Baltimore Dec 13.th 1821

Sir,

Having seen an extract of your letter on grants of land in the Morning Chronicle of the city, and view the subject of great importance we are induced to obtrude on your notice, by addressing you a few lines.

The liberal proffers of land in the Province of the Texas which you are authorized to hold out to adventurers have attracted our attention and raised an earnest solicitude to become more particularly acquainted than we have yet been or perhaps can expect to be, through the medium of the public prints, on that subject. It is our confident expectation, if the expense of getting to that country with a family could be pretty nearly estimated, and if the character of the government which shall immediately on our arrival direct us, and of that which may at some short time subsequent be therein established [should be satisfactory], that a large company might soon be made up, provided that information on these points should be such as to authorize our transition thither. No feature in any government could be more abhorrent to men born in the land of liberty,—and matured in the arms of universal toleration, than religious restraint. The idea of an established church of any particular creed would forever banish from our minds the design of leaving our natal soil. The consideration of toleration in Religion, and the assurance that this will form one of the prominent and auspicious features of the constitution will remove a thousand obstacles from the execution of our designs. The prospect of undisputed and permanent titles to land, and of quiet and peaceful regulations in the Province must also be powerful incitements to emigrants. The writers are aware that many difficulties and embarrassments must attend undertakings of this nature, and therefore it will occur to you, Sir, that it must be greatly desirable to the emigrant to obtain all the information possible on the subject, that he may be the better prepared to encounter impediments, and to overcome opposition; and as there can be no source from which we can expect so full, accurate, and satisfactory information as from him whom makes these liberal proffers, we hope you will find in this our apology for troubling you, and that you will assent to give us a clear and candid statement in reply to this our humble letter.

Respectfully yours,

Jas. T. Dunbar

George Keck

Peter Forder

Nathan W Peregoy

N. B. Address to George Keck Inn Keeper high St. Baltimore.

[Addressed:] Mr. Stephen Austin, New Orleans. To the care of Jos. H. Hawkins Esqr.