THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 703 date of the concei::sion, the colonists shall not pa.y tithes, excises or Taxes under any denomination whatever. I should wish you to have the kindness.to give me your opinion upon this particular, and I will comply with it at once, notwithstanding the poor circum- stances to which the settlers have been reduced by the Indians. ESTEY.AN F. AUSTIN. Brazos River, October 201\ 1823.
AUSTIN TO LUCL\NO GARCTA
At the various meetings of the settlers of the Colony under my charge, which have taken place since my arrival at this place, I endeavoured to acquaint myself with their choice in regard to the form of government.· They have manifested a unanimous dispo- sition to submit to any form of government adopted by a majority, inclining however, in favor of a federal republic. The foregoing is compliance with yonr communication of the 'i th Ultimo. EsTEvA~ F. AusTrn. Brazos River, October 2Ql\ 1823. 3rd and 2nd.
AUSTIN TO ---
San Felipe de Austin Oct. 20 1823
Dn Sm, I recd· your letter dated 5 April 1822 only a few days since, and am much pleased to see your inclinations directed towards -this quarter. You have doubtless heard much of, and concerning me and my prospects etc, it is true they have been at times brighter than at others, tho there never has been any just cause to doubt of final success in the completion of my business with the Government. The revolution coming on. at the critical time it did threw some diffi- culties in the way that were never even dreampt of, but time and perseverance has overcome them all, and I am now engaged sur- veying the lands to the settlers. The terms on which emigrants are recd [are] as follows- No one will be recd as a settler or be permitted to remain in the Prov- ince who does not bring the most unequivocal evidence from the highest authority and most respectable men of the state and ne.;gh- borhood vVhere he resides, that his character is perfectly u,nble1n- wlied, that he is a moral and industrious man, and absolutely free from the vice of intoxication- those who presume so far on the
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