!—

Be pleased to accept the tent withal the trophy of our success, as a tender of due and grateful acknowledgement, and be assured of the continued appreciation of your valued services, and the permanent friendship of

J Morgan

[Addressed:] Genl. Samuel Swartwout New York