1218
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
BENJAMIN "T· EDWARDS TO AUSTIN
La Bahia Crossing Brasos River
Oct. 1 at 1825
DEAR Sm. I recd in due time, your very friencliy letter [of September 15}, and have been compelled to defer replying to it thus long, in con- sequence of my continued indisposition, with which I have been persecuted since I left town, until a few days past- Indeed I am now barely able to grasp my pen; and such is the feble state of·my body and mind both, that I am denied the gratification of writing you a long and sentimental letter as you request, and as I should have been pleased to have done. In replying to your remarks respecting the claim of Mr Harrison, I can say nothing more than I have already said to you in person. I am sensible of the difficulties that present themselves in this case and being unacquainted with the 1n ws and policy of this country feel myself incompetent to point out any way to you by which bis claim could be obtained, that you could derive any instruction from. I myself can think of no other policy now, than that of your repre- senting the peculiarity of the case to the Government, the merit of ~he individual, the justice of his claim, and the probability of its ~dding to the colony a worthy and useful family- Could it be obtained in this way, it would be much more agreeable to the feel- ings of his family as well as to my own- I hope you will not give yourself any inquietude upon the subject in the mean time from any apprehension of censure from his family- I feel confident they will be satisfied with whatever disposition you may choose to make o:f this matter- In your letter, you are lengthy upon the subject of your difficulties in settleing this Colony. I have long since been sensible of the causes of your difficulties, and find that you have very correctly pointed them out. They are I hope now principally over, and with a proper degree of forbea'rance and perseverance, I have no doubt, that they will all shortly vanish, and leave you to the enjoyment of those advantages, that you have in the commencement anticipated, and which must inevitably follow. As it respects this affair of Kinney, I have barely heard the subject mentioned once or twice since my return to this quarter; and of late it appears entirely for- gotten- You must expect censure and abuse so long as you remain in your present station, whe~her you act ri~ht or wrong. Suppress your feelinus on such occasions and even, 1f necessary, humor the prejudices ~f the people you have to deal with. Your principal business is with the Government, and your greatest danger is from
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