Gail Borden, Jr to Stephen F Austin, 11-01-1835


Summary: Consultation taking steps to raise money. Expense of publishing the Telegraph. Encouraging news from the United States


San Felipe Nov 1st 1835

Dear General,

Your note to Mr. Jack and myself, I received late last night

I regret to hear of your ill health, and wish it was in my power to send you some suitable nourishment for the body, as well as for the mind however, I think we have nothing to complain of with respect to the latter.

I will use my utmost in raising and forwarding "the one thing needful" I think too that the consultation ought to make provisions in the case, and hope and trust they will I am just now going down to see what can be done. You will see by the paper that the council has appointed me collector, and in all probability money will be paid on land, being much due. I send you $70. which is all I have collected on your account since you left except $5 which I sent by a gentleman which took charge of the pack horse sent with your tent. etc.— I would send you some on my own account but for the printing establishment which at this time is a heavy burden upon us Have not received 75 dollars yet on our subscription: and our expenses for workmen, making improvements etc has been 250 dollars per month.

So long as the war lasts it will be a dead and heavy weight upon us— Thomas writes pressingly for me to come to camp— If I should go, the business could not go on.

Dear friend I hope the intelligence from the United States will so encourage the men under your command, that they will not think of abandoning their post. Tom writes me that you intend to hold on so long as you have 10 men and that you will waste your health by inches before you will retreat.

May the God of Hosts protect and preserve you many years

G. Borden Jr [Rubric]

I Inclose (50) fifty dollars and send you twenty by the hands of Mr. McFadden who will hand you this—The money being the same that I collected for you.— G. B.