THE AUSTIN PAPERS 765 ]and is poor, but I think the situation will be healthy which is my c,bject in wishing to fix a residence there at some time when I can, so as to have a retreat from the fevers, mosquitdes and insects of the low country near the coast. Keep peace and quietness in the colony at all hazards. The set- tlers ought to have full confidence in me. I say that they must bear a great deal from military oppresion and still remain quiet and patient. I refer you and the Ayto particularly to my letter of the 9th instant and to the advice it contains on this subject. As regards the captains of vessells who behave imprudently, as d·,e captain of the Boston packet did, I hope the colonists will unani- mously set their faces against them and against such conduct. I expect that some schooners will have to be sunk, before they will come to their senses, but that is their affair- if they are in the wrong I will not protect or countenance them and I hope none of the colonists will- if they are wrongfully sunk, or ill treated let them appeal to their own govt for redress and not to the colonists who have nothing to do with the matter. Prudence and a dead calm in the Colony will insure a favorable answer to the memorial-imprudence and rashness, even if just cause is given, will totally defeat everything and ruin all. My standing motto-:' Fidelity to Mexico "-ought to be in every man's mouth and repeated, instead of many other things that are said, ove1· c-ups and in moments of heat- it is a good toast and ought to be used as a standing toast in the grog shops- try and have it so. Remember me kindly to all S. F. AusTIN [Rubric] S. M. Williams I sent my motto in Deer last to John Austin to be generally spread amongst them at Brazoria, but I never heard of his having men- tioned it to any one- ask him if he did. S. F. A.
BRANCH T. AilcHEn TO AUSTIN
San Felipe de Austin April 22d 1832
Colonel S. F AusTIN DEAR Sui, The variety of subjects, on which I desired conversa- tions, previous to your departure for the seat of Government; and the little time allowed us, in the hurry of our interviews, one of the most important subjects, was neglected, or forgotten. Connected with the settlement of the new colony, (without regard to the character of the settle[r]s, or _the nations from which they
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