James Whiteside to Anthony Butler, 08-02-1832
Summary: Butler's business interests in Texas. Political conditions.
Coles Settlement
Dear Sir When you was here last we had a conversation
Respecting the debts that Mr. Peyton was Owing in this Colony, you
Remarked to me that if Peyton would mortgage his property to you
that you would lend him the money to pay his debts, I told Peyton
of the talk that we had, and since that Time he has requested me to
write you on the Subject, he owns 12 likely negroes, 6 of them
likely fellows, 4 women and 2 children 60 acres of land under good
fence and in cultivation a horse mill that grinds for the Town and
Country Round about it, all of which he will mortgage to you for the
use of twenty five hundred dollars, and to give you a good
interest, he has either to sell some of his negroes and land or Mortgage
his property. I had forgot to mention his Town property, it is
worth fifteen Hundred Dollars he has heretofore been offered that
sum for it, he has to pay a good sum of money this fall and if he
dont succeed in some way, his property will suffer, he is willing to
give you any interest you may think proper to ask. You will please
to give an immediate answer to this matter if you think proper to
accomodate him I will get Col Thos J Chambers to do the writing
between you and him, Mr. John R Jones has got two men at work
at the well, but has only got about 30 feet deep in about 3 weaks
work Pit has Caved in all Round & fild up half-way with sand, has
got Timber to build a very large stable that will hold 30 horses has
entered into a writen contract with a Mr Bartlet to put the stable
on the lots at his own expense for $600, he has got the most of the
lumber for building the Dining Room, and is agoing to have it a
two Story House, I think it will cost at least $1200—it will take
about Ten thousand Bricks to wall the well, Jones says the well will
cost about $300 he says he must have a new post and plank fence
made round the lots the Bricks are made for all the chimneys and
I have a waggon going to Harrisburg after shells to make lime,
I told Jones that I thought that the improvement he was puting
on would cost $2500 I wanted to know of him what he would be
Willing to give for the Rent, he said he had offered you $400 pr
year after the improvements was compleated, I told him that you
had no idea that him Jones was going to put such costly improve-
I wrote you in my last I had sent Mr Jerard after the Mares and
on his way he met James Kerr coming to San Felipe, Jerard went to
Gonzales to wait untill Kerr would Return he remained so long at
San Felipe that Jerard would not wait any longer, Kerr has now
started home, I had a goodeal of talk with him I give him your
letter, he Read it and said he could prove that Albert Pettus was not
in company with him when the Mares was purchased, him and Albert
had some sort of falling out and parted, I told him that you thought
very Strang that there was no increece on the 10 mares
I wrote to David Tally to come and see me, he has never done so
nor even answered my letter, I have made all sorts of inquiry
concerning his circumstance and find he has not Cattle nor very little of
any thing else, besides his land, you must now Tell me what I shall
do next, Robert M. Williamson gives me fair promises Respecting the
nine Cows and Calves, Col Austin arrived here a few days since
from Matemoris but could [not] stay long enough to do any business,
he is now gone to Anahuac and will not Return under ten days, I
Rode with him about two miles and I had [a talk?] with him. I
showed him my instructions from you, he was pleased to hear that
Cows and Calves were wanted, he said he Could always get Cows and
You mentioned in your letter that Tom was blind of an eye, that you presumed I did not know it, or I would unquestionably have mentioned it, I never did know he was blind, he got one of his hurt and there come a sort of phelm on it, I had some glass pounded up very fine and blew it in his eye and it took it all off in one night and I never discovered anything the matter afterwards.
As soon as Col Austin returns from Anahuac I shall make arrangements to get the Cows and Calves and do the best I can with the mares and colts and as soon as the Dueling scrape is over I will write you again or anything else that I think will be of any interest for you to hear of my wife sends her best complements to you and says if you ever come to San Felipe again you must take time to come and see her
P. S. everybody in this country has declared in favor of the plan of Genl Santa Ana and the Mexican troops is all to be taken from this country.
[Addressed:] Al Señor Coronel D Antonio Butler Ministro de los Estados Unidos de America Mexico