TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
460
Texas last year- and my regret that I should not have been so for- tunate as to meet you during my present visit. I had fully purposed returning from Austin via Washington, in order to have paid my respects to you, but expecting Mr. Burnley would be in all probability on his way to the capital by the other and more usual route.- -I was obliged to forego the pleasure ·being under the necessity of seeing him. Sincerely hoping I shall ere long hear of your restoration to health. I Remain My dear Sir with great respect Yr E:xcys Obt. hble -Servt A.RTHUR !KIN His Excy. M. B. Lamar &c &c. &c. [Endorsed:] Arthur Ikin Galveston March 9th 1841 No. 1976. LAMAR TO CHARLES DEMORSE AND OTHERS City of Austin 9th March 1841. I regret extremely that circumstances at this time will not permit me to accept the public dinner tendered in your communication of yes- terday in behalf of yourselves and fellow citizens of this county and ·city. In declining the honor intended, I would by no means have it inferred that I do not duly appreciate its value, or fully reciprocate the kind feelings with which it has been offered. Almost wasted to the grave by severe and protracted sufferings, I took my leave of the good people of this city in December last, with but little prospect of shortly, if ever., mingling with them again in the transaction of public affairs, or in the enjoyments of social life; but having been unexpectedly relieved through a munificient Providence of the most of my personal afflictions., I should certainly betray, not only a great ingratitude to that provi- dence, but also a total want of every generous quality of the human heart, if I were now to receive with indifference or neglect that gen- eral expression of satisfaction which greets my restoration to health., and my resumption of official duties. So far from this being my dis- po~ition. I be<i" leave to assure you, that no circumstance during the whole of my administration has afforded me so much unaffected pleasure ·as this manifestation of public confidence and private regard by the citizPns of Austin. It not only kindles in my bosom towards each and all of them, individually and collectively, the strongest feelings, of per- sonal attachment, which I sincerely hope no circumstance may ever in- terrupt or diminish; but it inspires me to higher exertions in the dis- charge of duty, because it gives the assurance that he who serves his country with fidelity, will always be rewarded by its generous affecti [oJn. To that portion of your letter, gentlemen, which alludes to some of mY official acts iu terms of commendation, I can offer no other response fo 0 r the pre~ent, than merely to state, that whilst I regret with your- selves, the loss of a few of my favorite measures, I am still cheered by the reflection, that much of my polic_v has been adopted by the Co_n- gress, nn,1 has received the approving voice of the natio1:- If our national legislature had concurred in my estimation of the importance CHARLES DE:i\l ORSE WILLIAM G. COOKE and other gentlemen of the Committee
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