' THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 1381 the rights and security of Americans on this side of the Sabine river; and the events of every day seem productive of new excitements against the civil authority here, in consequence of proceedings and decisions, believed to be incompatible with a republican government, and contrary to the fundamental principles of the constitution of the country-From. those considerations, I came to the determination, a few days since, after mature reflection, to return to my native country, where I have a sure guarantee of my rights, -and security of my person and property. I was preparing to carry this determi- nation into effect, when I rec 11 a letter from Haden Edwards at .Natchitoches, whose return I was daily expecting, informing me of his intended absence for two or three months to the U. S. of the North, and requesting me to take charge of his colony until his return, and to do the best I could for his interest and the benefit of the Grant-This request, together with the wishes of my :friends here, have influenced me, for the present, to remain longer, hoping that ·some change may take place in the present aspect of affairs.- . Thus you see, I have taken upon myself a charge of much respon- sibi]ity, which is greatly augmented by the peculiar embarrassment of the affairs of this Colony, and which is not a litt.le increased by my ignorance of the -Castilian language, and my want of informa- tion in relation to complaints and charges against my brother, which seems to be almost the sole cause of all the difficulties existing here-- Having aiways felt a deep interest in the success of the Americans in the Province of Texas, and being personally interested myself in its advancement, I should have opened a correspondence with you immediately upon my arrival here but for the unfortunate mis- understanding that appeared to exist, much to my regret and aston- ishment, between you and my brother- Although I could not believe that any just cause of difference could have been intended on either side; yet delicacy, under existing cir- cumstances, forbid that I should write to you in relation to the a:ffairs of the Colony, so long as there was a possibility of an unfriendly feeling on your part against him and his Colony. Having received an assurance on the part of my brother, that there was no disposition on his part to commence hostilities, and that he had on the contrary desired nothing more than a friendly understanding with you, as well as all the Empresarios, I was not a little gratified to learn from Col 0 Leftwich, and more recently from our friend Col 0 Pettus your declarations of amity and friendship,' which does away [with] any restraint, I may have heretofore laboured under, in consulting with. you upon the affairs of the country of our adoption- In consequence of the confusion into which ,every thing is thrown, relative to the affairs of his grant, my b1·other, I suppose, thought
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