48
THE AUSTIN PAPERS
. There is a "fuss" at Vera Cruz-the garrison of the castle mutinied tied their officers, and are bombarding the city. All the rest of the country is quiet. To say how long it will remain so would be the same as to say ,vhen Vesuvius will or will not explode-all this is of no consequence to Texas, if the people there will keep down party divisions and person- alities and make good crops. I wish that all the ·unquiet spirits in Texas would organize themselves into a corps and explore a good route for a wagon road to Chihuahua-in that way they can be usefull to Texas- much more so, than they, or any body else are aware of at present. The Chihuahua road is a great object for Texas, a vast link in its pros- perity, and no efforts should be left untried to open it as quick as possible-- its influence will be known after it is opened, and not before. I recd a letter from you not long since-the bad health of Emily afflicts me dreadfully-we have as yet recd nothing from Texas but trouble and suffering, but I still hope that some better times are in store for us-as to my personal enemies I disregard them- I am laboring for their good, as much as for my own-honest men will say whether they repay me as I deserve, and to honest men I leave the matter, with a clear conscience. Tell Emily to keep up good spirits and laugh at all the slang of my enemies. They are only injuring themselves. Love to all the children-keep up the school and give them a good edu- cation. _I hope you have not neglected to put a family on the league west of the Bernard-attend to this for if you have neglected it it may cost you very dear, also on all your oth~r land-do not neglect this as others have done-comply rigidly with the law in every particular-as to settle- ment ·and paymen~. • I am in tolerable health and very good spirits--tho much older in both respects than when I le£t home two years ago. Remember me to your neighbors and to Grayson and Jack and Bell and McKinney in particular. Tell McKinney that I shall have to.draw for a thousand dollars on Gregory on the letter of credit that Grayson brought me. This trip will cost me about $10,000 dead loss besides my impris.on· ment, and after all to be abused and calumniated by some of those f have been laboring to serve is not quite as agreeable as it might be--but such is man and human nature. Farewell may heaven bless you and prosper Texas s. F. AUSTIN I send this by New Orleans. I wrote you on the 5 .and Burnett on the 7 by mail.
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