THE AUSTIN PAPERS
437
S Smith Nicholas Esq. of Louisville, as the only person who seems to take any interest in. the affairs of the family-and I hope he will not neglect to.act promptly on y~ur _suggestions· in relation there to- This y~>U-must be assured is most foteresting to me, as the Texas lands is the only resource from which I can ever expect to recover a large Debt due me by· that Estate- Have you any knowledge of the slaves John Botts had in Texas in the [year] 1823, and in whose name the title thereof stood- There is no doubt in t11e minds of all who knew the parties that the slaves were the bone fide property of Jos: H. Hawkins, but Botts has sold them and pocketed the money, which he refuses to account for to the Heirs or any body else- If you should know from Botts himself or any other person (Except the Heirs) that the slaves, between 30 and 40. were the property of Hawkins please communicate it to myself or Judge Nicholas at Louisvi_lle for we are deter• mined to compell the fellow to disgorge his ill begotten means if possible- Hoping you have entirely recovered from your late attack I remain NATH: Cox Col. S. F. Austin Brasoria Texas
S. H. EVERETT TO AUSTIN
[Columbia, October 21, 1836. See Calendar.]
AUSTIN TO 5. H. EVERETT
(Copy) Colombia Oct. 22d. 1836 HON. S. H. EVERETT Chairman of the Com. of the senate on pub. lands SIR, I have just recd- your official note dated yesterday, informing me of the resolution of the senate, requesting all Empresarios to make a report of their contracts of colonization, proceedings under them etc etc. Believing iliat it was my duty to make a report of the character required by the senate, I should have done so, at Ule meeting of congress, without waiting for a special call, hut the absence of all the land records. and papers, and my own absence from Texas on public service, most of the time since 1833, rendered it ·impossible. • Dr Peebles, who had charge of the land records during the invation, has now gone to bring iliem to this place, and the report called for will be pre- sented as soon as it can he made out- I must observe that this report will necessarily embrace every thing con• nected wiili colonization, so far as I have been concerned, and will compre- hend a period of about fifteen years. It ilierefore will require great labor
Powered by FlippingBook