heard from the army, I am satisfied the ~lcxicans are laying a decoy, and that Matamoras is the bale held out. Take my word fur it that Matamoras has once been a bane to us, and if we poss«~ssed il, il would not requite us for the wearisome march of 01w day. I-low would you Command, waler & provision at this season of the year. You know Mexicans have greater facilities in commanding their supplies, than we have, and if they do not advance upon you, allow the difficulty of obtaining waler lo be one of the reasons. I have always abhored the thought of attacking Matamoras, for the reason that no benefit could result to us from il. My letter of Liu~ 8th Inst has given you my views pretty much at length. The U.S. have been called in by both parties to mediate. An advance upon Matamoras, under these circumstances, unless it presented the most perfect assurances or' success, I should think would be calculated to chagrin if not mortify the U.S. and be regarded by them as an acl of agression. It seems lo me that it would be giving the U.S. in return for their kind wishes, a declaration that we neither needed nor regarded any mediation of theirs. IL cannot he that the Army has nothing lo do al home. The Colorado is swept of its inhabitants from the Frontier settlements, lo Moscleys Collon Gin. The inhabitants have fled to the Brazos. I-lad the Army taken post on the Navidad, it could easily by throwing out its Cavalry have given protection lo the inhabitants and chastised the Indians. It would have also been in a better situation lo have given protection lo the Coast. Whal protection could it now render if a force were to be landt'd at any point East of Matagorda? Then I Lake it, it can render no aid in its present Condition lo our West«~rn borders, or lo our Coast. You may rdy upon it our war should be defensive- The Colonies during th,~ n~volution lost by the attempt to take possc~s.-;ion of Quebec.
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