THE AUSTIN PAPERS 557 beg leave to refer, and have now to add a few lines by Mr. Treat who was with you about a year Since. Now on the eve of sailing for New Orleans on his way to GalYcston Bay. I presume with a view of fixing on a permanent location. Since my last I have not been able to obtain any further information worthy of Communicating relative to the proceedings of Mr: 1-\Tilson in regard to his Texas lands, but should not be surprised if he had paid you a Visit ere this, as he writes from Matamoros October 12th-that he had in part succeeded in the object of his Visit to Saltillo, but not to his satisfaction, and of his intention of leaving in about rt Month to Survey his Texas lands and expected to reach here in about six Months. Mr. Tornel, Mexican Minister at vVashington, a short time since a<ldressed a cir- cular to the Mexican Vice Consuls directing them not to grant any passports for Coahuila and Texas, and to refer those applying for them to the legation, but on the consul here representing to him the situation he would be placed in by refusing them to American Citi- zens against whom no doubt the order wus expressly intended to operate, the Minister in -reply authorized the Consul to use his own discretion in granting them since ,vhich have been obtained without difficulty. Passports were however·at first refused and a vessel with a Valuablc Cargo, bound to Matamoros,·detained some days and until the above permission was received from ..Washington. Had the Gov-· crnment known it at the time which it probably did not, from the· order not being published and so soon annulled, I think Mr. Tornel would have been Called on for an cxpla.nation of so singular a pro- cedure. You will see by the Enclosed that a Company bas recently been formed here to Colonize the Grant of Zavala, Vehlein·and Bur- net, and Agent to be immediately Stationed at Galveston Bny to receive Settlers and _afford them every facility in settling on the land. From what I can learn it is the Most extensive land Company that was ever known in this or any other Country probably extending its interests throughout the States, and its board of Directors is com- posed of the most respectable and influential Men among us, with the President of one of our first Banks at its head, as also on the Trustees. They are soon to publish a Pamphlet which I shall not fail to send you ·and was in hopes to have got it in time for this opportunity. Should the Company Carry their plans·into full operation and I see no grounds to doubt it, as the funds at Command are said to be very heavey, I should think could but be of essential benefit to your Colony as I look upon Emigration to any part of Texas as favour- able to your interest and more particularly between yon and the Sabine. I had a conversation this Morning with nn intimate friend,
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