979
THE AUSTIN PAPERS.
TIMOTHY FLINT TO AUSTIN
Alexandria. Loui Nov. 29 1824
SIR, I had formerly the honour in :Missouri to be known to· your late father, and to have been introduced to you, when, I believe, a member _of the legislature of the then territory. The impressions, that re- main of that acquaintance, and of conversations with my lamented friends the late l\1r Elliot of St Genevieve, and Col Hawkins of N. Orleans, embolden me to make· a request, which after all, I feare, you will think extraordinary 1 teased, as I presume you are, with numberless requests of a similar nature. But, perhaps, when you shall have read my motives, you may think of my request with more indulgence. I have resided, as a missionary, and as an instructor, ten years in ·different points of the valley of the l\1issisippi; two years of which have been spent in different parts of this state. At the request of many respectable friends, I am about to publish a work, entitled recollections of ten years spent in the valley of the Missisipp-i, The very great interest, that your settlement, and the province of Texas excites in this country, and elsewhere, induces me to wish to append to my remarks upon this state and the territory of arkansas, some authentic notices of the adjoining country of the provincias internas. No person, I ·presume, is so well qualified to impart that information, as yourself. If you would have the goodness, by as early a conveyance to this place a~ may suit your convenience, to give me some notices of your country, and of your observations generally in :Mexico, it would be to me the highest favor; and, possibly as various and contradictory representations of the advantages, and disadvantages of emigration to your country, have gone abroad authentick information by one, who has always hitherto taken the favourable side in this discussions, may not be disadvantageous to the interest of the Settlement. The points upon which information is most earnestly desired are limits, form of th~ coast, ·soil climate health-government and tenu're .of lands etc. But I would be-exceedingly thankful for any kind of information .upon, .your province, and the ~ountry gene:-- ally. I am promised from some very respectable gentleman notes upon the ill fated expedition of Toledo. I would be glad of your views upon that_subject, as well, as the expedition of ·Long. In short, any thing from you, or any authentic ~nformation from any source, would be most thankfully accepted. If my ,cleclining health admit, I expect to go next summer to Boston to publish the ,work and in the mean time, Another gentle- man and myself have talked strongly, if my avocations will admit, of taking a journey to your Settlement. Should you grant me
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