Tenoxtitlan—Novr 18th 1830
Respected sir,
I am unacquainted with you personally, yet situated as I am, I
think it necessary, to address you, and apprise you of a considerable
difficulity, that now exist in the settlement of your colony, and the
others also; namely, the order from General Teran, to the Colo at
Nacogdoches to suffer no person to pass, unless, they have a passport,
I was not apprised of that order, and came here, I think on the 28
ultmo—, the Alcalde informed me when the families came into town
I must collect them all together, and present them, I done so, then
the Coll, sent for me, and inform'd me that he had the Saturday
before recd- the above mentioned order and could not consistent with
his order, let me pass, but as we were ignorant of the late Law, and
as we had compleatly complyed with the Colonization Law, having
our certificates Legally arra[n]ged, by the proper authorities, he
would venture to give five of us a permit to you, who he said was
authorised to give us passports; but the families must remain until
our return, we had traveled better than 8 weeks, had spent a great
deal of money, and was much fatigued, we could not feel willing to
remain in that part of the country on expences so Long, we therefore
came round, which caus'd us to loose 2 1/2 days travel, we are now at
the barracks, at Mr Williams that is the families, We arrived there
Last night, Today I came up to the new garrison to see the
commander here he says that he has recd the same order, and advises us
to remain where we are, until he receives further orders in answer
to his letter that he had writen after Majr Robertson had inform'd
him that I was on the road, which answer he expected would arrive
in four days, mean-while he gave us permission to explore the
country, which we intend to do immediately— Col. Thorn has sent you
a letter by me on the subject. We, him and myself think it advisable
for you to have an agent appointed in Nacogdoches, he says he is
willing to act for you if you wish him, but he expected to start in a
day or two for New Orleans and be absent two months, There ought
to be some person there authorised immediately, for since I left
there I have been informed of two more families that have been
stoped, and detain'd,- I have been particular in giving the
particulars of my detention, to you, in order, that, you may have a clear
view of the impediment, emigrants will meet with in comeing to the
colonies— So soon as I can, I expect to see you, but can not for a
few days,— Majr Robertson has inform'd you that I am interested
in the settlement of this colony—
Alexander Thomson
[Addressed:] Colo S. F. Austin San Phillipi De Austin