I have before me your regarded favour of the 27th ult° and
continuation of 28th by which I am advised that my two letters of
the 9th and 16th ult° had reached you Our old friend Grande was
in the counting House when I received your letter; and was much
delighted to hear from you, and requested me particularly to
remember him to you He is one of 1822 and few now remain in the
City or even in the country of our acquaintes [sic] and
countrymen of that memorable Epoch; I am the only American that has
weathered the changes and vicissitudes consequent; of a continual
succession of revolution and rulers, most of the others have for
want of perseverance or moral virtue, been obliged to return to
their homes and others have passed off in the storm of intemperance
and folly to another world; For my part I have had a full share
of misfortunes; amidst; the smiles of prosperity. In 1828, when
I had gained as much of this world's trash as satisfied my ambition,
I left here for the U. S. on a tour of pleasure, leaving the whole
under the management of Stephen J Wilson, whom I had interested
in my concerns, with a view to better his condition and leave him
eventually with the entire controul of the mercantile relations I
had formed for some preceding years; I was upon the point of
Embarking for Europe when I received letters from a friend here
advising me to return forthwith or my House would be in a state
of insolvency from the bad management observed in its operations;
Though I could scarcely believe it, I returned immediately and to
accelerate my steps travelled post from Baltimore to New Orleans
finding no vessel for either Tampico or Vera Cruz I freighted and
chartered a brig; on my arrival in Vera Cruz in January of 1829
I learned the change in rulers and saqueo of Mexico by which latter
I supposed I was ruined as I was told my House did not escape
pillage; which proved in one sense correct for on arriving at Puebla
with my family I recd an express advising that Wilson had fled
and that the officers of justice were about to seize upon all they
could find supposing Wilson an accomplice in a Duel fought be-
tween W. Wilcocks and George Follin I again took post, and in
9 hours arrived in the city when to my great astonishment, I found
the surmise of my friend but too true; Bad management during
my absence; and all the available means carried off by Wilson,
to the amt of 30.000$ and upwards; leaving debts to the amt of
near 50.000$ more; since which I have had to struggle hard to
organize every thing again; not having in the mean time been
able to obtain one cent from my worthy partner; all is going on
well again; I have been thus tedious to give you a full statement
of facts which may in part serve you; as I am told Wilson is in
your section of the country.
I am well aware of the fatigue and perplexities you must have
necessarily undergone since our separation; for which I agree with
you, there can be no compensation; but the calm consciousness of
having done your duty not only in regard to your contract with the
Govt but towards your colonists; which will be better appreciated
hereafter, than during your life time; I thank you for the
information in relation to my solicitude in favor of the Widow Ross and
heirs, I have no personal interest in it other than a desire to serve the
widow and orphan of a man whose maintainance was at my charge
during his stay in Mexico without having received as yet any
renumeration whatever; nor do I look for any, as his estate is insolvent
and the company at Nashville refuses to pay me near 1000$ given
to him to keep him from starving while, in the prosecution of their
designs and his success in a great measure was owing to my friendly
interference in his behalf
I have written to the Company in Nashville advising of the result
of my solicitude, I was not informed of the location of the grant
made to him even. In my opinion, however, the suspension of the
colonization [law of 6] April last will result to the benefit of all
con[cerned] in it who had not began at that period [mutilated]
for [that] law cannot nor does not annul the titles granted, and it
will afford them ample time to carry into effect their plans, Should
ever a change take place, less pregnant with groundless prejudices,
and unfounded suspicions of a neighbour than actually exists and
I am much in hopes to see a change ere long; when we will not be
regarded as an ambitious neighbour, but as one willing to give aid
in time of need; and if allowed to judge from words not deeds the
work of reform has already begun, tho we have a strong tide of
English influence arming against us, which in the nature of things
must have its ebbs and flows.
With the hope of hearing from you whenever you have leisure,