THE AUSTIN PAPERS 673 when such a price per Acre is paid. If you have any difficulty about the quantity to be expressed in the obligation, say 100 Acres, if you think this too much say enough to cover the emprovements I have already made which would not exceed 10 or 15 Acres. I cannot conceive that you would hazard any thing by doing this, and I should in the event of a transfer or of death be and feel much more secure. Some future owner of the land unaware of what has passed between us or disregardful of it, might take advantage of the improvements I have made on the land in question and incommode me materially by refusing to sell altogether or by asking ten prices. You doubtless recollect that a short time previous to your departure for Saltillo you told me to go on with my building that I should have the small amount I wanted. I should therefore think that I ought to get the lands at the price you would have put upon it last autumn, without regard to its subsequent enhancement. This would seem to me to be right. should you think differently however I must acquiesce, not hereby insinuating that I believe you capable of taking advantage of my situation, Defer not this on account of haste or occupation or amusement for the penning of the obli- gation will not take up 2 minutes of your time. '\Vere you here I would show you conclusively that the quantity of land I want ought properly to belong to mine and would not diminish the value of yours. your league from the Brazos runs across the prairie and takes in about 30 or 40 Acres of the Oyster Bayou timber not enough timbered land for a settlement on the Oyster Bayou side of the prairie. it is out of the question to cart that timber across the prairie. But of this when you come down. I am anxious to see you at my house not more on account of the land than for other reasons. Our personal intercourse has always been of an undefined negative and unconfidential character. which I am sick of and wish to put an end to for the future. However indifferent I may feel toward the million in my likes and dislikes of gentlemen with whom I am brought in contact I have no m1ddle ground. I go in this case for open war or confiding friendship. If nothing has occurred on the part of either [of] us to prevent mutual friendship and esteem, let an ecclairissement place us in that delightful rela- tion to each other. if on the contrary there should be found to be cause for hostitity and enimity let it be avowed and aboveboard. At all events let us understand each other. Be so good as to present my regrets to Mr Wm T Austin on account of not being able to comply with his polite invitation, With the hope of soon seeing you I remain yours Respectfully WM H WHARTON Colonel S. F Austin [Addressed:] Col S. F Austin Brazoria
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