New Orleans, June 16th 1836

My Dear Sir:—

I have diligently sought an interview with You, during your short stay here:—but, not having been so fortunate as to find You at leisure,—even for a few Moments permit me to use my Pen, and briefly lay before you the following facts, etc relative to my intended Location and Settlement in Texas:—And, first, my efforts for the benefit of that Country, 1.—Thro the medium of the News-Papers, I have re-published all the most valuable and interesting Matter which has appeared relative to Texas—together with many original Articles, for the space of 2 Years past, especially thro' the Middle and Western parts of the State of New York; by which a very general and ardent interest has been excited in its behalf, so that, besides the small Colony which I bring with me, there are more than 100 Families in Onondaga and adjacent Counties, many of them being quite independent as to Property, who, if we (pioneers) succeed in effecting our Location, and send back a good report, will immediately follow us into Texas;— 2 I have been the cause of a number of Families emigrating to Texas, who have resided there for some time,— 3.—Also of sending a number of hardy Volunteers (15 or 20 at least) to aid her in the great and glorious struggle for Independence. 4. I wish to settle in your fine Country, on account of the health of my Family—to make myself useful as a Missionary—and intend, that the Families I take with me shall constitute my first Congregation. The only difficulty, of moment, with which we now have to contend, is, our long and expensive delay, and especially in a climate where Neither our healths nor lives are safe, should we be obliged to remain many weeks beyond the present time:—Moreover, I have only about one fourth the means necessary to transport these families to Texas; and, having no certainty and obtaining remittances from N. York, sooner than abt 7 or 8 Weeks hence; I am therefore obliged to remain here until those remittances arrive—or until I can, myself succeed in raising the requisite means to take my People on.— This has been a sad delay for Us all.— I trust we shall be enabled to go on soon, and be permitted to Locate, where at least we shall be enabled to preserve both our Healths and our Lives;— My present plan—As soon as I can get ready—to take our people on to the Nachez Bluffs, and let them remain there for a time, upon the Lands of A. C. Allen and E. A. Baldwin Esqrs, and occupy a number of Buildings belonging to them there.—Should —(finally) the interest which I have so long and so warmly taken in the welfare of Texas be so considered by yourself and the Government, as to expedite our Location, I shall be very glad, and shall have renewed cause to extend my labors and exertions in so good a cause.— Permit me again to solicit your kind aid and influence in our behalf:— I am, Dr. Sir, with great Respect

R. Salmon.

To Genl S. F. Austin