San Felipe de Austin, July 13, 1830.

Dear Sir:

I have learned from the public prints that various rumors have upset public opinion concerning the colonies of Texas; rumors without the least foundation in fact, although not without a specious basis. Much injustice may sometimes proceed from a mistaken opinion concerning an individual or a community, and I believe it is the duty of every man to contribute in so far as he is able to the correction of errors. In this opinion, and in obedience to the truth, I have believed it to be my duty to explain to you (what I have constantly manifested to the authorities of the state) that there has never been the least disturbance of good order in this colony, and that the inhabitants have always been obedient to the authorities.

The idea that the colonists of Texas wish to separate from Mexico is entirely mistaken; there is not, and never has been, such an idea in the sensible part of the colonists, because it is very evident that it is not to the interest of Texas to be separated from Mexico, even if such a thing were possible. These colonists. Dear Sir, are not discontented nor dissatisfied; nor have they shown [any] discontent until after the circulation here of a thousand alarming rumors con- cerning the excitement which was said to have been manifested against them in Mexico, and until it was said that a large expedition was coming here to destroy them. The injurious effect of such rumors has been entirely removed by the letters of his Excellency the Vice President and of General Teran and by the observations published in the Gazette of this day, some numbers of which I send you. The discussion in the Gazette of the 10th of this month has had a decisive effect because it gives a clear explanation of the origin of all of the evil. Señor Poinsett has no adherents here.

I for my part declare to you that I have had no other rule but that of fidelity and gratitude to Mexico: I have passed nine years in the most trying labors in the effort to reclaim this country from the wilderness; I have fulfilled my duty to the extent of my ability; I have worked in good faith; and I can refer with confidence to all the authorities of Texas and of the state to prove my conduct from the time I first entered this wilderness in 1821.

I can do no less than feel much interest in the fate of the colonists of Texas. I was the cause of the emigration of most of them and we have borne years of labor together. I could do no less than feel much interest in the advancement and prosperity of Texas, because it has been the object of my efforts and the sole aim of my ambition to contribute to the redemption of this country from the unpopulated condition in which I found it in 1821 and make it a useful and productive part of the great Mexican republic. I protest to your Excellency that I came to Texas with sound intentions and I have never had others. All my interest and all my family are here, and never have I spared labor in the service of this, my adopted country.

With great cost and labor I have made a map of all Texas, which I sent to the Political Chief in June of last year to be forwarded to the President, accompanying it with some notes in order to add to the geographical knowledge of the Mexican territory. In March of this year I sent to your Excellency a copy of the translations which I made of the colonization laws; accompanying them with an historical sketch of my colony. From this your Excellency can form an idea of the labors that have passed.

I have entire confidence in the justice and in the talent of the present administration; I consider it the Savior of Mexico from anarchy, and can assure your Excellency that the hope of seeing this country happy, after the convulsions of the last two years had almost suffocated it is again revived among these colonists. We have confidence in our old Commandant General, our present Vice President, and in his cabinet; and I beg your Excellency to permit me to commend to the high consideration of the government the worthy inhabitants of Texas, new as well as old. If suffering years of hardships in the desert and being exposed to danger from Indian bravos offer any ground for claiming the attention of the Government, surely the inhabitants of Texas deserve to be effectively protected and not to be sacrificed to rumor or to suspicions fed by party feeling or by the intrigues of a foreigner [Poinsett?]

With the highest consideration I am your Excellency's servant,

Estevan F Austin