San Felipe de Austin

March 31. 1828

Dr Brother and Sister,

On my return from the seat of Govt of this State last winter I found your letter transcribing Learnings letter relative to the claim in New Jersey, and Brother James and myself without delay executed a power of attorney in due form to Mr. Learning and sent it direct to him in Philadelphia

I know nothing of the title deeds for land in Virginia that you speak of—I remember having seen two parchment deeds for land in that country in fathers writing desk about the time he removed to Hercuianium—but what became of them or wheither they were for the tracts you allude to I know not. perhaps he took them with him in the desk to Little Rock

Brother and myself will give any power of attorney that may be necessary to prosecute our claim to the Mine á Burton property but we have not the means to advance money neither can we do it at any short period

You are doubtless ere this informed by Brothers letters of the important change that has taken place in his situation, he was married on the 20 of this month at this place to Miss Eliza Martha Westall—he has made a good choice and I think has secured his domestic happiness—we are trying to arrange matters to set him and John Austin up in the Mercantile business in which there is a good prospect of success—tho their begining is very small he expects to be in Orleans in May or June.

I once had a sister who could spare a few moments every six or eight months to drop a line to her unfortun[ate]? absent, brother— Where is she? has time swept me from her remembrance, or has she too many cares, or too much amusement to allow a half hour to past remembrance—I feel almost cut off from the world, but still something in her own handwriting would be acceptable, how many children has she, how are they disposed of—what are her future calculations She can tell me a thousand things that will be interesting, for she can write nothing that will be otherwise, It has been more than 18 months since I have recd a line from her own handwriting—I never expect to converse with her otherwise than by letter—time rolls on rapidly, tell her to improve it while she can in chatting once more on paper to her brother-—

We move on here slowly, but quietly—this country will present a second Eden to posterity—wheither we shall find it such or not depends on the progress of emigration and improvements—

Farewell—give my love to all the children and to all old friends and particularly to Elias Bates and family and other relations

S. F. Austin [Rubricj

[Addressed:] Mr. James F. Perry Potosi Washington County State of Missouri