The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914 Page: 191
454 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
British Correspondence Concerning Texas 191
the pecuniary embarrassments of the Married friends of these
parties at New York, this project fell to the ground.
An agricultural establishment had been made upon Cozumel in
the year 1838, by the Governor of Yucatan, the first Alcalde of
Merida, and Colonel Peraza, a man of influence among the Yuca-
tans. They engaged in the cultivation of Cotton, sent to their
plantation about thirty debtors and criminals taken from the
prison of the City of Merida, and confided the Superintendence of
the business, with a share of the profits, to Vicente Alvino a
Spaniard well acquainted with the locality, and who had -been
navigating many years as a Contrabandista between Belize and
Sisal.
In 1841 Colonel Peraza, then on a Mission from Yucatan to
Texas, when passing through New Orleans, was requested to co-
operate with a Military officer of Texas who hoped to succeed in
organizing a Company in Tennessee, for the purchase of a. large
part of the island of Cozumel. The documents before me State
that Colonel Peraza pledged himself to favour this individual "all
that he could."
The State of Yucatan embroiled with the general Government
of Mexico, and, pressed for resources, issued a Law on the 5th
of April, 1841, relative to, the Sale and Conveyance of its vacant
lands. On the 14th of October 1841, a Company was formed at
Galveston, to purchase a portion of Cozumel, under the provisions
of this Law. The first associates were three in number, and there
were five others who were to. have the privilege of joining them, if
they came forward with funds "in good time." Among the five
were the Commodore of the Texan Navy and two officers of rank
in the regular service of Texas.
One of the three original associates who had been Collector of
Customs at Galveston, under the Mexican Government, was fur-
nished with Money and instructions, and sent to, Galveston, where
he arrived in November 1841. He was Commissioned, in the first
instance, to purchase two Square leagues of land in the island of
Cozumel, proceeding according to the designated order of selection
already shown in outline. With the sanction of the local Authori-
ties, he surveyed six Square leagues of land, and assured his asso-
ciates that, "with sufficient powers of attorney and funds in hand,"
he could, "from time to. time, acquire the whole island gradually,
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914, periodical, 1914; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101061/m1/195/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.