THE AUSTIN PAPERS 263 vVislling you that success and prosperity, which your interprize and industry so well deserve, I am as "in auld Jang syne" Your affectionate friend J N° M. ?vfoCA.LLA S. F. Austin Esqr Texas.
R. C. NICHOLAS TO AUSTIN
Nashville Oct 11th 1829
Col. STEPHEN F. A usTIN Sm. I was much concerned in leaving your country without seeing you, and having farther conversation; I left it with a fixed deter- mination of returning as soon as possible and my health was not restored until the July or august thereafter,- I descended the river last winter for the purpose, but hearing of the extreme indisposition of my brother ]VIaj. Carey Nicholas, I was obliged to go to Talla- hassee, where I arrived in time to see him die, and was compelled to administer upon his estate. In the mean time I have constituted myself a sort of recruiting sergeant for your Colony, I have said and done every thing in my power to aid in its prosperity-it has now become a leading topic in conversation, and one of the most interesting subjects of discus- sion in the political papers.- A strong and simultaneous effort is at this moment making from the one end of the country to the other, to induce this Govt to pur- chase it- I incline to the belief, that if the l\faxican Govt will sell this Govt will buy. I think that the prospects are so strong, as should forbid a disposition to sell- The Sugar lands on the Mississippi are selling for seventy dollars the superficial acre-let the change take place what will they be worth on the Brassos 1- Under all and every circumstance it is my fixed purpose to make it my future residence, and I doubt not that one or two years ex- perience will enable me to induce the greater portion of my Kentucky relatives to do the same.- Their doubts as to the health, the diffi- culty that presents itself to them as to labor, the abandonment of their native Country and government, are the stumbling blocks of the present hour, Could these be removed the Country would be filled immedintely,-the unproductiveness of the Capital heretofore engaged in the culture of Cotton, would fly there in Crowds beyond your most sanguine hopes and calculations, I expect· to be with you the latter end of November or first of December- I will come in the double character of Uncle and guardian to the Hawkinses 1 - and will be ready to take Such ,steps as you may suggest for the division of the property, I shall come prepared to sit down upon one
'1.'he heirs o! Joseph H. Hawkins, Austin's partner ln establishing hl::i llrst colony.
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