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(37541 [AUSTIN ET AL to BURNETJ
To his Excellency David C. Burnet Prcsidcn l of the Republic of Texas. Being appointed by the Convention of November last Commissioners for raising funds and other purposes in the United States in prosecution of our duties we arrived in New Orleans on the 1st of January 1836. On reaching lhal city we found that the government of Texas was without funds or credit, and that the quarter Master of the army and other agents were wholly unable to procure the requisite supplies of arms ammunition provisions etc. U ndcr these circumstances we promptly exerted ourselves Lo make a flal loan al a fixed rate of Interest. This, however was wholly jmpractieable. Capitalists would not lend at any interest without obtaining lands in payment. Impelled by the urgcucy of our sjluation we effected a loan with Robert Triplett and others which has been submitted to and modified by your ExceUency and Cabinet. We are free to admit that the terms of this loan were not such as we would have dictated-but we arc bold in asserting that a loan could not at that time have been effected on better terms and we saw thal the immediate proctiremcnl of funds was indispen- sable. This being accomplished we started for Washington City through the Western States, making it our business to hold [meetings) al prominent points, for the purpose of explaining the justice of our cause, of obtaining Volunteers and of procuring memorials and petitions to the Congres.s of the United States for Lhe recognition of the Independence of Texas. 1n addition to this we furnished the Members of congress with our printed addresses and essays in which we endeavored lo de\'elope and defend the origin principles and objects of the contest in which Texas and Mexico are engaged. On reaching the Eastern Cities new obstacles presented themselves. Tlie unhappy and violent differences between the late Governor (Smith) and his council were known and magnified. It was also believed that the convention of ~larch would not declare for Independence and added to all this, we as cornmissionrrs had no power Lo sell the public lands. In a short time the fall of the Alamo, the Massacre of Col Fanins command, the rclrrat of our
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