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AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
notice- Since last writing you, I have met a french gentleman of the name of Sorbe, who has a House at tampico-- for two years past he hns been principally in the Interior, and I think has a tollernbly correct lmowledge of the country-he tells me the Ba.rings have made a very extensive purchase of land from the count of-- his name I forget, who is now in Italy, they gave for it three millions of Dollars, and that it is (if I am not mistaken) equal in extent to 150 leagues square, it comes close to Saltillo, and embraces Parras. he says the purchase includes a number of villages, th6 the precise boundaries he could not give me- they are settling it fast growing cotton, nncl are about erecting a cotton manufactory-a gentleman of the name of Sterrett (I think) is their agent-I thought none but Mexican Citizens could hold land in Texas!- When I see you I shall want particular information relative to Exeters grant, as I wish to set aright a gentleman of very con- spicuous standing in S. Carolina, who writes " I have received much information about Texas, I hold some shares in the Coahuila, and Texas company of which Dennis A. Smith of Baltimore is the agent, I dined a short time ago with Mr. Poinsett who says the grant is regular and valid-" either this gentleman is very much misled, or I am, but how is [it] possible Mr. Poinsett can be 1\IISTAKEN ~ The owners of this grant of course want to make a speculation of it-honestly if they can etc.-but under any circumstances is it not our policy to let them take their own road ; for each grant they (that is Wilson and others) make, or each tract they sell, excites precisely so much Interest in the minds of the people of the U. States, in favour of Texas- In my last letter I acknowledged receipt of yours of 4 July, and mentioned that I should be at Matagorda with my family the last of October and hoped Ingram would have as promised, a place of shelter-in readiness S-RHOADS-FISHER [Addressed:] Colonel Stephen F. Austin Austin Texas care of Gen: Wm. Robeson New Orleans
AUSTIN TO ELIAS R. WIGHTMAN
San Felipe de Austin Augt 20. 1830
Mr E. R. WEIGHTMAN Mr Ira Ingram informs me that you understand from my instruc- tions relative to laying off his tract, that it was to be east of the
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