Joseph H. Hawkins to Stephen F. Austin, 05-31-1822
Summary: Relations with Erwin's company. Must keep on good terms with all. Expenses. Debts.
My Dear Sir,
I have wrote you so repeatedly and so fully that I have some difficulty in determining what subject now to undertake.
You will have visited Mexico at a most eventful and Auspicious moment—
Have things resulted as you desired? Do they now stand on a sane and permanent basis?
I send you a letter inclosed directed to myself—It is from Rielly at Mexico-—open and read it.
He could not comprehend why I recommended Ervine [Erwin] and his views—I wrote you fully on this subject—I took a share in E's Compy. It was necessary to do so—They would have left here otherwise with feelings of hostility—
I have a written stipulation that my membership and agency was recd with a knowledge of my interest in your grant, and that nothing was desired or expected not promotive of your interests. The fact is that their success is yours—As to the respective value of the grants, that will depend on local advantages—To make Carrol and others friends who were to be our neighbors was no small affair— Having mentioned Carrolls names it is necessary to remind you He has been and will continue our friend—and wishes to be our neighbour—You will provide for him accordingly—
I told Genl. R ... on
I hope most sincerely you had an opportunity of meeting Genl.
Trespalacios in Mexico. I need make no comments on the facts disclosed
by the letter from Mexico—
There will be men around Gl. T—who would gladly injure you— You need no admonition from me on this subject—Your good sense and firmness will point out the Course
I have received very many letters to you—all of which I have
opened and read Some you [I] have sent by the Only Son The rest
I retain and shall answer for you in the most laconic manner to be
civil—The business is becoming too weighty to be prolix.
It may not be amiss to repeat—our disbursements now exceed
$7,000—including the provisions shipped, and my interest in the
Only Son I was compelled to sell one half—the vessel, and may be
forced to sell the other.
This is of no moment should success attend your efforts—It would afford me sincere gratification to say when and where we could meet— I would even go to you—could I be assured that all was well.
The glimmerings of hope sometimes break in upon me, and the
visions are almost golden—I do [not] mean the sordid acquisition of
wealth—but release from debt in other words freedom—To die a
slave would be insupportable—To leave as the only legacy to my
children hungry creditors would be to have lived in vain and die
miserable
I have pursuaded Mrs Hawkins to look to and rely on you as the
firmest pillar in our building—She speaks of you in kindness but
sometimes says she expects to upbraid you with having taken her
Husband from the only sure path for him—his trade- I am much
pressed for time and the Capt of the vessel has called.
This will be delivered you by Mr Beardslee the Brother of the Editor of the advitiser—
He is an amiable Young Man—in delicate health—I have induced
him to go to the Province for the