The Papers of Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, Volume V

469

PAPERS OF l\fmADEAU Buo~A.PARTE LDIAR

afraid or. ashamed of the faithful discharge of every duty, which the l~ws of _his Country, and ~he weal of his co_untrymc_n, may impose upon him; will force approbat10n, even from his enemies themselves." "This is the man," (they are obliged to acknowledge,) "whom we are unable to bend to mean condescensions. We see it is in vain to flatter> or to threaten. him; he rests on a principle within, which we ca.nnot shake. To this man, we may safely commit the reins of government. He is incapable of betraying his trust, or denying his faith." It is this steady, inflexible virtue-this regard to principle, superior to all custom and opinion, which has so peculiarly marked your char- acter through life, and cast upon your Admini.stration such distin- guished lustre. It is this, that shall, (when you shall have passed away from amongst men,) consecrate your memory to all posterity. It is tl11i's sir, that obtained to yourself, that singular testimony of honor & approbation from the Citizens of Austin :-among whom, are some of your most inveterate political enemies. And may this inflexible virtue-- this regard to principle-this singleness of purpose, continue to be the beacon, by which you shall guide your conduct through life; so that the sun of your existence may go down without the intervention a single cloud, to deminish the pure effulgence of your fa.me. As I before intimated to you., I design publishing a work. And if I remember aright I promised to send you my Prospectus-which I now- transmit to you. You will confer a great favor upon me, if you will shew it to Mr Cruger, and request him to give it four insertions. I am very hard run; as I have a large family to support, and but lim- ited means to do it with. If it were not for thi.s I would send the money to pay for its publication. If he will insert it, as above, he will do me a favor which will ever be held in remembrance, and promptly reciprocated when, an opportunity shall offer. If he will consent to do so-please hand him the Prospectus. I also send you the M. S. of a Sketch which I once shewed you. I have revised, and greatly amended it. It is the first number of the series that I design publishing. I will send you the second, in a short time. I will publish them from time to time, in the "Sentinel"- until I have c9mpleted the first Vol- which will be done by the first of June next. The sketch I send you was once published in the ''Telegrnph"-but as it has been so materially altered-and as it has been some time since its publication in that paper, it may now be perused with interest ~y many of the lovers of light literature. The next I shall send you, will be the "Recluse of the Valley"-a sketch in two chapters. I sent the first part of it to you for your perusal, and supervision, last fall; but unfortunately, your health would not admit of your giving it your at- tention. It is now completed, and is undergoing revision and corr~ tion. With the influence of you, and your friends, I hope that I will be able to get the first volume of the work out, by the first of October next. Your ob't serv't LEWIS l\L H. WASHINGTON [Addressed :] To his Excellency l\I. B. Lamar City of Austin, Texas. [Endorsed:] L. l\I. H. Washington Nashville Texas, Apl 20th 1841

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