522
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
obtain through him, such Information as we can certainly depend on, relative to the Province of Texas, a.nd whether it would be ad- visable for us to settle there. The Individual members of this Society have been Informed, more than twelve months ago, of the existence of a large Grant of Land made to you by the King of Spain, on the Condition of your settling on the Grartt, a Certain Number of American Families; such as Farmers, Mechanics etc; Since, or about that time, we have seen Published in some of our News Papers ab- stracts of letters said to be from yourself and others, st.ating that great offers in land were made to settlers who would emigrate to that Country, being However, unwilling to Venture so Important an undertaking, without a. Certainty (having heard various and con- tradictory accounts from there, both as to its local situation and ad- vantages, and its political situation.) The Company determined to seild a Commissioner, on whom they can depend for all the necessary Information. vVe would therefore feel ourselves under g1·eat obli- gations to you, for such Information as you may deem necessary as well as satisfactory answers to the following questions. Is it a Rich and Healthy Country possessed.of the advantages of Navigation? and to what extenti Is your Grant an Indisputable Title, and how large is Its Boundary? Have you·yet made up the Number of settlers which you designed to receive? If so, can other grants be obtained, :1.nd upon what terms? If your Number is not made up, what quantity of Good Land do you offer to settlers, '1.nd their Families and upon what Termsi What is the present Policy of your Country, and what the future prospects? "Will it ever become a republic, so desirable generally to the people of the United States? ,vm the Liberty of Conscience, and of speech, be.Grant.eel to the present settlers, and the Right of worshiping their God according to the dictates of their own consciences? \Vill the Province of Texas be a separate Government or will it be under the same government and Laws, as that of Mexico1 and will free access through the Country be Granted to Travellers and Traders. Your full and unreserv'd answer to the foregoing Interrogatories, together with such other Information as you may think Interesting to the society; in writing, will be Very Desirable, and thankfully received. This society is Composed of Farmers, and .Mechanics and Manufacturers, with a few Merchants and Profes- sional Characters. Some of them are wealthy, others have been wealthy, but have fallen Victims to the Changes and difficulties of the time, through the unguarded Policy of our Country, and some are young beginers: all of whom are respectable and industrious, nncl will carry with them such letters of recommendation as you may re- quire (for we will not receive any but such ns we believe are such) and would if encouraged be a great acquisition to any new Country.
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