of the church. The Commissioner and myself, with the Mexican flag, leading the way; next to us were two master masons, one carrying a stone and the other a portion of mortar. On arriving at the place, we found that a small part of the foundation of the church had been dug; one of the masons prepared the bed, and I then laid the first stone of the Villa de Dolores: a bumper of wine all round was then tossed off to the prosperity of the new town, amidst cheers and repeated firing of guns. We now proceeded to swear allegiance to the Mexican Republic, which was done first by myself, and then by all the rest of the colonists. We next proceeded to the election of magistrates, when the following officers were declared duly elected; Alcalde 1st Regidor Syndico J. C. BEALES. E. LUDECUS. These names were received by cheering, &c. ; a bumper of rum was drunk to my health, this being the celebration of my birth-day. We now sat down to dinner, which I commemorate, as we dined off turkey and " Paté de foies gras aux truffles," from Paris, while our wines were Madeira and Champagne! After dinner, the Chief and other Shawnees came to the tent, and danced, and sang their war-song. I should have stated that the day began by a religious ceremony, which, to say the least of it, was equally interesting with the remainder. One of the families named Page had a little girl aged six months, which they wished me to christen, as there was no clergyman near the place. I accordingly did so; my little daughter, Anita, being its godmother, and through Mr. Egerton, bestowing her name upon it. The day was beautifully fine, and everything passed off with the greatest order and good humour. March 26th.-Everybody employed in laying out the streets and clearing them-the day exceedingly hot. (Thermometer 90°.) March 27th.-The Shawnees left us; the chief having given me the name of his "friend," while I gave him a pipe. All hands employed as yesterday. March 28th.-Got a plough to work, and a blacksmith's shop employed repairing another plough; most of the people writing letters; self very busy in placing all my goods in my new storehouse, which is completed, with the exception of the roof.-Thermometer 100. March 29th.-This morning most of the people idle, or writing letters; self concluding my affairs, and taking a farewell stroll" about the town." About one o'clock, every thing being ready, I had the pleasure of seeing the first stone of my house laid. After dinner, the animals were brought out, and a farewell address was made to me, and I left the "Villa " accompanied by Messrs. Egerton, Paulson and Addicks. We went as far as the " Sauz," where we passed the night. Although I had been so short a time in the place, it was like leaving home, and would have caused me real regret, had it not been that I was returning to my family. March 30th.-Mr. Egerton returned to the Villa, and the rest of us continued our journey; but we soon turned off from the road, as I understood there were some veins of coal among the hills. We passed over some beautiful land, and saw several large pools of fine water. After a long search, we were fortunate enough to meet with the coal; I took several specimens of it, and then made for the river, which we found with much less difficulty than when we last saw it. We crossed at the Paso de las Adjuntas del Rio Escondido, and I took leave of my lands for this trip. The settlement at Dolores did not prosper, owing to a variety of causes; of which the principal apparently was the absence of proper qualifications in the colonists themselves. Mr. Power, who accompanied the Empresario, disapproved of the site of Dolores, on the various grounds that the stream Las Moras was insignificant; the settlement too remote from the nearest town, San Fernando, which was seventy miles distant; and the soil, though of the best quality, not productive without irrigation, which was troublesome and expensive. Mr. Power preferred the lands on the Rio Grande; the flats being a deep rich loam, containing sufficient moisture to produce any crop without irrigation, and the highest bank of the river (there being three) affording the very finest pasture. The settlers, unacquainted with the agriculture of the country, were disappointed in their first crop, which failed for want of irrigation. They became discontented with their location, and, with the exception of eight persons, determined to leave it on the 17th of June. They withdrew accordingly, and Mr. Power and the remainder removed, for safety, to San Fernando, to await the arrival of another expedition. Political occurrences in succeeding years interrupted colonization in the district of the Rio Grande; and although Dolores obtained a place on the map, it had no pretensions to the name of a successful settlementsupplying farther evidence of the superiority of the Anglo-Americans in forming colonies. The North Americans are the only people who, in defiance of all obstacles, have struck the roots of civilization deep into the soil of Texas. Even as I trace these lines, I reflect upon their progress with renewed wonder and admiration. They are, indeed, the organised conquerors of the wild, uniting in themselves the threefold attributes of husbandmen, lawgivers, and soldiers. From this episode in Texan history, I turn, to resume the narrative of general events during the year 1834. CHAPTER VIII. Continued Imprisonment and Representations of Stephen AustinViolent Dissolution of the Federal Congress by Santa AnnaEffect of Military Usurpation on the Mexican States-Dissensions in Coahuila and Texas-Dissolution of the State Government-Measures of the Citizens-Differences among the Colonists,-Unionists, and Separatists-Restoration of the State. Government-Statistical Report of Texas, by the Federal Commissioner Almonte. AUSTIN was detained in the old prison of the Inquisition in the city of Mexico, from the 13th of February, to the 12th of June 1834: after the first three months, the rigour of his confinement had been abated. His case was referred to the military tribunal, which declared itself incompetent to deal with it. He was then removed to the prison of the Acordada, and his case submitted to a civil functionary, in whose hands it remained until the 12th of August, when this authority also disclaimed the power of jurisdiction. The Federal District judge having dismissed it summarily on the same ground, it was brought under the cognisance of the Supreme Court of the Mexican United States, to ascertain from that tribunal what court was competent to proceed to trial. Writing from his prison on the 25th of August, 1834, Mr. Austin said "I do not know as yet what court is to investigate my case. I have long since requested to be delivered to the authorities of the State of Coahuila and Texas; and I presume I shall be finally sent to the district court (Federal Judge) of that state. The President, Santa Anna, is friendly to Texas and to me, (of this I have no doubt,) would have set me at liberty long since, and in fact, issued an order to that effect in June, had not some statements arrived about that time from the State Government of Coahuila and Texas against me, which I understand have contributed to keep me in prison so long. It is said the report of the State Government on the subject is founded solely on the statements of some influential persons who live in Texas. Who those persons are I know not. It is affirmed that they are North Americans by birth, and I am told that if I am not imprisoned for life, and totally ruined in property and reputation, it will not be for the want of exertion and industry on the part of some of my countrymen who live in Texas. Whether all this be true or not, I know I am unwilling to believe it. I am also told that no efforts were left untried, during the last winter and spring, to prejudice the members of the legislature and State Government against me at Monclova."* The remainder of this long letter, which bespeaks a man anxious for liberation and apprehensive of foul play, is charged with complaints against "violent political fanatics" who were clamorous for the erection of Texas into a Federal State, and for high-handed measures" with the General Government, and who abused the writer because he was "too mild, too passive, too lukewarm" on the subject, yet endeavoured to compass his destruction * A decree of the State of Coahuila and Texas had removed the Sessions of the Legislature from Saltillo (Leona Vicario) to Monclova. |