Peach Point May 5th 1835
Dear Brother
We received your letters of the 4th and 10th March We are verry much
disapointed to learn that you are still detained in Mexico; when Mr.
Grason returned we had no doubt but you would have been in Monclova
long since but it apears we are still disapointed and now we can make
no further calculation on anything We have [rejoiced?] beleaving you
ware on your road home but for the future we will beleave nothing untill
we see you, such procastination and disapointments are truely vexatious
distressing— if we knew what to do for your releaf it would be don but
we know not. I recd- a letter from Mr. Williams from Montclova stating
he had solisited the Governor and the Congress [of the state] to interfer
for your releaf which he had no doubt would be don, all of which I hope
has been forwarded, write to us what can be don for your spedy
discharge if money will answer any purpose we will leave nothing undon
to obtain it, although our faith is verry much shaken still we hope ear
this reaches Mexico you will be on your way home. I shewed your letter
to Mr. Grason he is now in this neighbourhood and is quit well Jack
has recovered his health he is in San Filepe Emily and myself have
just returned from a trip up the country which I think has been of benefit
to her health although she has not entirely recovered. I have made
arrangements to settle our Dickison and clear Creek lands and within the
course of the summer have the others settled We have about 65 or 70
acres in cotton this year but the [season] since the 1st Mar has been so
dry that prospects for crops are bad so far, I spoke to Whitesides about his
power to collect Butlers debt he shewed me a paper which I presume
you have seen which I think would be sufitient authority to him he also
told me he had letters from him which was more particular on that subject
so that I think there will be no difficulty on that score provided Butler
has to come here to collect his money. I have never been able to make
any collections of any consequence on your notes. Mr. Williams and
Mr W H Jack both thought it was not best to commence suits on them.
I intend to try some of them now and have little doubt of recovering,
what is the state of your acct with John Austin and Austin and McKinstrey
they have transfered several of notes belonging to you and are endeavouring
to collect others. Williams and myself thought best to have all we could
stoped and have taken steps to stop one on Westall and'one on Mrs Jno
Hall. Mrs. Austin says that Jno Austin Held an note of yours for 1100$
and with that you will be indebted to Jno['s] Estate about 3000$ if your
return still remains uncertain you had better inform me or Williams of
the situation of your business with that Estate. there was only 100$
paid on your order on Austin and McKinstrey for $475 in fv of Hunter
the balance still remains unpaid. I have not offered any of your lands
for sale not knowing any necessity for so doing as I have heard of no
claims against you except one small one which Williams told me he had
arranged he also told me that there was no necessity for selling any
for the purpose of paying the drafts you have drew from Mexico—that
he had made arrangements to Meet them, in what way he has never
informed me.
Mr Williams will or has I have no doubt wrote to you what has been don
in the upper collony business. Ben Smith leaves in the vessel that carries
this pr New Orleans in rather a bad humer with W. about some land speculations at Monclova. McKinny is now absent at New Orleans—is lookd
for daily
We still have Mr. Pilgram here S. F. Austin and all our children
are going to school and improving well M. A. Bryan is studying the
spanish with Mr. Pegram Joel is attending to the farm and I think will
make a good Farmer. I saw many of your old friends when up the
country. They all enquired after you kindly, and all feel verry anxious
for your return they are all much pleased with your exertions for the
benefit of Texas, but are more anxious for your return than anything you
can do for them
[James F. Perry.]