The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 63, July 1959 - April, 1960 Page: 454

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

Stephc . Austit-Ctarles . Sayre
Correspowldeyce
Contributed by WALTER E. GROVER
THE EXHAUSTIVE SCHOLARLY STUDIES Of Eugene C. Barker
leave few documentary omissions in the collected writ-
ings and correspondence of Stephen F. Austin, but occa-
sionally rare, previously unknown pieces come to light to take a
place beside the honored contributions of the Father of Texas
History. Such an occasion recently occurred when two hitherto
unsuspected Austin letters were discovered in the collections of
Ben Sbarbaro of Galveston. An examination of the Austin ma-
terials in the Eugene C. Barker 'Texas History Center at the Uni-
versity of Texas disclosed that neither item had been published,
and no record of either letter was found in the calendars of un-
printed Austin correspondence.
The first letter reproduced herewith was written by Stephen F.
Austin to Charles G. Sayre from Harrisburg on February 6, 1832,
and Sayre's reply to Austin was written from Brazoria on the fol-
lowing day.
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN TO CHARLES G. SAYRE, HARRISBURG, FEBRUARY 6, 1832
DEAR SIR-
I yesterday had the pleasure of meeting Col. Bradburn at Mr.
Scotts. I will merely state to you in the positive that the opinion
which some have expressed as to this gentleman are erroneous, unjust
and utterly false. I also say to you in the positive that the opinion, that
General Teran is the bitter enemy of all North Americans is un-
founded and false-he is not their enemy and on many occassions
has shown that he is a warm friend.
I wrote you from San Felipe that all the rational part of the
people were very unanimous in condeming and dissaproving in
the most positive manner the violent and intemperate language and
conduct at Brazoria-you may rely upon it that this is the fact-
others & some call themselves my friends will tell you differently-
they are deceiving themselves, or willingly perverting the truth for
the purpose of revolution.

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