My Dear General,

I am here still with my family, and much engaged in settling my old private affairs, which I once mentioned to you. I have had a proposition from the persons who have had my property in charge, and they have offered me $15,000 to release them, and I have charged $35,000, and a settlement of $30,000 on my wife. They have till day after tomorrow to accept. My estate is worth $120,000, by their own admissions, and I shall secure some $80,000, if I go into a Chancery suit, but as that will keep me out of it for some two or three years and perhaps more, I am determined to close at once by a sacrifice, provided I can do so on the terms I have offered. If they accept, it is my intention to charter a vessel from New York and sail next month for Texas. I want much to know the prospects of a continuance of the war, and I can bring out two or three hundred volunteers. I have also written to Colt of Patterson to inquire the prices of his ten charge rifles, carbines and pistols, and I want to bring out what will be most useful to the country, and dispose of it for lands.

I have not been able to get up a meeting in Troy at all. I went there and saw the Mayor and Recorder and several of the leading men of the City, and I received a letter from the Mayor a few days since stating that there appeared so much apathy on the subject, that he was fearful that the attempt would fail. I have not been able to do any thing more in Albany than get a Memorial circulated, which has received a great many signatures, and will go to Washington. I do not think I can do any thing of importance in the West in the way of collecting funds—in fact the scarcity of money is so great here that, I find the people very unwilling to give. I wish you would inform me if cannon are needed for the fortification now in progress— If horses could be promised 100 men, provided I could bring them out with the equipments and arms— I am inclined to think that 100 cavalry with Colts carbines, with spring bayonets, and pistols, will be a very powerful and efficienct force. Colts carbins and pistols discharge 30 rounds in the same time that it takes to load 3 times. If I get cannon too,. I would have them with the percussion locks, which we saw at Arculanius N. Y. State Arsenal.

If you can learn anything of Wm Austin, I beg you will also let me know for the satisfaction of his friends here. I am also very anxious to receive a copy of the Constitution, and some of the important laws of the New Govt, and please address me at New York, and advise me of your movements.

A. J. Yates