Hazel run Aprill the 10—1822
I am happy in meeting with So good an opportunity as now
presents by V. Ally—of writing to my dear absent Sons and to tell them
how very anxious I am to hear from them I had flatterd myself I
should have had that pleasure before this time by the return of some
of the Gentlemn that went to texas in the fall and winter Some of
whome promissed to call on us, nothing, except the pleasure of
Embraceing my dear Sons—could give me So much Satisfaction as that
of seeing those who have visited your Colony and conversed with
you boath, every incident related by those who had Seen you, would
be Interesting to your anxious mother—the rage for emigration
still continues and a great number of famalys boath from this State
and the Ill[inois] are prepareing for Texas without going to view the
country—a number of letters addressed to you from all quarters
has been taken out of the office by Mr Brian all of which he has
answerd we theirefore think it not necessary to forward them to
you I hope the people by this time knows you are not in this
Country and will for the future direct their letters to Texas your friends
within my knowledge are well, your aunt Austin has another fine
Son, theay call him Elick, I toll them theay will have to Send their
Sons to the Spanish Country to get land—Moses talks of going
Sometimes, but your Uncle is averse to it—G Hammond returnd
from Georgey a Short time past, as poor as when he went on in
Short he is compleatly broak up and is not worth a dollar and your
Uncle has to Support his famaly— he talks of mackeing you a
visit—if he Should I hope you will have but little to do with him,
he has never manifested any friendship to our famaly and from his
treatment to your deceased father he well knows he is not intitled
to any favours from you or any of us—I feel Sorry for Eliza and
hur little children—I expect to go to Herculaneum in a few days I
have some property their which I must do something with I have
thought it would be best to Send my pot mettel to new Orleans to
the care of Mr Hawkins provided the freight was not two high,
you may recollect my Son, what a quantity of bucks horns was taken
in, nothing has been don[e] with them, but as Fletcher now occupys
the place and theay being in his way, Something must be done with
them and I have Concluded to Send them down the river to you or
your friend H[awkins]—perhaps may Sell them for Something—I
Shall also Send Some plough Shares, your poor father was very
particular in geting, the Iron of a pecular good quallity it requirs
no Steel, oh how I regret that the great distance that Seperates us,
deprives me of the pleasure of hereing from my dear Sons as oft as
I wish, I hope my dear Brown will not omit writing to his mother
or Sister by every Opportunity and let us know how he is pleased
with the country and Climate, we have had a very cold hard winter
and even now we are apprehensive of looseing all the fruite by
sevear frost—we are all disireous of leaveing this changeable climate
and shall rejoice when the time of our departure arrives—I wish my
dear Sons to be particular in writing and adviseing us, what to tacke
with us. Mr B, expects to have all businiss arranged by October but
I shall still flatter myself it will be in my dear Stepn power to visit
Missouri before the fall. I expect to receive some money from
Jersey this Summer and have made an arrangement with Mr S Perry
to get the money for me he and his lady has gown on to Philadela
I have wrote him to make use of the three hundred dollars if he
wished So to do and allow me 20 persent for the use of the money—
if I get this it will be in my power to pay of [f] Some of my son B
debts contracted in Kentuckey and wish him to let me know who to
pay it too—your little Nephfews are all fine Children in good health
and often speak of their Uncles, our little guy is the beauty of the
famaly, we expect an Increas about the first of July, your Sister
joines me in affectionate love to you boath Sincearely praying that
god may guard, protect and prosper you in all your just and
laudable exertions—preserve you in health and happyniss and finally
bring us together and injoy each others Society in peace, as long as
we remain in this world and never ending felicity in the kingdom of
heaven is the prayr of your affectionate Mother
Mary Austin
P S—I procurd another register of your Brothers Baptism which
I now Inclose together with a letter for B from some of his
Kentuckey friends—which I hope may reatch him in Safety—Bryant Sent
the lost Certificate by a Mr Witeing, aliso two barrels of flower for
your one use—let us know if flower and Whiskey will sell well, it
tis Said provisions of all kinds is high and Scarse, but this does not
frighten the people from going. I am only fearfull you will not
have as much land as the great number of famalys will want, even
admitting that one half of the people goes that talks of moveing,
and at the Same time reserve as much for your Self and famaly as
will pay you for all your trouble. I beg my dear Son will not let
his Generousity go So far—as to injure himself, but Secure a
Sufficient quantity of land to place his fallen famaly in their former
State of Independance, truly my beloved Sons, this grant of land
was bought with a price—even the precious life of your dear Father,
for I am Sertain it was oing to fatigue and hardship that deprived
him of his health and finally ended in death, at the moment when he
thought he was about to receive a reward for all his exertions and
sevear tryals, but the lords will be done. I have good reason to
think your dear Father will receive his reward in heaven—Mr alley
is waiting for this letter he has promesd to deliver it himself, once
more adieu my dear Sons, may god forever bless you
MA—
[Addressd:] Stephen F. Austin Esqr Austin Provence of Texas
Attention Mr. Thos V. Alley