David H. Holstein to Stephen F. Austin, 01-xx-1825


Summary: Conditions in Louisiana. Cotton prices. Great many emigrants passing through for Texas.


Alexandria Louisiana—[about January, 1825?]

Mr. Stephen F. Austin,

Dear Sir as I have not been able to return to your Colony as soon as I expected I hope you will excuse my Troubling you with this note which I have got the Favor of Mr. Foster to hand you: the scarcity of money and the Dulness of times has made business very hard to settle in this Parish, not being able to settle my business to my satisfaction has prevented by returning and made it necessary that I should make another crop on Red River, when I hope I shall be able to Leave the Parish without any Difficulty— the prospect of the price of cotton the next crop is Flattering, all state sales of the present crop have been very good from Eighteen to Twenty two cents and still looking up, which has made Considerable of a change in this Parish. I hope that I shall be able to see you again in July or August, there are a number of young men from this Parish talk of going out this summer. Mr. Stewart informs me that he made no selection of Lands before leaving the Colony. I hope sir you will be so good as to make a reserve for me on some part of the Bernard River of some of the unsettled Land, from the number of Travelers that have passed through this settlement going to your Colony I expect you have had a great many applicants for Land. If the one half of them have reached you Colony I believe you have not been Idle. The young man that will accompany Mr. Foster Mr. Grant, I hope you will find a Verry useful man being and excellent workman he is also much Respected in this parish as good member of society—If the Lands of the Bernard are not all Taken, and you have not made any Choice for me, I will get the Favor of Mr. Foster to attend to it and also to make a small Improvement on it for me, I shall be glad to Receive a few Lines from you on Mr. Fosters Return—

I am with Respect yours

David H. Holstein

[Mr. Stephen F. Austin] Favor of Mr. Foster Province of Texas.