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unwilling to go out without the requisite authority, instructions &c., I wrote immediately to Genl. Hamilton to Rend me the papers he had- intending if I got them to embark in the Schooner British Queen on the 1st. of April-The Genl. informed me, he was daily expecting to receive from Texas some papers which were requisite to make our pow- ers complete-and that immediately on reeeiYing them, he would leave home & meet me in Washington, where copies of all his papers could be properly authentieated~thinking very properly, that it was safest'for the original papers & the authentic:ated copies to go out by different conveyances-accordingly I engaged my passage on the Siddons to sail on the 25th., immediately on hearing from Genl. H he had recd. the papers he was expecting from Texas & would meet me in Washington on the 20th. On the 21st. & 22d. I procured authenticated copies of all the Genls. papers came on to the Phila. on the 23rd. remained there dur- ing the day of 24th., & came up here that night expecting to sail on the morning of the 25th. but the packet postponed her departure untill 27th. which gives me opportunity of making you this communication- I give you this history of my movements that you may see, It has not been my fault that I have -not been in England a month ago- Genl. Hamilton is with me & will follow in the Great Western on the 9th. May-he will probably arrive in a week or ten days after me-He re- mains to make some further preparation & because it is thought better · we should risk ourselves, as well as the papers by different conveyances :my present impression is, that I shall remain but a day or two in Lon- ·don, then proceed immediately to Paris-. I think the best & the first· -chance will be for an advance from the French Government--or through rts influence-which if successful, will greatly aid the probabilities of a :sale-and therefore I am for striking there first-What influenc the 1recent change of the French Ministry will have upon the disposition & ability of the King to make the arrangements we desire is more than I can tell-The safety of his throne itself occupies more of his thoughts & anxiety than I like, & I would much rather things were now, as they were when I was in France-for in his present situation, 1 fear he will think it safer to do nothing, than to do a thing right & proper in itself, unless that thing is so clearly right & proper as that it cannot be made the cause of rendering him unpopular- This I hope we can make aparent, but I fear it will not be so easy -as it would have been last fall- We are carrying out ,itrong in- fluences to operate on the French Government & ministry & I cannot but feel much confidence of success-I do not believe that a.ny Loan ever went from this continent backed by such powerful extraneous in- iluences-we have moved heaven & earth whenever we thought we could procure aid, & notwithstanding the unpropicious times, I cannot but express to you much confidence & hope that we will succeed- · At the same time I have had too much e,xperience on this subject not to know. that in' any times, to borrow $5,000 000 for a new country-so little known & with so little credit as Texas enjoys, is a thing that no man can say with any certainty can be done- From the distance, the aspect of affairs in Europe is much better than when I left there-and the general wisdom, prudence & good sense displayed by all the departments of that government of Texas for the last year, added to the rapid immi- gration to the country, must all tend strongly to strengthen our chances
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