701
THE AUSTIN PAPERS
AusTIN TO MARY AusTIN HoLI..EY 1
November 14, 1831
MY DEAR Cousm I received yours of 2nd instant this day, and am barely able to nclmowledge its receipt. I have been very ill, and am not yet able to leave my room, and can only set up ten or fifteen minutes at a time. I like the idea of a notice of this cowntry that will make it better known. I believe the time has now come for such a thing. • The opposi,te to this, however, has been my policy, until a year o-r ao past. This I can better explain verbally. I should have replied to the queries of the "London Geographical Society" had I not been in bed for forty five days. There is no vacant land below Brazoria so that you cannot get your league .there. I have a place for that location in view near Galveston Bay which is as good as any now to be had. As to my premium land and private affairs, you will be much surprised to learn exactly how they stand; and will feel much in- clined to say that I have been a faithful servant to all the colonists 'except one: that one is-Stephen F Austin. All the 'JYT'emiwm land I hold around and below Brazoria is in partne1·ahip with the heirs of my old friend, Joseph Hawkins Esq: and so entangled that I, myself, Jmow not what to do with it. But, if I enter on this matter now I shall worry myself. I must apprize you of one thing that you may not be too much disturbed when you notice it. The mass of the Colonists look on all relations of mine who come here with envy and suspicion and great jealousy. The reason is this. They BUspect that something more will be done for them than for those who " bore the brunt of the battle " - I fear (judging by my own experience) that the predominant traits in the North American character are ingratitude, selfishness, and avarice. The people of this Colony have caused (what I had formerly said was impossible) a shade of misanthropy to pass over me. I do not say that it dwell,s in my mind, long nt a time. But to know ourselves is a difficult tnsk, if not impossible, and perhaps it is a more settled conviction than I allow. Would that it were but the airy nothing of a fevered brain. Gen. Terran has arrived at Anahuac-posi,tive-/ must see him,- and .shall leave here in a cnrringe for that purpose, in a few days, if able to do so. I do not see that we can meet until I return from
1 Copy by lira. Holley, 1n IUe ot .July 111, 1881,
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