THE AUSTIN PAPERS 617 tween W. Wilcocks and George Follin I agnin took post, and in !J hours arrived in the city when to my great astonishment, I found Lhe surmise of my friend but too true; Bad management during my absence; and all the available means carried off by '\-Vilson, to the amt of 30.000$ and upwards; leaving debts to the amt of near 50.000$ more; since which I have had to struggle hard to organize every thing again; not having in the mean time been able to obtain one cent from my worthy partne1·; all is going on well again; I have been thus tedious to give you a full statement of facts which may in part ser,·e you; as I am told '\-Vilson is in your section of the country. I am well aware of the fatigue a.ncl perplexities you must have necessarily undergone since our separation; for which I agree with you, .there can be no compensation; but the calm consciousness of having done your duty not only in regard to your contract with the Gov' but towards your colonists; which will be better appreciated hereafter, than during your life time; I thank you for the informa- tion in relation to my solicitude in favor of the ,Vidow Ross and heirs, I have no personal interest in it other than a desire to serve the widow and orphan of a man whose maintainance was at my charge during his stay in l\ifexico without having received as yet any re- numeration whatever; nor do I look for any, as his estate is insolvent and the company at Nashville refuses to pay me near 1000$ given to him to keep him from starving while, in the prosecution of their designs and his success in a great measure was owing to my friendly interference in his behalf I have written to the Company in Nashville advising of the result of my solicitude, I was not informed of the location of the grant made to him even. In my opinion, however, the suspension of the colonization [law of 6] April last will result to the benefit of all con[cerned] in it who had not began at that period [mutilated] for [that] law cannot nor does not annul the titles granted, and it will afford them ample time to carry into effect their plans, Should ever a change take place, less pregnant with groundless prejudices, and unfounded suspicions of a neighbour than actually exists and I am much in hopes to see a change ere long; when we will not be regarded as an ambitious neighbour, but as one willing to give aid in time of need; and if allowed to judge from words not deeds the work of reform has ah-eady begun, tho we have a strong tide of English influence arming against us, which in the nature of things must have its ebbs and flows. With the hope of hearing from you whenever you have leisure, W. S. P AB.ROlT [Rubric] 88370-28----40
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