The Papers of Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, Volume I

P,,PERS OF U1RABE.,u BuoN.\PARTE L.\MAR 31 ha given me a great deal of satisfaction and to which I answer in haste. I will commence by saying that I see with. a great deal of pleasure your intentions of taking up a cause that I have been de- fending for the last eight years, and that I never intend to abandon, that is the emancipation of the l\Iexican provinces; after evincing uch a profession of faith to said cause you can have no reason [?] of doubting [ ?J of my uniting my utmost efforts to help you in every thing I can, however before acting I would like o have ome more positive ·understanding. Since my first setting ou.t in that career ther.e has ·been three powerful expeditions, though managed by men of good heads, they have succe ively failed. I have done all in my power to help them along and should not regret the sacrifices they have cost me had they happily succeeded; it is true however that this seems to be the most favorable moment; the cxau ted and weak state of Spain is reduced so a not be be able to stop the desires of those men who wish for their independence, and in another point of view the spirit of Liberty Budding out under my care in these fert~le conntries has made rapid progress, and it is no longer necessary to exalt the heads of those young and brave Creoles but only to lead them wisely along. I am instructed, sir, of the movements of Arredundo, and i know that his forces are le s considerable than you suppose them to be, however it is better to be watchfull. The agents that I have at St. Antonio assures me that the inhabitants are only waiting for the signal to throw off the yoke of oppression, but so as to aid them I will need the aid of my brother who will shortly arrive from the·north and will certainly be here in a few days as I wish everything ·to go at once. You tell me, sir, that you have hoisted a fla"', it would pain me to think that it was a different one from the one already existing, it \rould be a bad policy to. take one different from the one under which we have been fighting for the last eight years it would seem in- constant indeci ion and a kind of versatility which would produce a bad effect, besides our flag i recognized by Bueno Ayres and vene- zucla, and our privateers under such colours are received there in a friendly mam1er by the authorities of those provinces that is enough to make us tick to those colours; as to the establi hment of a court of Admiralty at tqe port of Galve ton, it ought have existed ere long, but it will be establi bed in a short time. I am entirely of your opinion on that ubjest. As tQ the ammunitions you ask me for, I can ful'llish you but very few at this time we expect the arrival of our vessel at every moment so as to be able to fortify ourselves I will however do all I can for you. Mr. Johnson says that you would like to have an interview with me I would he a much gratified by it as you would yourself, but it i impossible for me to leave here as· my presence is indispensable. I may however have the pleasure of seeing you shortly as soon as my brother returns who can not delay long. that is, sir, my situation and disposition now let me know exactly what are your resources, give me a letter explaining the means yon can dispose of to commence the (!ampaign so that I can second you, let me know how to act and what way to send you what I can dispose

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