630
A:i.\IERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
of uncertninty and exnsperation of those settlers, cnused by so much delay in the termination of my mission, while they have· dedicated themselves, with so much ardor and diligence; to the cultivation of those lands, amidst the dangers and ravages of ·the ·tribes ·of savages, whom they ha.ve successfully-resisted, nnd severely chastised, as is evident by the reports which have been transmitted to the Government. Therefore I humbly pray Jour Honors for a prompt decree favorable to this my petition and agreeable to your s111)reme wiil. Mexico, April 5u. 1823. STEPHEN F. A US TIN
RonERT ANDREWS TO AusTIN . '
Parras ·Apt. 19 th 1823 •
DEAT: FRIEND STEPHEN It is now some time since I recd. a letter •from you, 'it is six weeks since I left Saltillo, but having.no information of your h:wing passed there, I presume you are in :Mexico yet to which place I direct this letter, believing that you understand your business, and knowing the confused state of public affairs I have no iclcn. you will leave there soon - I will sny but little untill I receiYe your answer - I am in good health but doing a very slender business, I intend ·to· go to Durango in a month or two if nothing particular takes place, but shall be here long enough to receive your ans•·. I am n. candidate for the office of surveyor in the pro,,ince of Texns, if n. removal should take place which inight be the case the reasons I advance in my letter to the Revd. Doctr Dn Miguel Ramos de .Arispe who is my friend nre the following-all the necessities of running the surveys according to the true meridian which must be ascertained by the surveyor in sd. province .- of ·ca.lculating the c~ntcnt's by Lat. and depart. the only true method, likewise the ability ·of the surveior to do all this, keep his records in Spanish, speak English and attend personally to the work, all of which are very assencial to the peace and quietude of the inhabitants nncl consequently to government, to do all this, to the satisfaction of Govt and the people, I pledge my[self]. ;your friendship in this can be of m·uch service - seeing that my profession can do but little for me in the country I have thought sometimes of establishing myself on n form near the falls on the Collorado with about 20 of those labouring Indians but I am in much hesitation what to do, I wish to hear from you very much concerning your ideas prospects etc. If the D_oct. Ramos should be in Mexico I wish very much you would seek an acquaintance with_ him, the first introduction to which may be a yisit on my pa.rt with my best wishes for his health etc. which I belie,~e is the mode of the
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