680
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
one great family who are under my care. I wish the settlers to remember that the Roman Catholic is the religion of this nation, I have taken measures to have Father ilf iness [:Maynes] formerly of Nachitoches, appointed our Curate, he is a good man and ac- quainted with the Americans-we must all be particular on this subject and respect the Catholic religion with all that attention due to its sacredness and to the laws of the land. I have so far paid all the expenses attending this enterprise out of my own funds. I have spent much time and lost much property on the coast in my absence-I am now engaged in surveying the land and must pay money to the surveyors and hands em- ployed besides which I have to pay the expenses of the Commissioner, and heavy expenses attending the completion and recording of the titles. A moments reflection will convince the settlers that all this cannot be done without some aid from them, but as regards this point they may expect all the indulgence possible. Those who have the means must pay me a little money on receipt of their titles; from those who have not money I will receive any kind of property that will not be a dead loss to me, such as horses, mules, cattle, hogs, peltry, Furs, bees wax, home made cloth, dressed deer skins, etc. Only a small part will be required in hand, for the balance I will wait one, two, and three years, according to the capacity of the person to pay-In fact J will accomodate the settlers to the great- est extent in my power. I think that those who lmow me can state that my disposition is not to oppress any man; it is a pleasure for me to benefit my fellow citizens and I will sacrifice my own interest rather than distress them for one cent of money. But I have many sacred duties to attend which cannot be executed without money. The most of what I receive from the settlers will be applied for their own benefit, and I think they_must all agree that it is also my duty to provide for my own family, and that in justice I ought to be com- pensated for the losses and fatigues I have sustained in this busi- ness, particularly when my labors secure handsome fortunes to my followers. I could exact the payment of all the expenses in hand before the titles are delivered, but shall not do so, the settlers may all rely on the terms above stated The smallest quantity of land a family will receive is one thousand yards square which may be in- creased by me and the Commissioner without limit in proportion to the size of the :family. Young men must join and take land in the name of one. All thus united will be ranked as one family, they can then divide the land amongst th~mselves- I shall proceed immediately to the mouth of this River, and on my return go to the Brazos The settlers have now nothing to fear,
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