Leona Vicario Feb. 5, 1831

Dr Sir

In my letter to Johnson I have said all there is to say, about public matters—we get on slowly, but I think I shall succeed on the main point, which is the Judiciary, I have been fortunate so far, in keeping a harmonious understanding with all, and shall endeavor to continue it. The petitions for land will all be dispatched next week. The office has been searched for your petition in vain, it cannot be found. This morning I told the secretary that I would present another petition as your agent, he said that he would look once more, and if the other could not be found that I could present a new one, and the Govr has promised that it shall be immediately dispatched. So that you may consider the thing as certain. Those who asked for large quantities will get what ought to satisfy them, and if they had confined themselves to reasonable bounds at first their petitions would have been granted long since.

Father Muldoon leaves tomorrow for Monterrey, he appears to be a true Austinian and I think he is sincere for he has obtained a large bite of land from the Govr and looks to Texas as his only home, and final resting place.

Chambers has been bedevilled here, by delays of one sort or another, and is not yet dispatched by the tribunal and probably will not be for a month to come. The obstacle to his admission as a lawyer now is, the want of his certificate of baptism. Tomorrow he presents a petition to Congress to dispence with that requisite, and he will then be examd by the judges. I think he will be a usefull man in Texas.

Matters are doubtfull in Mexico. The partisans of Pedraza are begining to make a great noise and you need not be much surprised if he should come on by land through Texas—if so treat him with all possible respect and attention for he is justly entitled to it. It is said that Teran is going to Texas soon. My confidence in him is still unimpaired, I believe he is the best among them all. A number of the first men in Mexico have obtained 11 League Grants in Texas.

There is a rumor here which I do not like, which is that Zavala is on the way to Texas, and Teran is going to repel him by force. I know not where the rumor came from. I hope it is not so for I do not wish to see the civil war of the Mexicans introduced into Texas. Say nothing about it, for it is only vague rumor.

I wrote you from Monclova—from here by Jose Luís Carbajal [?] by whom I sent the white horse, also the last mail- you have ac- knowledged the receipt of mine from Bexar and Rio Grande, I mention the others that you may know if any miscarry.

I am happy to hear of the safe arrival of Mr. Dwyer and family and others from Alabama which you inform me of in your last letter, the plan of sending the certificates by Grayson was a very good one, I wish you to write to him, that I say he has a league of land in Texas, and that he must hurry back to improve it, and bring a wife and one hundred good families for neighbors—you see by Tonys [Anthony Butler] letter that there are some snakes in the grass round San Felipe. I have a notion who they are, perhaps I am mistaken—you know that I have been very cautious in shewing his letters—others have done it and critisized them and it is all charged upon me.

Remember me to Sarah and Eliza and all friends

S. F. Austin.

You say nothing about the progress of the store house

I enclose Johnson letter to you lest it should miscarry. You must make him pay his portion of the postage.

[Addressed:] Al Ciudno Samuel M. Williams Administrador de correos en Austin