Summary: Giving account of the illness and death from yellow fever of Austin's brother, James Brown Austin. The Spanish invasion of Mexico. New Orleans August 19th 1829
It is a painefull task for me to Communicate the unwelcome
tydings to you of the loss of so near and so dear a friend to you as well
to his wife and famaley; though gods will—to take him from this
troublesome wourld—we aught not to Repine—but hope for his
greater happyness in the next the attachment I had for your
brother J. B. ostin was not a little I Can ashure you—though we had
not seen each other—since the year 1825—at the town of Matamores,
when we became acquainted and was pritty much to geather—
Boarded in one house, and spent our times simeler—another
oppertunity afforded us a renewel of our acquaintence, though of but
vary short duration several times I Called on board of the vessel
to see him but each time found him absent and anxiously imployed
in his buiseness—on tuesday morning the 14 we by axident met
each other in Charter. St—he being some what altered in the face
than at the time we had last seen each other, I did not amediately
Recognize him but he knew me at once in the Course of our
Conversation he observed you had received a letter from me and would
have written but for some thing that intervened; we was both glad
to see each other it then being a bout a quarter past 6 a m. oClock
and the weather being excessively hot—Mr ostin Captn Harris and
myself went in to Swansons Coffee house to take a meeting and
friendly glass—we Done So—parted and was soon to meet a gain-
that evening was the time he lotted to Call at my house—to
Consult on various subjects—one of which was that of the Brig Gen1
Moralies—which I have Command of—but poor man that was our
last interview—at a bout one oclock that Same day he was takeing
with a pain at the pit of the stummac and a slight paine in the
head he had, complained in the morning while in Company with
Captn Hs and my self—of being a little unwell. I observed to him
he ought to make use of a umberrela he replyed that he was acustome
to being in the sun—and apprehended no danger, my not being
acquainted of his being takeing down so ill—-was the Cause of my
not being with him in his last moments—which I would done
Chearfully, Could but been of service I have no doubt but he
Received every attention from Mr Williams. Mr Coliens—and others
belonging to the house of Mr Coliens.Mcfarling was his phisition
he hearetofore was varry fortunate with his patience I Cannot
say wheather the time was not prolonged in Calling for medicle
ade—
he expired on friday morning at three oClock and I am told
without much agany or pain he was entered in a tumbe arected for him
at five oClock P, M-—and had a deasent funerel his loss is much
Regretted by all-—that knew him I am well a waire my self I lost
a friend-—may heaven Rest his soul in peace-—Comforte and provide
for his esteemed wife and famoley whom is left behind to lement his
death—
P. S; I Received a letter Dated veracruze 31st of July, Stateing
that Commodore David Porter was still in mexeco and that he was
some what indisposed. Congres is to Convene-—amediately. none
of the spannish fleete has yet been seen of veracruze-— several
gunboates and some pecises of Cannon has been sent down to
Campeachy— a Report sais that three thousand troopes had landed 15
leagues to the south of tampeco—- now is the time to harvest if the
mexecans would only grant Commicions for the sea is Covered with
old spanyards and their property never Could there be a greater
harvest Could there be Commissions for Privateers obtained, the
Brig Genl Marallas ought to been Cruizeing this 4 or 6 months past
She Could not helped makeing a fortune for all hands how easy
Could she picked up some of the transports, one that has arived
hear with 500 troopes there would been no dificulty in Captoring
the whole of them— they are now incamped at the english turn,
it is saide weighting the arivle of Some armed vessel to take them
off— the fever Rages hear vilently from the first to the eighth of
this month there was 180 interments greater part of whome was
Catholis and old Spanyards. 60 hours after they are takeing is
about the time they last— the fever is Considdered to be of
different tipe, to what has been heare to fore their is more shiping now in
port than ever has been known at this season of the year before—
two vessels arived from the Riogrand with Passengers and money
one Reports that the St ana, Captn potter was seen on the 6, inst—off
the Brasses Sttiango standing to the S E. she sailed the day
previous to them.— their is hourly expected some arivles from
veracruwze, by which we Contemplate hearing some favourable tydings
Relative to the Navy being fited out—