New Orleans 20th May 1826

To Col. S. F. Austin,

Sir,

Since I had the honor of seeing you in the City of New Orleans I have never relaxed in my good opinion of your settlement in Texas: but pecuniary embarrassments together with other circumstances have hitherto prevented my making a visit there since I went down in the Schooner Lively which then belonged to you.

The Bob Roy, Capt Jn° F. Field who is charged with the note, will arrive at the mouth of the Brassos (weather permitting) in about ten or twelve days. By said vessel on her return I should be happy to hear from you as I as well as Capt. Z. Butler who sailed the Lively after our first arrival here in 1822 have still a great inclination to become Citizens of your Colony: which the settlement of our private interests in this State has hitherto prevented, yet with you we hope that our inclination has not been lost sight of; Capt Field is in a certain measure acquainted with the embarrassments which have heretofore prevented us from being with you which I hope will not be the case this Summer.

The Rob Roy sails with a full freight and passangers for the settlement all of which I exerted my feeble interest to forward with a firm belief that I was enhancing the interests of the Colony which has been my constant study since I had the honor of your acquaintance in this city.

Accept Sir, my sincerest regard for your welfare and that of your Colony: to the enterprising settlers of which I tender the warmest sentiments of respect and flatter myself with the reality of one day becoming a neighbor and friend among them—

James Norton.