New Orleans June 28th 1836

Stephen F Austin Esq Velasco

Dear Sir

We have no news from Texas or Mexico since you left, shortly after your departure Messrs Toby and Bros came out with a proclamation of the President, naming them as sole agents for the United States etc. The result has been disaterous in the extreme. We have been obliged to stop all expenditures on the vessels, the mechanicks have all broken off work. Toby says he has no funds, and cannot sell the lands sent him, in fact the untoward appointment has thrown every thing into confusion. The public have come out in a manner totally unexpected, they say the unwarranted change of the Agency is unjust, that they can have no confidence in a Government that could commit so flagrant an act. And that they cannot hereafter obtain one dollar of credit in New Orleans. Toby can do nothing unless by pledge of the public lands, writs of attachment are now out against the vessels, and more are threatened, they cannot sustain them but the vessels will have to be bonded. In a word the change of Agency has much to our surprise drawn out the public voice in our favour and deeply injured the cause of Texas. Of the sum left by you we had expended Three Thousand Dollars, the Proclamation annul'd the Agency, of course we could expend no more. It will require five times the balance to pay the Bills upon which we are personally liable. We shall stop the Payments on government account as far as it is possible until we hear from you. The account was placed in our hands as agents of Texas, on account of the Government for a specific purpose, our agency being broken up, it should go as far as it will to pay other urgent demands, and we shall anxiously wait your opinion upon the subject— It is our opinion the Agency of Toby and Bro, cannot continue, as it depends on the popularity of Mr McKinny, which must fall with the present Administration, but little can be done unless the country is invaded until Fall, and it might be as well to let the people have a trial of him, they will be fully satisfied in a short tims as to who can, and have best promoted the public interests. Our only concern now is in regard to meeting the demand against the Agency, should the Executive accede to our request to grant us script for the amount, we could arrange to restore the public credit so far as we are concerned in two months. Your friendly feelings towards us will induce you to urge such a measure, as it is probably the only means that can be resorted to, to pay the amount and restore confidence, we would urge it upon you for one strong reason, that the impression is general, that the government have changed the Agency to avoid meeting our demands, If something is not soon done my private character and interests must suffer, I am implicated in no common terms by the public in the debts of Texas, and unless they are soon arranged my private credit will be prostrated, I must therefore beg of you to do all you can for me, It is hard for me after working for Texas through all her darkest days, to see Individuals who have literally— done nothing come forward and reap the advantage of my labours, but I must submit with the best grace I can, and trust to time for justice. I have heard nothing from Messers Archer and Wharton since I saw you,

William Bryan

Pr Samuel Ellis