San felipe de Austin March 10. 1826

Dr Sir

Mr. Chastellier has drawn off copy of the Colonization law and takes it with him—

I very much regret that there should have arisen any discontent among the settlers on the Trinity in regard to the manner of procuring their lands, every thing of this nature has a tendency to injure the progress of the new Settlements generally, and I would with due respect to those settlers, and as their friend and the friend of all the new Settlements, recommend to them to be extremely cautious not to do any thing of a violent or disorderly character towards the persons intrusted by the Government with the superintendence of those new Settlements—The utmost harmony should be cultivated—the agents of the Government should be treated with respect, and if causes of complaint exist against them, representations should be made to the proper authority in a mild manner and without any thing like passion or abuse. These ideas are respectfully suggested to you in friendship, they proceed from a sincere desire to see harmony prevail, and not from any disposition or desire on my part to intrude my advice or censure on any person and I hope you will receive them in the same spirit of candor and friendship in which they are offered—I can have no object in wishing harmony, but the prosperity of the country, for my conduct in regard to receiving settlers will not be regulated, or in any manner influenced, by what the other Empresarios may do—my guide shall be the law and the orders of the Government, and the price which the Government may direct me to exact of the settlers to pay the expences on their lands, is what must be paid: how much that will be, I cannot tell untill instructions are recd on the subject—I have applied for them and such instructions and shall do nothing in regard to the final location of new Settlers untill they arrive.

My brother who starts to Saltillo in a few days will take on a report of the history and observations made by me at Galveston preparatory to the opening of the port, and in all pro[ba]bility some definitive measures will be adopted by the Govt in regard to the establishment of a port town, either at Galveston, or some other convenient point on thecoast, during the ensuing summer or fall

I shall at all times be happy to hear from you and of the increasing prosperity of the settlers in your quarter of the country

[Stephen F. Austin]

[To George Orr]