WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 184,3
219
turnovers of their mercantile affairs. As early as' April 30, 1835, Williams had obtained a charter from the Coahuila-Texas Government to open a Commercial & Agricultural Bank (the name designated in the charter) at Galveston, but for Jack of the necessary minimum capital--$100,000- the bank was not organized until several years later. Nevertheless, the firm of McKinney & Williams served as the financial backer of the Texas revolution, and both men did all in their power, both publicly and privately, to promote the interests of the newly declared republic. The. Commercial & Agricultural Bank was formally opened on De- cember 30, 1847, and for the next ten years carried on a large international and state business. The firm opened a branch bank at Brownsville on the Mexican border, from which the large international business was transacted. After Williams's death at Galveston, September 13, 1858, the business fell into misfortune; heavy losses were incurred, adverse decisions of the Supreme Court of Texas annulled the charter, and the bank was closed. See the collection of Williams Papers, Rosenberg Library; E. C. Barker, Life of Stephen F. Austin, 132, 150, 283, 328, 342, 362-368, 388, 471, 515; E. C. Barker (ed.), Austin Papers (3 vols.) vassim, es- pecially Vol. III; Gammel, Laws of Texas, I, 406 (the bank charter); Dictioncwy of Am.e1-ican Biography, XX, 289-290; Lamar Papers (6 vols.), passim,· William C. Binkley (ed.), Official Correspondence of the Texan Re·volution, 1895-1836, 646, 863, 908-909, 973, 992, 1032, 1042. Supreme Court of Texas files: 18 Texas, 811 (1857), 8 Texas, 255 (1852), 25 · Texas, 264 (1859).
To CHARLES ELLIOT 1
Priva.te
Washington, July 15th, 1843.
My dear Captain, I was gratified by the reception of your last note. In the indisposition of your little one I can well sympathize with you, for we ourselves had nigh lost our babe. He has had quite a severe attack, but we entertain hopes of his speedy recovery. From your allusions to the battered condition of your health, I am fearful, if I should go to the Indian treaty, that I shall not have the pleasure of your company circumstanced as you are in the expectation of the return of the "Scylla." If I should go to the treaty, as at this time I expect, I cannot possibly return much, if at all, before the 1st of September. By the indisposition of my family, things have been so much deranged that I imagine I shall not have it in my power to visit Houston, but go directly to Crockett on my route. General Murphy. expects to go to the treaty. I have written to Viscount de Cramayel, and if I could only see the three flags waving in our wilderness, it would furnish one of the most
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