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PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
No. 2071 1841 July 23, EDWARD FONTAINE, AUSTIN, [TEXAS] TO .1\1. B. LAMAR, GALVESTON, TEXAS 18
Austin July 23d. 1841.
( ) ( To His Excellency, ) ( Genl. M. B. Lamar. ) ( )
Dear General,
. We reached Captain Swisher's without accident the fourth day after we left this City. I spent a pleasant week in the neighbourhood, during which time I visited Doctor Hoxey. I found him and his family well. They made many inquiries about you, and sent you their best respects. If you should determine to return to Aus- tin in some private conveyance, they would be delighted to see you there and at Captain Swishers, & in fact all through that Country. I can not readily account for your popularity in that region, for both Hous- ton & Burnet men frequently speak well of you. I proposed a trade with the Doctor on your prescribed terms, but found that he had no money, & he told me there was but very little in the Country. Cole, I was informed, has lately had to borrow money to pay his taxes. The Dr. has lately purchased a girl and a tract of land on the Brazos at the mouth of the Yegua, where he intends having a negro quarter. · The candidates for Congress in Washington, I found were l\fsrs. Bogart, Wilkinson, Stamps, Williamson & Cole. The contest will be between Williamson & Cole. ~ think Burnett will get a better vote in Washington than his friends anticipate; & old Sam has declined in popularity consider'ably since the publication of his Gonzales letter. 19 I think the people are becoming more and more afraid of trusting the ri,ghting of the Ship of State into the hands of a hero who can't stand upright himself. I found several on the Colorado (Shuff & Browning among the rest) who were•his warm friends when I went down, but who have since turned in favour of Burnett. I returned to Austin on the 14th. I have had quite a lonely dis- agreeable holiday in the absence of my wife. I devour books as greedily as I can, and write a good deal for amusement; besides I preach occa- sionally; but for all this Time seems to move his wings more slowly than he has done since I was a little school-boy. I am anxious to see you return, that I may "lash the lingering moments into speed" by hard work. We are expecting you soon, although I know of nothing of a public of private nature that demands your immediate presence. Our City is hot and dusty, but quite healthy at present. I know o.f but one case of fever. The son of Mr Simmons our Treasurer is dangerously ill with Congestive fever. Mrs Chalmers is still confined to her bed from the astonishing fall she latelv had from her buggy, and which you probably saw noticed in the Gazette of last week. The Doctor has so far recovered as to be able to hobble to his office occasionally. They ' 18 A. L. S. 1 9'.I'his letter is answered and quoted in part in the Telegraph and Texas Register of June 3Q,_ 1841. In the Archives of the Texas St::.te Library.
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