Maria Austin to Stephen F. Austin, 06-08-1821


Summary: Illness of Moses Austin. Interest in Texas.


Hazel Run June the 8- 1821

I rote my dear Stephen by Mr Honey on the third Inst informing him of his Fathers Illness—and I now rite you by our old friend Mr Bruffey and am truly sorry that I have nothing Encouraging to communicate I found your poor Father very ill indeed, Dr. ben Hiser [Bernhisel] thought his disorder dangerous, it being a Violent attack of Inflamation on the brest and lungs, attended with a high fever— the Dr staid a day and night blistered and bleed most copiously and when he left us two days past I flatterd myself he was much better— but oh my son I greatly fear it was only a delusion, so apt are [we] to flatter ourselves with that which will contribute to our happyness his fever has returned this day with great violence, he breathes with much difficulty and seems in great distress boath in body and mind—in short my son I feel much allarmed about him, I shall send for the Dr by Mr B he is lately from Philadelphia studied with Dr Physick and is well recommended by him and the bord— his yoth and Inexperience is the only objection I have against him, but our chief dependence must be in him who is only able to save oh my god, thou has in thy great mercy heretofore supported him through many dangers—tryals and difficulties of various kinds, extend thy mercys we beseech the and raise him once more from a bed of sickness and thy grateful servants will sing praises to thy name forever and ever— your Father had completed all his business in this quarter much more to his satisfaction than he ever expected to do—appeared to be surrounded with friends Anxious for him to go on with his enerprise in the province texes— everyone has the highest opinion of his plans and many only waiting till thay know he has made the Establishment when they mean to follow him, several young men has already gown and manjr now waiting to start with him all those things distracts his mind and increases his disordor he called me to his bed side and with much distress an difficulty of speech, beged me to tell you to take his place and if god in his wisdom thought best to disappoint him in the accomplishment of his wishes and plans formed for the benefit of his family, he prayed him to extend his goodness to you and eneable you to go on with the business in the same way he would have done had not sickness and oh dreadful to think of perhaps death, prevented him from accomplishing— this my dear son is your fathers unhappy situation, and you can better Judge of your Mother miserable feelings than she can describe them, although my mind is filled with anxiety and my body weied down with fatigue and distress— I will indulge the fond hope of his recovery and communicate the pleasing intelligence to my dear Stephen by the first opportunity— I was so disireous to be with your Father when I heard of his illness—I did not take time to write to your Brother, I inclosed his letter to you, by that you will know his situation I hope the bill he sent on will be accepted in New Orleans, when the poor fellow will be Liberated and once more restored to his friends who will rejoice to see him tho poor and in a different situation from what theay was when he left them. Emily sends her moast affectionate love to you and would write if she had time though you are a letter in debt— she has three lovely boysAustin grows very like you and is laying all parsiality aside the most interesting child I ever saw— the infant is very butifull, I only wish you could see it and you would thing so two, he is called after Guy Morroson— farewell my son, heaven only knows what events may take place before I write again the book of futurity is hid from our eyes—for wise purposes and we ought to think it all for the best— may god bless and prosper my dear son in every just and Laudible undertaking is the sincere wishes of his ever affectionate but unhappy anxious Mother

M Austin

[Addressed.] Mr Stephen F. Austin Natchitoches Attention Mr Bruffy