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PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPAR'rE LAM.AR
serve under you than any other-but his illness and other circum- 'stances will prevent his availing himself of it. With many wishes for your success in all your undertakings Your friend CATHERINE E How. ARD [Addressed:] Gen Mirabeau, B, Lamar Loredo- Politeness of Mr. Pearce [Endorsed:] C. E. Howard to M. B. Lamar ,., No. 2269. THOMAS M. LIKENS TO LAMAR On board the U. S. Steamer Major Brown Laredo Texas Deer. 9th. 1846 Sm, Nought until last evening did I believe or even suspect that the in- vective tongue of mischief and malice prompted (it seems to me) by a determination to make my destruction sure, and fasten upon me lasting infamy and disgrace. Since learning the efforts that are making against me, I must ac- knowledge Sir that, that confidence that had hitherto sustained me- that of having discharged my duty faithfully and honestly only gives me that internal assurance of innocence but no assurance that I will meet that Justice which I alone desired to obtain. No Sir, I see the array against me, that is being employed, isolated as I am, is too strong for me to contend successfully against in obtaining justice, at this time, and I will add, much of which coming from a source, that I least expected. The only solace left with me, is to wait the issue, and with bitter- ness to curse the day that I enrolled my name a member of the Laredo Guards but this is [sic] affords little Relief to an oppressed mind when I Reflect that the motives -which prompted me, were not those of proud ambition, but purely and honestly to better my pecuniary circumstances, take with me, from the service the boon for the inherit- ance of my beloved family coupled with the small pecuniary emolu- ment, the plaudit of having discharged i_n the service of my country, the duties which were incumbent upon me honestly and faithfully; but in lieu, I have now the Return to make to those that are far more dear to me then life itsself, of disgrace, which poorly atones to them- for the many privations and miserys which they have suffered during my absence. there is in the whole of this transaction mystery that I am greatly at a lo'ss to divine, up to the hour that I Recd your letter of dismissal from office, I indulged the belief that nought but the most friendly feelings exisisted [sic] by yourself towards me and what seems to me still more mysteriously strange, is the fact that the last personal interview between us I expressed a desire to wind up so soon as I could the outstanding debts of the Office- of obtaining a discharge in consequence of feeble health, to which I understood you to signify acquiescence- and immediately after without any other cause known to me, of disapproval on your part, I Recd your note of disgrace. Now, Sir my means being verry limited and my expenses verry heavy, I Respectfully ask, that you will inform me what length of
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