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AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION as I had no safe place to keep it, and it disappeared so that I never saw it again- he transfered the claims to H. Elliott and there is nothing to show that there was any agreement between them-_Ashly no doubt knows all about it and if he is an honest man will settle the business right-if he is not, it will be difficult to do anything with it. I have paid Tennell over seven thousand dollars, I think,-also I have paid Butler about six thousand dolls. all within two years or nearly all-· It will take about $4000 more to clear me of debt-- I have directed John Austin to sell land for what it will bring to raise $1600 for Hunter balance due on what was paid Tennelle out of the store- I did not wish to sacrifice land for I wanted to give a large tract to each of your children-but it is all a folly I am only worrying myself to death I certainly thought and now think that your removal to Texas will make your children all independent which they would never have been in :Missouri-· • • • I have been offered 6 doll• an acre for 1000 acres joining Perry and I could get 8 by giving a cre:dit on a part-but I wished to go there and live along side of yoli. If however you are ·always holding up the dark side of the picture to me, I fear that all my prospects of comfort will be ideal. • • • The tracts you now live on will make as good a farm or plantation as any in Texas- It has a good situation on the river also-is in a good neighborhood-convenient to the sea, to the river, to market will do for stock and planting-takes in part of jones Creek-has plenty of timber and prairie I always wanted Mr Perry to settle there, but could not get him to go and look at it-- The place on Chocolate will always be a good stock farm and may be kept up I do not see that you have had more trouble [or] even as much ~ most 'of the settlers in Texas-A new country cannot be settled without trouble As to the settlers being ungrateful etc. which you speak of-all that is nothing- They are always in a fret about something-it is so all over the world-one day they curse and the next they praise. ~ the end they will be just and if I merit a. reward from them, they will give it-- The settlers of this colony will never forget me nor be long un- grateful to me. Of this you need not have any doubt. A man ~ho has no enemies is a ,contemptable being, for he is not of suffici~t consequence to excite envy or jealousy so that you may set your mmd at rest as to that matter- These settlers will never forget the man or the family who bas made their fortunes. Cousin Henry ought never to have moved to Texas and I hope never to see another city raised family coming to this country-he has the foundation of a future laid, but I fear it will do him no good.
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