Colorado 31st July 1826

Dear Sir

The situation of this place makes the Prospect very gloomy—the Fort that we have been at so much Expence to build is about to be left to the mercy of the Indians. I was up there a few days past and the most of them talked of moving down the Country and leaving me on the frontier some of them told me that you had promised them Land if they would move down the Brassos—but at the same time some of them told me that if there was a Company of Rangers ordered on the Frontier that they would not wish to move and would try to stay where they are as their places pleases them better than any they Can git but that their Crops are albut lost this year which they intended to pay for their Lands with and if they do not get Longar time to pay for them they will have to leave the Country . . I have never said nothing to them nor you on the subject but I do think that those on the frontier of the Colorado particularly ought to be favoured with Respect to payment of Lands as we have been so much harrased and God knows when it will be at an end—I will try to Come and see you on Sunday or monday if I am able I am scarcely able at present to sit up but I think I am a little on the mend . you will answer me by the bearer—yours Respectfully

James Cummins

Colo. Stephen F Austin