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

Columbia Novr. 3 1836

This is my birth day—my health is much improved tho still bad and I am still tormented with dispepsia, a most cursed disease, for body and mind— the public matters are getting on well—the state of things, which I have long labored to bring about is gradually coming round, which is union and the disappearance of those old parties and nonsense which in times past have distracted and almost ruined this country— I believe that I have contributed something towards bringing about this state [of] things —tho at the loss perhaps of some [men who] called themselves old friends I a[m as rapidly as?] I can, gradually preparing [to relieve?] myself in toto from all kinds [of public business?] and shall do so permanently as soon gs I can—

Come home Williams and lay [aside] your wild mode of talking about the peo[ple] and everything else—it is time for you to stop all that kind of wildness both in talking, acts and business—harm enough has been done already by it—do no more— you have greatly vexed and worried and distressed me. So much so that my brain has been greatly fevered. I am in a considerable degree getting over it— It is no easy matter to admit anything like permanent estrangement from a person who has been united to us by close friendship for years and in times of trouble— you have done wrong and have greatly injured, your friends, yourself, and your country—but that is past—let it be a lesson to you for the future— Come home—the land affairs are to be closed and reported to congress by 1 of December—I wish to get rid of it all as soon as possible and wash my hands of it all forever.

As to yourself—let politics and the public affairs alone—arrange your past business—get a standing with the cotton planters, and confine your- self exclusively to commercial business—the purchase of cotton and sale of goods will present a vast field to a regular merchant who has no other "irons in the fire"—but the old farmers are suspicious and watchfull— they like [a] safe merchant, and not one who does [bus]iness on a dashing or gambling scale, [I repeat the remar?]ks in substance I made to you in a letter from [Mexico when I first?] heard you were going into the [mercantile?] business, and had you been governed [by th]em more closely than you have been you [w]ould have saved much loss and difficulty and injury and mortification to your friends, and to me in particular— That cursed Monclova trip of yours has indeed been a curse to you and to me and to the country and to everybody else. I am trying to banish even the recollection of it from my mind, and when I fully recover my health, hope shall be able to do so.— In future I never mean to speak of it or allude to it, if I can avoid it— I have cursed it in so many forms and shapes that my anger is becoming almost exhausted and will, I sincerely hope, finally wear away, Williams you have wounded me very deeply, but you are so deeply rooted in my affections, that with all your faults, you are at heart too much like a wild and heedless brother to be entirely banished—- Come home Your old friend

S F. Austin

[Addressed:] Mr. Sam M. Williams Cou of H. H Williams Baltimore