1242
.AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
BENJAMIN LINDSEY TO AUSTIN
December 20 th .1825
MR AUSTIN Sir, I have sent a Couple of men Mr. Riddle and Mr. Carson to Im- prove my land and make a Crop on it I believe them both to be good honest industrous men Riddle is a very Exelent Black Smith I am so situated that I Cannot Come on myself at this time but I shall be on about the last of April or the first May-if the first payment must be made on my Land before I get there Mr Riddle will pay you up in Cattle I would Raither it Could be put off til I get there my- self perhaps by that time I Could be able to pay the Cash please to instruct these men where to find the land and what improvements is necessary to be made- BENJAMIN LINDSEY
JOHN SMITH TO AUSTIN
Near Russellville Logan County Kentucky
Deer. 25-1825
Stephen F Austin Esqr. Sm I have -the honour of addressing you via Natchitoches, in be-. half of myself and sundry friends who, wish me to explore the Province of Texas, and particularly that part of it comprehended in your grant- I was on Red River last month, and should have proceeded to your Section of the Country, but I was advised to postpone that part of my journey, till the grass grows up in the Spring, and having some friends and relations in this quarter who desired to see me in relation to that Country, I came hither, and am litterally locked up, for the winter I suppose, by the ice and snow- I have resided for some years past in the States of Mississippi and Louisiana, where the most of my friends abide, and at whose instance I consented to visit your Province- I am instructed to enquire particularly into the following points-to wit 1 st Will there be allowed to the citizens, or Subjects of Texas, a free commercial intercourse with the Citizens or Subjects of other nationsi 2d "\Vill Religious toleration be allowed the Emigrants from the United States, so far ~s to be exempted from the payment of tithes to the established Church, if they should desire it. And to think and act for themselves in matters of conscience1 Provided they do not interfere with the Catholic Religion, and with fidelity support the laws of the land, as citizens ought to do 1 and th~reby to enjoy as much Religious liberty as the Protestants have in France, and
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