Comisarios Department of Austin— By an official letter dated the 15th of the present month, from Citizen John Austin I am informed of his appointment, as comisario or Port officer of that place for the purpose of exacting and collecting the tonnage duty of seventeen bitts per ton, on every foreign Vessel arriving in that port in Conformity with the Arancel of 1827 in its 4th article, and inasmuch as the said Comisario has reported to me the objection made by the Captain of the Sloop Majesty to pay the tonnage duties on his vessel. I am compelled as an officer of the federation, and one with whom the said Comisario has been instructed to consult and report to, to call on you as the Alcalde of this jurisdiction to issue an order to the subaltern civil officers, in that precinct and also the Militia officers to furnish all the aid and assistance in their power, to the before mentioned Comisario, and which may be necessary to cause the maritime laws to be respected and enable the said officer to discharge the duties of the office to which he has been appointed— Convinced that, for the preservation of good order and in obedience to the laws, you will see the urgent necessity of a prompt dispatch of the before mentioned order, I take this opportunity of presenting to you my high consideration and respect God and Liberty. Town of Austin 20 March 1831 S.M. W.

C. F. W. Johnson Constitutional Alcalde