James F Perry to Israel McGready, 10-01-1831


Summary: Arrived August 14. Opinion of country. Commissions to arrange business in Missouri.


San Felepe De Austin Oct 1st 1831

My Dear Sir

I take the oppertunity of a Gentleman who leaves here tomorrow for the U. S. I wrote to you from the Sabine and enclosed David Imbodens and Jno L Robins notes which I hope you have recieved and have put it in train for collection We had a long tedious journey geting here we arrived on the 14th August all in good health without any serious accidents considering the distance and the number of our famaly togather with the Season of the year we came in we have no reason to complain. Our famaly has kept their [health] so far prety well some of them has been a little sick but not dangerous Kenner has had a brush of the feavour and ague but has got clear of it for several days and with care I hope will remain so. Hunter has been quit[e] sick but is now on the recovery and able to attend to business there has been a good deal of sickness here this season and a number of deaths in this place since we arived here, all of which ware strangers and mostly men and it is thought by many that most of them might have recovered if they had been properly attended to in the first stage of the disease but being strangers ware necessaryly compelled to stop at public houses where they could not have that attention paid to them which was necessary. I promised to write to you my oppinion of this country and the prospects as I have been here so short a time I can give but verry little more light on the subject than heretofore my oppinion is about as when I first visited the country the soil and climit is here and all that is wanting is industry and enterprise togathere with a well regulated and perminent Government to make this one of the most desirous parts of the wourld I have ever seen I have made an excursion of two weeks looking for a situation to fix ourselves on. I was down on the coast I now expect to start in a few days to look at some of the country above here, before I decide where to reside the country above here is verry much extold by those residing there but I am prety much determined to settle near the Coast within a few miles of the West end of Galvesten bay, and as soon as I determine on the place will start with all my force to put up some cabbins to move my famaly to. they will remain at this place until we can get some place for to live in and in one year after I get to farming I will be better able to give you my oppinion of the country, but for the present I would not advise any of my friends or acquantence to move to this country without first coming to see it and judge for themselves before I left the mines I requested you to pay my last years Tax but whether I gave you any writen memorandon to that effect I dont recollect but I hope you have and if not I wish you to do so I also wish you to get me out of Scotts administrator as soon as posible and we have several smalle accts which wish to send you but have had no time as yet to examine the old books please urge the collection of the claims I left with you. write to me on the receipt of this and give me all the news of the place and particularly [how] the Exeters of S P are coming out as you know I am some interested in the management of that Est. but I have verry little dout but that it will be attended to strictly and correctly I will get Bells act and rect against James Austin the first time I see him which will [bring] the balance on that a/c considerably in my fav.

[James F. Perry.]

[Indorsed:] To Israel McGrady