June 4 1836 to July 21 1836 - PTR, Vol. 7

disappointed at the Brazos "entirely to the shameful inallenlion of the officers of the Government." Conscious as I am that the charge itself is unjust, I shall forl>ear to descant on the decorum of the terms in which it is conveyed. In regard to the other subject of your somewhat novel communication, I feel a lillle difficulty in finding appropriate terms to answer you, gentlemen. When the civil government of a country is compelled to receive a prescription of its duties from an armed force, that government, if not virtually dissolved, is in great danger of being lost in the blazonry of military misrule. And gentlemen, the time may come, when you shall have retired from Lhe field of your peculiar glory and returned to the walks of civil life, that you will be heller enabled, than under you present excited feelings, to appreciate the painful forebodings and the undissembled sentiments with which I subscribe myself.

Your obedient servant, David G. Burnet.

[3282] [CHRISTY to BROOKS]

New Orleans, 4th June, 1836.

Mr. N. C. Brooks:-

Sir., Your letter of the 13th ult. came to hand this morn- ing; I showed it to General Houston, who is now at my house, confined by a very severe wound, and I very much regret to be compelled in candor to inform you that he has no doubt of the fact of your brother's having fallen. The Brooks, who made an application before me, cannot be your brother, his name is differ• ent, and he is quite an illiterate man. With the hope that you will excuse the laconic style of a business man, who has to answer some half-dozen letters similar to your every day.

I am respectfully Your mo ob Sr Wm. Christy.

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