686
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
stranger in the country and my health has been and still remains so bad I have had no oppertunity of travling to make a Selection- even one or two rides to Brazoria hns weakened me in such a manner I have been cornpeld to take two days to it. :Mr Hunter informs me that Major Douglass has made an Entry of my Negroes in your office as his property- Now sir, I wish to prove to you that I am, and lmow, I shall always remain above falsehood, I told you the prop- erty was mine Enclosed you will receive Vouchers sufficient to sat- isfy you and every other }Jerson that he does not, nor ever did own nny part of the property in my possession nor does he own one Dol- lars worth in the Colony-his statement is gratuitous and false and unauthorized by me- When the Major went to San Phillipe last :March, I asked him to take an Indenture that he was a witness to nnd prove it before the proper authority in San Phillipe, when he returnd I asked him why he had not done so- he then told me that himself and Mr S. Williams had a misunderstanding-but he did not tell me he had presumed to enter the property as his, and I do hope his imprudent conduct will not be suffered to weigh one jot against me- I also inclose you a letter from Capt- John Austin, and I think I may venture to say (without egotism) that they are few men that have settled in this Colony that have behaved better, and have made more friends in so short a time. I have been anxious, and nothing but delicate health has pre- Yented me from coming to San Phillipe long since, to comply with the terms of the Law, Mr Hall can inform you I have been very sick-but I say again, as soon as my health permits I will come up nnrl do every thing that is necessary to make a Citizen- Under those considerations I do hope sir you will reconsider my Oase and if it is a possible thing give me the Olear Oreek tract of landr- I assure your sir I remain your very obednt and humble Servant • SYLVESTER MURPHY NB you will observe the Major acted as agent for me in clearing the Negroes, 'lny health was so bad I could not attend to it, and on the back of the Manifest he aclmowledges that fact-- S M
J. R. BEDFORD TO AusTIN
Gonzales 5 August 1831
RESPECTED Sm A short respite from almost incessant writing enables me by this opportuntty to make my acknowledgments for the Kindness (un- merited altogether) with which you have favor'd an individual per- sonally a stranger to you; the value of which is doubly enhanc'd
Powered by FlippingBook