THE AUSTIN PAPERS 575 subject, in which, I presume you are much interested, and which, of late has become a subject of much conversation and no little degree of excitement, I mean the Colonization of Texas. A company has recently been formed in the City of New York to Colonize the grants to Veilin, Zavala and Burnet, adjoining, as I understood, your Colony- This Company, are composed of gentlemen of great wealth and respectability who are engaged in forwarding settlers to these grants. One Vessell, has already Sailed, and another will sail this "\-Veek filled with Emigrants, principally Swus, with provisions, farming utensials etc. and many other settlers will soon follow- Indeed hundreds I think I may say some thousands settlers, would immediately go out, if they had the means of Conveyance, and a 1·easonable prospect of being able to obtain subsistance, until they could be enabled by Culth1ating the earth to procure a Comfortable subsistence by their own labor. In the Vessell which goes this week, several competent surveyors are going out, in order, in the first. place, to lny off the Entire tract, and to subdivide it to enable the Settlers to locate themselves, permanently, on their own Lands, A principal part of the Settlers, that have and are now going out, are hired, the Conditions, except the sum to be paid, which is Sixty Dollars pr Annum,) are contained in tho printed Sheet which I send you. Others pay their passage, and all expences and are en- titled to receive 177 Acres, subject to reconvey the balance etc. as is therein stated- The price of Texas lands in Market varies from 5 to 10 Cents pr Acre by large quantities and almost any amount, might be sold at from 5. to 10. or Settled on the conditions proposed by this Com- pany- I am myself interested in those grants to the amount of 1,00000 [one hundred thousand] Acres nnd now think of going out., in the course of a few days for the purpose of making a Selection of Lands to locate upon, if so, I intend to Visit your settlement and hope to have the pleasure of seeing you there. l\.fy particular object in writing you nt this time is to appraise you of the Value of your Lands in Our market of the course taken by this Company and also to say, that I should be willing to mnke some arrangement with you to furnish you with Settlers, or to sell your Lands, as you might find it most advantageous to you- Having for 25 years been extensively employed in the purchase and Sale of Lands, and having formed many acquaintance, in many of the States, I believe I could furnish Settlers to almost any extent, or sell your Lands on as good terms as any other person, I beg leave to refer to your relatives in New York for a confirmation of what I hnve above stated- I should be glad to soon hear from yon on the subject- and as I may be at your place, you will ha.Ye the goodness to write me in New York, addresseu
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