TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
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No. 1602 1839 Dec., N. B. ANDUZE (ABBE.) NEW ORLEANS, [LOUIS- IANA], TO ~I[IRABEAUJ B[UONAPARTE] LAMAR, AUSTIN, TEXAS Introducing the Reverend Messrs. Clark and Haydon, sent by the Bishop -of Louisiana; expectation of an apostolic vicar for Texas. A. L. S. 1 p. No. 1603 [1839], W. ROBERTS, [GALVESTON, TEXAS], TO M. B. LAMAR, AUSTIN, [TEXAS) 68
Your Excellency
Dr Sir I recd some days ago your conciliatory & friendly
letter in relation both to myself & to Alexander & I value it much. It brought to me however nothing strange or unexpected. I had never allowed myself to call in question the sincerity and continued exist- ence of your g[ood]will, nor has Alexander so far as I kn[ow] or ever heard from any quarter- except w[hat] appears in your kind letter. I felt" much humbled that circumstances imposed upon you the neces- sity of making a change in the office 69 I held. Indiscretion & want of experience in accounts on my part together with a want of capacity & fidelity in some of my clerks 70 nave brought my troubles on me & all the consolation left me in this unpleasant affair is that neither guile or fraud had anything to do in it. To satisfy [the world?] of this I have at a great sacrifise sold my house & grounds 71 in order that pay- ment may be made to Govt with as little delay as possible. McKinney & Col Love have undertaken to settle my accts with the treasury in a very short time. I still entertain the hope that I may not be held
"A. L. S. '"Collector of Customs, Galveston.
70 Mr. Griffith, Cashier of the Custom House, and his predecessor, Huntingdon, had failed to account for the sum of $3319.25. A detailed report of the defalca- tion is found in Roberts' letter to the Secretary of the Treasury, on file in the Texas archives, Comptroller's Letters, under date of Nov. 4, 1839. In this com· munication Roberts says: "Having used my best discretion in the selection and appointment of the above named cashiers an'd taken bond and security for the faithful discharge of tbe duties of the office, I trust that a reasonable indulgence will be extended to me until I can recover the amount of thiB defalcation." 71 In a letter of Jan. 3, 1839 (1840) to the Secretary of the Treasury, on: file in the Texas archives, Comptroller's Letters, Roberts states": "niy cash account exhibits a con•siderable balance against me which I have it not in my power at this time to make good. But in order that neither my securities nor the govern- ment should suffer any loBs I have mortgaged to )fr. McKinney & Genl Baker the whole of my estate viz my dwelling house and eleven lots estimated at thirty thousand dollars by my securities themselves and nine negroes worth sixteen: thousand dollars Texas .currency BO that altho unable at present to pay, foe debt is safe."
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