The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 15, July 1911 - April, 1912 Page: 298
382 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Texas Historical Association Quarterly
name a time when it will be convenient for you to grant me an
interview.
William Kennedy
John Bidwell, Esqr.
KENNEDY TO ABERDEEN1
Private. Gregory's Hotel.
Arundel St. Haymarket, June 8th. /42.
My Lord,
In accordance with Your Lordship's suggestion, I had yesterday
some conversation with Mr. Bidwell in reference to the Galveston
Consulate.
When the Salary was fixed at 400, the Department, it appears
from Mr. Bidwell, had no definite grounds to go upon. That
gentleman has therefore recommended that I, being acquainted
with Texas from personal experience, should submit a statement
of facts for Your Lordship's consideration.
A residence in Texas will be expensive on two leading grounds-
first, the newness of the Country-second, the existence of Slavery.
The former will entail the expense of buying the Site of a. house
and bringing the house itself either direct from England, or from
the United States. The latter must greatly increase the outlay
on household servants, British Consuls being, very properly, pro-
hibited from availing themselves of Slave labour.
'The outlay on suitable buildings, taking wood as the Material,
cannot on the most moderate estimate, be set down at less than
500-Galveston is a sandy island, destitute of building Materials.
Male servants cannot, I think, be had at less rate of wages than
50 a year, female servants about 30.
The style of living at Galveston among the more influential
classes, will attain the usual expensive scale of the South, as the
planters increase in wealth, and may be expected soon to reach the
level of New Orleans, the Consul at which port complains of his
inadequate income, although his Salary is 500 and his fees, I
have understood an equal amount.
Mr. Bidwell concurs with me in thinking that the privilege of1F. 0., Texas, Vol. 3.
298
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 15, July 1911 - April, 1912, periodical, 1912; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101056/m1/303/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.