Having heard of your expedition to the Isleland, I made every
exertion in my power to join you there but failed in procuring a
conveyance untill I heard of your return. I then went to the bay
by land a very unpleasant trip owing to the weather and rottenness
of the perarys [prairies], there again heard you was to leave Mr
Scotts on the day of my arrival there for home. Returning to the
trinety I heard again that you was to attend a meeting at the
Santa Jacinta on the fourth of March ordered by yourself in order to present a memorial against me to the Government for asking my
colonists more than the Government tax on the lands propigated here
in my absence by Mr Rankin. This I placed no confidence in not
believing that Colo. Austin could be capable of using any measures
to the injury of the other Empresarios after having set the example
himself and reaped the fruits thereof, not only that; the people
who are to be the memorialists have already obtained their lands
from yourself therefore can have no interest in the disposition of
my lands and I have never seen more than two or three of them
all of whom I informed might rest contented that there would be no
difficulty about their titles never calculating there would arise any
between us on the subject. As to my conditions I feel myself perfectly justified by that article of the law securing contracts made
between the settlers and Empresarios which article was inserted in
consequence of complaints made against yourself for selling the
lands and I feel myself more than doubly justified in asking what
I do for the good of the colony and of the government in general,
as you must admit as a candid man that one colonist who is willing
and able to pay for the lands as offered is worth fifty of those indolent Iddlers who barely live to exist and have no ambition or
enterprise further. If you would do me the pleasure of coming to
see me I will show you that my families are already engaged at my
prices and are unwilling that I should permit others to settle upon
less terms being satisfied of the disadvantages arising to the Country
from such a coarse. The honest industrious already in the country
are of the same opinion and have complied with the terms already.
I am constantly told by those worthless Iddlers that Judge Austin
gives lands at Congress prices and says we have no right to ask or
receive more. I have never payed any attention to their assertions
believing them to be fabrications only replying to them to get lands
of you. I have no doubt but there are hundreds of lies told you
perhaps in the same way in order as I have understood they have
said if the[y] could get the Empresarios at variance they would be
able to reap a benefit. I hope you will give me the earliest information of your discoveries to our advantage in your trip to isleland
and should you be disturbed at any part of my conduct that you
will be candid enough to state your objections to me before taking
any measures unfriendly I expect to meet Colo. Leftwitch on my
return to Nacogdoches and should feel very happy [if] we could
all have a meeting to promote the best interests of the country.