56
THE AUSTIN PAPERS
that he expects them out from lrelal)d and Germany in a short time. I wish him every success in this enterprise, for it is an arduous one, and also will be very usefull lo the Country which needs population. Should it be in my pwer to serve him in any way I will cheerfully do so. My respects to Doctor Beales' and also to Powers on the Nueces when you see them. s. F. AUSTIN
SAMUEL M. WILLJAl\IS TO A UST(N
Monclova 31st March 1835 I will not undertake my good friend to give you an exact description of my feelings on receiving your welcome letter of 14th inst-because as you will know I feel quick, strong, and violent all at one moment. Be- lieving that you would consider me in this place, from the letter I wrote you before I started from home, which Almonte informed me you had recd· from him, and not having heard one word from you for 3 mails, myself and Companions were rejoicing in the opinion that you were liberated and on the road home. In this we were strengthened by a clause in a letter from Mr. Parrott to Mr. Almy, that spoke of your leaving in a few days. Today although your letter assured us of health and resignation, it de- stroyed our hopes, and opened to our view the horrid reality of Mafiana and pasada Maiiana-truly such a state mliy be called the essence of tantalising persecution. God knows I am unable to devise how you bear up under it. I immediately waited upon the Governor, informed him of your sitµation, and urged him with all the rhetoric and warmth of feeling which belongs to me, to address the Gen.Govt on the subject of your situation, as a duty to a fellow Citizen, and as a duty to the citizens of a part of the State that Cannot much longer bear with such a course in silence. I am proud to say that -although his politeness permitted me to finish with my ideas- he met the first impulses of my wishes and was ready to acceed to my request. And regretted that his burthened occupation would not permit him to do it by this mail-but au~horized me to say to you that it should be done by the next. I then went to work amongst the Deputies to get Congress to make something of a similar character, and although it is a body not like a person I flatter myself with success with them, and have no doubt but-this additional weight will be given if you should still be so unfortunate as to remain under the operations of an µncertain tomorrow. Had I not permitted myself to be lulled into a belief from your letter of February that you would ·certainly be relieved by or before the first of this month, I should long since have moved what I today have performed. You ~ave some friends here who respect and esteem you for various reasons and with the exception of Chambers and some one or two others of our
Powered by FlippingBook