San Felipe de Austin Decr 30th 1835
Dear Father and Mother
I have nearly finished copying the transfers of Lands to Uncle from
different individuals and will have them certified by the Judge and will
send them down by the first safe hand. As yet I do not know whether I
shall be able to get hold of Uncles titles to his land from the Solomons
composing the council long enough to copy them or not. The council have
determined not to open the Land Office; but as Doct Peebles is one of the
commissioners who were appointed to take charge of the papers I may
perhaps get them from him long enough to take a copy of them without the
knowledge of the council. I have copied about 30 transfers of lands to
Uncle and will secure that much at any rate as I have the originals in
my possession and will not give them up if they are required of me, until
I get the copies certified by the Judge Mr. Bordin thinks perhaps we may
be able through Dct. Peebles to get hold of his titles and if I do get hold
of them I will take copies and then if the originals are destroyed the copiss
will be good; and I think there is some risk in leaving papers of such
importance in the hands of those men who compose the council without a
certified copy of the whole I send this by Mr Cane a planter from Mississippi
who wishes to buy land I recommended him to you knowing that you
would like to sell some land on Chocolate for the purpose of having the
land improved; he wishes to buy several tracts as he intends to bring five
or six families out with him if he can get land to suit him He is an old
acquaintance of Mr Bordens his traveling companion is by the name of
Roach who also wants to purchase some land I expect they are both
Gentlemen at least they appear to be so I write no news because I presume
you get every thing through the paper of this place and otherwise much
sooner than I could enumerate it by letter. I want you to write me what I
shall do after I get through here whether I can do any thing below or not
I am here without a horse but will buy a good mule the first chance as I
know you want mules that is if I can get the money from Mr Fletcher.
Mr. Somervill has not got in from the wars yet I look for him daily.
Johnson is commander in chief of the forces at Bexar. Write me often I
have not recd, a letter from you since Uncle left Joel has gone home some
time ago I heard of his being at Bastrop on his way home, but he did
not come by this place. I shall soon be out of business and I would like
to get in some situation where I could improve myself and make
something at the same time. Uncle spoke of taking me to the U. S. with him
but he finally concluded that he would not until he went on and saw where
I had better be put for a year or two. In fact I did not want to go as the
state of the country is such that I would have been uneasy about you all the
time consequently he came to the determination of not taking me on
with him
I think you would do well to get this mark to settle on Chocolate as he
will bring several families with him and I expect he is a man of some
capital he saw so much land on the maps of Galveston bay country marked
with your name and Uncles that he is induced to believe that you will sell
land cheap on account of having so much and I think the chocolate country
will suit him very well he will also purchase stock cattle
Jones is selling goods fast and at a very high price
My love to all the family Your affectionate Son
M. Austin Bryan
N B I have heard that I have a fine sister that I have never seen
M A B
P. S. I could remain here and perhaps make enough to buy my clothes
and pay my board and have some considerable time to study if you think
I had better remain and apply myself to the study of the Spanish write me
if not what shall I do? Your Son
M A B