Apr 21 1836 to June 3 1836 - PTR, Vol. 6

of kindness in my power, not incompatible with the laws governing the conduct of neutrals. I have prepared for the Commander in chief of the army of Mexico now in Texas, a communication similar in substance to this and the foregoing--! have concluded however, as the Indians have promised to be peaceable, not to send either letter by Major Hitchcock, or the military escort therein referred to, but by another conveyance. E. P. Gaines [2869) [GOROSTIZA to ----------] Washington, April 25, 1836. Scarcely had the declaration explanatory of the second additional article of the treaty of limits been signed, when this Secretary of State invited me to a conference, in which he communicated to me, in the name of the President, (though in a tone of the ubnost indifference, and as if the subject was of no importance,) what you will find literally translated in the first pages of the annexed document. I, however, immediately perceiving its importance, and not wishing to be precipitate in my answer, or to trust my communication and reply to the memory, ever weak, of a statesman, limited myself to observing that I was too little acquainted with English to be able to flatter myself that I had sufficiently understood the whole force and value of his expressions; and that, in order to avoid all possible misunderstanding, I entreated him to repeat to me in writing what he had just communicated, so that I might inform myself completely of it, and be able lo reply with confidence. The Secretary of State (who speaks Spanish and French tolerably, but who, from excess of precaution, will never conduct diplomatic affairs in any other language than English) had to agree to this; and on the next day he sent me the memorandum in question. I think that the Supreme Government will approve of my answer, to which, in my humble conception, no reply can be made. This audacious measure (paso alrevido) on the part of the American Government may have arisen from two different causes, although in every way it is directed towards one and the same purpose, namely, to favor the Texans.