616
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
the ta.riff on what I take with me according to my usual luck. I am told they alrendy collect the duty in 1.·fatagorda bay. Respectfully and cordially, your friend and Servt H. AusTIN [Rubric] ·w ILLIAM S. p ARR<Yl".r TO AUSTIN Mexico March 16 th ,1831 STJWHEN F. Aus'l'IN Esqr Saltillo MY DEAR Sm I have before me yom· regarded favour of the 27 th ult 0 and con- tinuation of 28 th by which I am advised that my two letters of the 9 th and 16 th ult 0 had reached you Our old friend Grande was in the counting House when I received your letter; and was much delighted to hear from you, and requested me particularly to re- member him to you He is one of 1822 and few now remain in t.he City or even in the country of our acquaintes [sic] and country- men of that memorable Epoch; I am the only .American that has weathered the changes and vicissitudes consequent; of a. continual succession of revolution and rulers, most of the others have for want of perseverance or moral virtue, been obliged to return to their homes and others have passed off in the storm of intemperance and :folly to another world; For my part I have had a full share of misfortunes; amidst; the smiles of prosperity. In 1828, when I had gained as much of this world's trash as satisfied my ambition, I left here for the U. S. on a tour of pleasure, leaving the whole under the management of Stephen J Wilson, whom I had interested in my concerns, with a. view to better his condition and leave him eventually with the entire controul of the mercantile relations I had formed for some preceding years; I wns upon the point of Embarking for Europe when I received letters from a friend here ndvising me t6 return forthwith or my House would be in u state of insolvency from the bad mana.gement observed in its operations; Though I could scarcely belieYe it, I returned immediately and to. accelerate my steps travelled post from Baltimore to New Orleans finding no vessel for either Tampico or Vera Cruz I freighted and chartered a brig; on my arrival in Vera Cruz in January of 1829 1 learned the change in rulers and saq_ueo of Mexico by which latter I supposed I was ruined as I was told my House did not escape pillage; which proved in one sense correct for on arriving at Puebla with my family I rec 4 an express advising that Wilson had fled and that the officers of justice were about to seize upon all they could find supposing Wilson an accomplice in a Duel fought be-
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