886
AMERICA~ HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
numbered-indeed, it is from ·my advice and representations, that the plan has been adopted-consequently, you must be aware of my solicitude respecting the location of the contemplated settlement. I was much delighted with the district of country in the vicinity of Brookfield's, but am not certain that water power of sufficient mag- nitude can be had without it is found some 10 or 15 miles from him, in some of the bends of the Colorado. A water power and timber would be desirable. The former, I was told, is abundant in the in- terior as far as your most northern grant-please direct the young men to those pal'ts where they will be most likely to find what they desire, and also tell them·what the advantages are for industrious agriculturists and stock raisers. These young men are a sample of those that will emigrate next season; and are such as will do, each of them, more actual labor, either as merchanics or agriculturists, than three or four men, black or white, that have been reared with southern habits-they are just such as I know you wish to see Texas filled with-and just such as your glorious country deserves. I am more and more impressed with the correctness of your views, as expressed to me, relative to the destinies of Texas, and the proper policy to be pursued. Mr. Le Roy and Mr. Comstock will inform you of the extent of the desire to emigrate to Texas, among the people of the county in which they live-the feeling is spread far even in this new country, from even the slight information which has been diseminated among them. What then could not be done in the eastern and northern states, in the way of forming emigrating companies, if proper measures were adopted 1 I feel, sir, that I have embarked in an important business, (the arrangement and formation of an emigrating party) and it would always be a source of regret to me, to be instrumental in deceiving the hopes or just expectations of any one: for this reason, sir, I feel that every particle of information from Texas, at all affecting the interests and well-being of the settlers, will be of high importance. I assure, you, sir, that those who emigrate with me shall not have it to say that I withheld or misstated any thing in my power to com- municate, and important for them to know. By the latest information which has reached me from Mexico, I perceive that Santa Anna has met a reverse in the defeat of :Mocte- zuma-and that ·he himself is in somewhat a critical situation. Tell me, sir, should those against whom Santa Anna took up arms, pre- vail against him, will they dare attempt to be avenged on those of Texas who have declared in his favor1 Or will they dare attempt to narrow the privileges ·of your colonists, from the disposition which they have manifested to abrogate the abominable law to pre-
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