Nachitosh April 20—1825

Dr. Sir.

Mr. Sherboneir has just called at my House to inform me he was about setting off for your Country. I was from home, and have but a few minutes to write. If I had have had a longer notice should have written you a longer letter. Should you see Mr. Sherbonier you will find him well informed and intelligent, an Amiable Discréete man Esteemed here by all who know him, you will collect from him very correctly whatever has come within his knowledge, I am sorry I cannot send you a list of the Acts passed the last session of Congress, you will have understood for some time past a considerable trade has been carried on from [St.] Louis to New Mexico, this has Attracted the Attention of Government and a Road is to be opened from St. Louis to Sta Fee. A council is appointed to Reside at Chehuawa and another at Sta fee. this has opened the Eyes of Govt. Relative to the Raft in Red River and Measures are about to be taken to open it, when I believe Steam boats will be able to assend within a day or two's Journey from Sta Fee, if this is done the whole current of the Intercourse with New Mexico will be by way of Red River and the whole valley of it will Soon be settled, and the time may come when more cotton may go out of Red River than now goes out of the mississippi. Cotton was sold in New Orleans as high as 24 cents pr. lb last week the demand in creasing, in England they will fall more than 50,000 Bales short of the ordinary supply, they depended on Egypt for a supply which has failed. Such as they have Received is so full of sand it cannot be Worked and the danger of its bringing the Plague is a stronger objection to it, the demand in the United States for our own manufactories increases beyond all calculations, two million Dollars worth of Articles of cotton manufacture of the U. S., were exported to South America in a part of last year :—

Mr. Adams is President. Mr. Clay Secretary of State Mr. Rush Secty of the Treasury. James Barbour of Virginia Secty of War. Mr. Southard of N. Jersey of the Navy. Mr. Wert Atty. Genl- Mr. McLean of Ohio Post master Genl so that there is no doubt but Mr. Adams has an able Cabinet. Mr. Clinton of N. York was nominated Minister to London but being lately appointed Governor declined accepting the appointment. I do not know who is Nominated in his place. Mr. Everett of Massachusetts is Minister to Spain in place of place of Genl Nelson who wants to come home. Mr. Poinsette of S° Carolina is Minister to Mexico. Col Forbs Charge of Affairs at Buenos Ayres. Mr. Allen continues at Chili and Mr. Anderson at Columbia, none appointed to Peru. Consuls are appointed for several places.—

Red River is now higher than it has been since 1803 and rising. it Must overflow Alexandria and it will injure the crops in many places Bridges and Roads suffer much Bluclworths great Bridge Over Red River is gone—Genl Lafayette is now in New Orleans in no place has greater preparation been made to Receive him; he goes up the Mississippi and Ohio and is to be at Boston the 17th of June the Anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill. Our Congress have given him 200,000 dollars and a Township of Land I believe not yet located.—Congress has under consideration a Bill Reported by the committee on Foreign Relations for the suppression of Pi [racy] which did not pass with all the provisions. If it had it was thought it would have Resulted in a War with Spain, the sections stricken out were the Blockading the Island of Cuba Landing and persuing the pirots. and Reprisals the Bill as it has passed augments our Navy and Leaves some discretion with the President relative to the employing of it. England has Recognized the Independence of all Spanish America. France and Holland will do it.

You will oblige me if you will give me as Early information as you can Relative to Mrs. Robinsons affairs. I want to write to her, her eldest son is a Midshipman in the Navy and with Commodore Porter and of high promise.—

Please to present my compliments to your Brother and to Mr. Cook.—I shall be glad to Receive a letter from you Mr. Poinsette will as soon as he arrives in Mexico move the Subject of the setling our Boundary Line—I had a severe Pleuretic Attack in 03-xx-1825march but have got well.—

John Sibley [Rubric]

Col. S. F. Austin.