374
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 184,1
To ASHBEL SMITH 1
Cedar Point, 25th Aug. 1841 Dear Sir, I send Frank for you, if you can, come over. Mrs. H-is affected, she thinks, with "bronchitis"-She is ill anyhow! I send No. 4 of "Truth" and hope it may be sent up by the Gattalion without fail, and with injunctions to have it handed to its address. Some friend might be on board to take charge of it-let the best be done! Salute Mrs. & Mr. Allen for us. Houston. Dr. Smith. [P. S.] I dont want it known on the Boat who sent this pack- age to Major Riely 2
Houston.
Texas
[Addressed] : To Doct. A. Smith per Frank
Allendale
1 Ashbel Smith Pavers, The University of Texas Library. 2 James Reily was born and reared in Hamilton, Ohio; he removed to Lexington, Kentucky, while still a youth, and studied law in the office of Judge Robert Todd, and according to the custom of the times, boarded in the home of his preceptor. There he became a great favorite of the little daughter, Mary, whom he petted and spoiled excessively. James Reily was admitted to the bar and married Ellen Hart, the favorite niece of Henry Clay. The young couple went to Texas to make their fortune; little Mary Todd grew up and married Abraham Lincoln. The Reilys reached Texas in the latter part of 1836, or early days of 1837. They settled first at Nacogdoches, but soon moved to Houston. There James Reily first at- tracted public attention as Captain of the Milam Guards in an expedition against the Indians. He was a quiet, modest man, but it was soon realized that he was a well-trained lawyer, and an orator who could hold his own with the best in the country, and at a later day he came to rank with Ashbel Smith and J. Pinckney Henderson as a diplomat. On January 24, 1839, Lamar appointed him a commiss:oner to negotiate the sale of a million dollars worth of the bonds of the Texas Government; on February 1, 1840, Lamar nominated him District Attorney for the 5th Judicial District, but the Senate refused to confirm the nomination; then he was elected a repre- sentative from Harris County to the Fifth Congress, November 3, 1840, to February 5, 1841. On December 23, 1841, Houston appointed him Min- ister to the United States, but upon finding that a Minister would probably not be received by the United States Government, withdrew the appoint- ment as minister, and appointed Reily charge d'afjafres at Washington; there, on July 13, 1842, Reily, acting as Representative from Texas, and Daniel Webster acting for the United States, the Treaty of Amity and Com- merce and Navigation between the United States and Texas was signed.
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