THE AUSTIN PAPERS 677 wrong. My motto is Fidelity and gratitude to the Mea:ican govern- men 1 t ,- and to be frue to the interests and welfare of 'TTIAJ colonists. I will never deviate from this motto as long as I retain my senses. ·within the sphere of this duty any person may command me, but beyond that I wish to be looked upon as a direct and open enemy. I will set apart a league of land for you and hold it in reserve until next winter or spring, and then if you remove here the title will be made out and delivered to you, which is all the law will permit. Besides this should you fancy a situation for a settlement in any of my own land you shall have one, for the land you get from government can be settled by a tenant On the first of December I leave for Saltillo, the seat of Govern- ment for our State, 550 miles distant, and shall from necessity be absent at least seven months-perhaps, a year, for I think of visiting the City of :Mexico before my return. Let me know, before that time, all your wishes in relation to this country, and what I can do for you, or any of your friends who may wish to settle here. Henry says you wrote to me. I never received a line from you, and have now written as though a month, and not twenty five years had in- tervened since we met or had any communication. I hope you will follow my example, for it will be my greatest pleasure to hear from you. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
"\V ILLIAM McF ARLaNo TO A usTIN
Ais, July 20, 1831.
See Calendar.
AUSTIN TO THOMAS F. LEAMING
July 23. 1831 I have rec 4 your kind favr of March 17. and thank you for the information relative to my mothers family- the embarrassments in bringing the suit with Fox to a close are to be regretted, but the law must take its course altho it be that of the slothes If Perry has not sent you the 50 Dolls. you wrote for I will remit it, immediately on receiving information that you have not rec 4 it- I hope that the suit will soon be terminated under the able direction of Mr. South- ard for whose character I have always had the highest respect-- Things in this country are very quiet, the Mexican Govt. appears to be settling down upon a more solid basis than heretofore-- a,t least there is peace all over the nation,-the civil dissentions have dis- appeared- the administration of Bustamt• has acquir4 the public
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