THE AUSTIN PAPERS 729 happy.· Before you came I had begun to change the opinion that I was laboring here solely for others and posterity, and am now con- vinced that I shall enjoy some of the fruits of my planting. This is a powerful incentive to persevere and finish my labors, and finally wash my hands of all participation in public matters. We will then arrange our cottages-rural~omfortable-and splenclid-the splendor of nature's simplicity.: Gardens, and rosy bowers, and ever verdant groves, and music, books, and intellectual amusements can all be ours; and that confidence and community of feeling and tastes which none but congenial . minds can ever ·lmow; all these, without excessive wealth we can have. :Millions could not buy them, but the right disposition, with competence, insure them. You say the world knows nothing of me. I have never sought for notoriety, nor extended fame, nor do I expect any thing of the kind. A successful military chieftain is hailed with admiration and applause, and monuments perpetuate his :fame. But the bloodless pioneer of the wilderness, like the corn and cotton he causes to spring where it never grew ·before, attracts no notice. He is either cried down as a speculator, or his. works are too unostentatious to be worthy of attention. . No slaughtered thousands or smoking cities attest his devotion to the cause of human happiness, and he is re- garded by the mass of the world as a humble instrument to pave the way for others. I feel thankful that my happiness does not depend upon the possession of fame.•: My ambition is to deserve and receive the approbation of the good, and I feel truly grateful to you for your kind intentions in .this respect. But pray do not, through partiality, say too much. On reviewing what I have written I fear you will laugh at my enthusiasm, and think I am suffering my fancy to wander in the ElAJsia.n Fields when every thing around ought to remind me that before I can enter them the Styw and lnfm·nus are to be passed. It may be so; but even that can not prevent enjoyment by anticipa- tion. I hope for the best, and must-still believ·e that all our difficulties with the governt will be speedily and satisfactorily adjusted. I shall go home tomorrow and lose no time in communicating with the Government in such a manner, I trust, as to make all go right again, There must be a change of some kind, as we are now situated our commerce is anihilated; all emigration to the country is entirely stopped, and our hopes of prosperity totally overthrown. Do the people of my colony, or of Texas, or do I, merit this1 No; we have been to this Government true as steel. And we have redeemed from a state of nature, and given value, and credit, and consequence to a large territory which they lmew nothing about and which, com- paratively, was valueless before. All this we have done under full 88370-28----47
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