WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1830
183
in my life, before the Annuity of October, 1829. He came to me, and through an interpreter, informed me that he had understood I intended visiting Washington City, and that, if it would be agreeable to me, he and Mr. John Brown, the present interpreter of the Nation, would accompany me, as they both had accounts to settle in Washington, and he had a son at school in Baltimore, Maryland. I told him it would be perfectly agreeable. He was one of the principal Chiefs of the Nation, and President of the committee at that time. I know nothing of the nature of his accounts at ·washington. The Annuity ended, I left my Father, and repaired to the neighborhood of Cantonment Gibson. I did not see Col. Webber again until at my Father's, on my way to Washington, in December last, when he and Mr. Brown joined me there, and I proceeded on my journey. If he had any business to transact with my Father, it never was communicated to me by 6ither on~ of the parties. If he obtained a draft for the $50,000, or a lien on the annuities, or ever mentioned it, I know nothing of it. I would have thought it ridiculous indeed had he done so, knowing that these moneys had all to pass through the hands of the Agent, and could not be obtained with any draft whatever, unless it was from the Agent; and at that time I was well enough informed relative to his character, to believe that he would not let it escape his grasp, unless where he was particularly inter- ested. "On our way down the river to the Agent's several gentlemen foined us on board our craft. We encamped below the Agent's house, about half a mile, awhile after mid-day. Whilst we were engaged eating supper, the Agent called at our camp. Col. ·web- ber and Mr. Brown had been up at the Agent's previous to that time, and stated that they were to return again that night to his house, when the Agent would settle their business with them. The Agent pressed myself and the gentlemen in company to go up and take supper with him. We excused ourselves, by alleging that we had just supped. He importuned us, and we walked up with him. Col. Webber and Mr. Brown had not supped, and re- mained at camp. On arriving at his house, refreshments were tendered to us, and we drank some brandy with him.-From his dining room we then adjo 0 urned to his office, (Mr. Colville, l\1ajor Coffee, and myself.) He insisted on our spending the night with him; we all declined doing so. He then said he wished to have some p1'ivate conversation with me. I acceded, and we returned again to the dining room, and immediately after, his Clerk stepped
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