[November, 1824]

To Humphry Jackson

Alcalde of the Presenct of the San Jacinto

Sir I enclose the commissions for you and Mr. Scott— You will order a Muster of the men on the San Jacinto and its waters and make out a muster roll which you will return to me—also inspect the arms of the men and report their number and discription I must urge you and Mr. Scott to use your exertions and influence in conjunction with the Alcalde to preserve harmony sobriety and good order in the settlement to effect this much may be done by gentle and persuasive means for it is particularly the interests of every individual in the colony to establish a character for Industry, sobriety, and Harmony— Our future prosperity in fact in a great degree depends on it, for if the Govt discover that the few americans who are now here cannot live together in harmony they will conclude that if any more are admitted there will be no such thing as governing them and that we shall always be a troublesome and unprofitable set of settlers, so if nothing else can restrain drunkeness and quarreling the personal interests of each settler ought to do it, for I again repeat that unless we can establish a good character with the Govt. we shall never prosper—

[Stephen F. Austin.]