Hartford, [Conn.] 15th July, 1836
Gen. Stephen F. Austin,
Sir,
On or about the 20th ultimo, I deposited at the Texian Agency in New
Orleans, a letter directed to your address, to be forwarded to you, with
other despatches on board the "Union," then at anchor in the Mississippi
River. If you have received that letter, you are already informed that I
was instructed by a company of Merchants in N. York, to proceed to Texas,
to negotiate with the Texian Cabinet, a loan of half a million dollars and
that specific instructions would be sent to me at N. Orleans, to govern my
movements in the negotiation. The day after writing you the said letter,
I received from N. York, not the "specific instruction" I expected, but a
peremptory revocation of my agency. This communication, after my letter
of the 20th to you placed me in an unpleasant dilemma, from which I
resolved to extricate myself, by returning promptly to N. York, and
demanding an Explanation, to furnish grounds for my own justification, as well as
to engage my influence in removing any unfavorable impressions, which
might have been made on the minds of my Employers, as to the course of
the Texian struggle for independence. I arrived in N. York, the 11th inst.
and sought and obtained a conference immediately, with my Employers
and received in substance, the following reasons as an apology for their
course of proceeding- Shortly after my departure from N. York for Texas
the armistice between the Texian government and Santa Anna, was received,
and gave them great dissatisfaction; they being of opinion, (the Wall Street
Money changers, are quite self-opinionated) that inasmuch as the Mexican
Army, was completely in the power of the Texians, it should have been
captured and annihilated. It began to be rumored, about that time, also, that
the Cabinet of Texas, was preparing to release Santa Anna, and they did
not wish to submit to the Texian Government, any propositions respecting
a loan, until this rumor should be contradicted. I used such arguments
and explanations in vindication of the course of the Cabinet, as occurred to>
my mind; but the recent confirmation of Santa Anna's intended release and
a card published in the "Commercial Bulletin" of the 16th ultimo,
dispensing with the farther aid of Volunteers from the United States, fixed their
determination to suspend, if not Entirely relinquish their intentions as above
Explained. If Texas is wanting funds, I regret the loss of this loan. It
would have been offered to her, not in the spirit of speculation, but from a
pure and disinterested desire, to assist her in her glorious struggle. This
much I have deemed it my duty to write, in defence of my own conduct-
The attempted release of Santa Anna, has provoked a general and loud
burst of indignant feeling throughout the U. States. If he is released,
Texas will be compelled to fight her own battles unaided; the last spark of
sympathy in her behalf, will be effectually extinguished.
W. P. Hill
Genl. Stephen F. Austin.