THE AUSTIN -PAPERS. 1215 in Texas-than me, I can not help remarking that even there he gives you some small cause at least to suspect if all I hear be true, that he is not very particular in his conduct--or select in his asso- ciates and coacljuters.- The last remark Brings to my mind his Celebrated letter written to my father last year by the assistance of his friend and Secty Mr ,villiams who acted also as a certificate man and certified that all Groce wrote was true, ,vhich he must have been well qualified to do- as it related to transactions with men, the fellow-had never seen- But who is :Mr. Williams-a Renegade also-who fled to avoid capital punishment-his friend also and the inmate of his House from Missouri whose name I do not recollect-who fled for murcler-Doct Keep-quite as well known-these are his associates his men of busi- ness-what can you expect from such a man-and is this the same Mr Groce-who is to be so powerful in a chancery snit-who is to pub- lish a Book-and demolish by a stroke of his pen all the Erwins- Unfortunately for this Hero, who is mightiest when far off-the word Renegade, woulµ present itself in large letters in every page and obliterate a.II he could say-to which might be added some equally strong and true-I must now Sir-in justice to my own feelings apologize to you for the tenor of this letter, and all I can say, is that I feel I am writing to J E Groce, and not to S F Austin-and I also feel that I am replying to J E Groce and not to S F Austin- Because I have with much pleasure read other productions from you to my fa.ther and others and I lmow that this now in question is not your own legitimate offspring Groce may Borrow what plumage he will, yet he will be Groce still-I know as well as if I had been at your elbow-when you wrote that letter, that you did so by the im- portunity of Groce nnd that you were reluctantly urged to convey ideas repugnant to your feelings-I write this with freedom and frankness not to offend you, But to let you know I understand the man, I !mow his object-he wants under pretence of settling old disputes to make friends-But he can not be depended on, and there is no use in reciving the nclmowlegmt of so low minded a fellow-I have only one word for him, that is I want the $10,000 and int-that he owes me-and untill that is paid he may exert all his cunning for I will reach him before I have clone trying-thro some source or other, and I should be much obliged by your reply at Orleans-saying whether a just claim can be made under your regulations, that is due to a Resident of the U States- • If he will pay· me this claim I have then done with him, a.s to any suits vs. him now in alabama it only requires atention to set them aside that are hot against him as one of the firm of A E Groce [A. 25067•-24-VOL 2, PT 2--14
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