1084
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
public matters, but stick closely and exclusively to commerce. No one can prosper or be happy who has any thing to do with public affairs. I sent you two miniatures from :Monterrey by Peter and Joseph Powel and two books nnd some seeds which I hope you have received I am much pleased that you have employed :Mr. Pilgrim to tench the children. I hope you will keep him if you need funds to pay him sell some of my lnnd for that purpose. I hope Eliza will con- tinue Stephen with Pilgrim-he can board at your house and be as well attended to, as at home. I am now in tolerable health, but ha,e suffered very much with rheHmatism. I feel the effects of the first years of the settlement in Texas. The damp close air of the dungeon in the inquisition and want of exercise brought on the rheumatism. Remember me to all the old settlers and all others who think me worth inquiring after. Farewell may heaven bless and preserve you Your Brother s. F. AUSTIN Aug. '26. The above is principally the copy of a letter I wrote you yesterday and sent by mail. 1 This copy is rather more correct than the other- P. D.-August 26-I wish you to show this letter to T. F. Mc- Kinney and if he thinks proper, or thinks it .will do any good he can inform his friends at Nacogdoches of my opinions. The fact is that public opinion has been disjointed and led ast1·ay in all parts of Texas ever since January 1832. :McIGnney and many others know how much ,,-retchedness the political excitements in Texas have cost me, an<l how much I dislike all inflamatory poli- ticians. But I could not stem the current-it would have been worse than useless, · it would have augmented the evils, to have attempted it. But now the thing is different. The farmers of Texas have been or ought to be, alarmed by the inftamatory e,·ent:; of the last two years and I think they will now adopt the princi- ples of the motto I have always follow~d and now recommend to all Texas-that is to the honest and sound part of the people-as for the balance, that is, mere demagogues and political fanatics-they will disappear, before sound public opinion as the gnatts and mos- quitoes do before the rays of a bright and unclouded sun. The , farmers need only proclaim with one unanimous voice Fidelity to jJf exico, opposition to violent 11ien or rneasu1·es, and all will be pence,
1 Tllis letter also Is ln the collection.
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