WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 184,2
83
.Count Leontio de Narbonne came to Texas, either in the last months of 1841, or with a company of French immigrants in February, 1842. (Smith to Houston, February 20, 1842, Ashbel Smith Papers, Univer- sity of Texas Library.) He was good looking, intelligent, and had an agreeable personality. All this group of Frenchmen, Count Narbonne especially, received a cordial welcome, and soon gained the confidence of the more important men of the Republic-Sam Houston, George W. Hockley, Ashbel Smith, James _Webb, Clark L. Owen, and others. It was not long however, before it was found that Narbonne had borrowed money here and there, and everywhere he could get it; he was also accused of swindling (See Ibid., Smith to Rate, November 3, 1843) and had to leave the town of Houston. This destroyed whatever good impression he had made upon his arrival, and he soon left America only to continue his imposition on other 1·espectable men. Ashbel Smith, Texas cha,·ge cl'a.ffafres to London and Paris, decided to investigate Narbonne's character and 1·ating in Europe, for Texans had come to consider him an impostor and even doubted whether he had any right to the title of count. On September 1, 1842, Smith wrote to Houston saying, "That little Count de Narbonne is 1·eally well connected, but a hopeless scamp." See Ashbel Smith Papers, vassim, for the year 1842; also Southwesteni Histo,·ical Qum·terly, XXXIII, 234. To COUNT LEONTIO DE NARBONNE 1 Executive Department, City of Houston, March 19th, 1842. You are hereby appointed to treat and make peace with all the Indians on our North Western frontier. In the execution of the objects of this mission, I repose in you the most implicit confidence in your honor, integrity and capacity. You will make reports to this Department as frequently as may be practicable. You are authorized to give assurance to all the Indians, that the Government of Texas will maintain with them the most friendly and peaceful relations. You are authorized to assure them, also, that traders shall be placed on our frontier at differ- ent points, who shall trade with them on the most just terms.- you will negotiate for the restoration of all prisoners taken by various tribes from the Republic. Sam Houston [Rubric] ir•Houston's Private Executive Record Book," pp. 75-76, courtesy of Mr. Franklin Williams. To Count Leontio de Narbonne, Sir,
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