259
THE AUSTIN PAPERS
HENRY AUSTIN TO A US1'IN 1
Coinargo Septr 24 th 1829
Col. S F AusnN MY DEAR Sm I wrote you from l\fatamoros, advising you of my arrival there with a steamboat to commence the navigation of this river. Bravo del Norte I have been up nearly to Revilla, where I found the river'. so dangerous in low water that I did not think it prudent to proceed up at this late season.- At the commence- ment of the wet season the river May be Navigated quite to presidio del Norte, but as that season is now nearly passed, I shall confine My trips for the winter to this place . • Between l\fatamoros and this, the river is navigable and Safe but I have great reason to apprehend there will not be business enough to support the boat '\Ve have by law the privilege of taking up lands but the unoccupied lands on this River are not worth having. _ I was induced to embark in this operation by the hope of retriev- ing my ruined fortune and of laying a foundation for an estate for my family by Securing a large tract of land, Before leaving the US I laid before Govt a Memoir on the western boundary pointing out the advantages of exchanging the land beyond the Rocky Moun- tains for those between this River and the U S and suggesting the Mode in which it might be effected had I a Sure conveyance I would Send you a copy of it- I have reason to believe there is now a negociation pending on the Subject-- Now I have reason to apprehend that my present effort will not realize the expected advantages and some reason to fear it may result in a failure-in which case, I should only be able to save my self from ruin by taking the b9at to some place where She could be Sold or employed to advantage- • Can you inform l\fe whether the laguna which is laid down on the Map as extending from Brassas St Iago to the Colorado River is Navigable with four feet water, if not by what rout could a Steam- boat be transported from the Mo~1th of this river to Galveston bay or to New Iberia • Is there sufficient wealth produce and travel in your quarter to employ a steamboat Could I obtain in yom· neigh- bourhood a tract of good land in perpetuity either through you or by application to the State I wish extremely to have an interview with you but it is impossible for me to leave the business I am engaged in eve~ for three days- I shall leave this in a week for :Matamoros and retuoi from there with a .cargo immecliately~uring the winter I will be alternately 1 From a copy made by Moses,Austln Bryon. In tile of Aug. 21, 1"829.
Powered by FlippingBook