The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-10-18
INTERESTING FROM TEXAS.

sehucHian Nlio arrived here few DAYS
since from Hampstead county. has com.
muaicatcd to us the following Interesting
particulars in relation 10 the rre,,n, s;tu,.
ton al aitirs IN TIC pro,.Agr ofTc,.,y. aud
of the distrs SD condition Of the TAI. ,n,i-
grants IN thai country.
Just before he left Hampstead county .o,1r
informant conferstd with two or three re-.
spectacle and intelligent gentlemen, who
hid Just returned from Mr.. Ausiin's settle.
nent at the mouth Of the Colorado, and
hom an extensive imploring tour through
most ottae principal parts Of the province
oflexas. From affirmation derived from
them, hopes are still entertained that the
report of the death of ,Iudgt austin isun
founded. Notwithstanding the confident
manner in which ii is announced in the cy-
tract from the Lousianian."l They state.
that sumo time before they left the settle
ment, reports Of the death Of Mr.. Austin
Ind reached there-oBe, that lac had been
Drowned, and another that he had been shot
but both were contradcted, and believed
10 he uninnnded, before they lett. About
the time Of their leaving the settlement, a
letter, lGate not recolcctcd) from Mr. Aus
TN was received there hy his brother, at
which time he was IN Mexico. He inform
ed his brother that the prospect ofuGtaiuing
a confirmation of his grant was very doubt
ini-ladsei, il was next to n certainty that
II would be rejected or il confirmed, i,
would bc III such IA way, as, in all prUhahii-
y, to be rejected by Mr.. Austin. One of
the conditions ON which the grant was to
have been made, was, that he should settle
800 families within certain limits, in a stipu-
lated time, and it is now required that the
settlers mast all be cotled Caih0iics "a re-
QUESTION not easily to be complied with.
None but Catholics are permitted to set
tie in the province. 1t is said the inhab-
tants will be required To reside in villages,
each of Which TO be under local comman-
dant, who will be appointed by the lmpc-
rial Government, and each village to support
one or more priests, according 10 the num-
ber q lnhabtants. Every lnhahitant is re-
qulfcd t. take the oath of allegiance, TO
swear that he Is Il Catholic, aud that he
viii support and defend that rclig ion-noae
oiter being toieroted.-SlNery i, expressly
prohibited throughout the Mexican Empire,
and its dependencies.
The situation of the late emigrauts to
that pro, nee, ard indeed, of many of the
old inhabitants, was truly to be comlnlsera-
ted. Their crops had entirely failed, in
consequence ofan excessive drought which
had prevailed throughout the province for
several months. 1t is said that not one
drop Of rain had fell in the settled parts
of the province since the the oath of May
last. Water, for ordinary family purposes,
was extremely scarce aud in mast places
the cattle were suffering from thirst, as we'll
as hunger. TIT grass IA some places was
completely parched up b, tie sun, and
large proportion Of the cattle That had been
driven into the province, had died of hun
ger those that remained, were so poor as
In be Of little or no u7e 10 their owners.
Ihe cows produced but a small quantity
Of milk, aud even tina. WAS rendered I'm
wholesome and unfit for use, on account of
It's being tainted with some vegetable pro-
dncton oi tie pralrcs, on which the cows
feed.
Afflicted with disease, and suffering with
hunger aud thirst, the dl5trcssrs Of the in
habitants, and particularly the late emil
grants, was truly drplorable-we had al
most said incredible. In consequence Of
the drought deer and other game was very
poor and scarce. No bread stu.ls could be
Obtained, without packing it from - 20 100
miles, where they were obliged 10 pay 81
per hushel for ii. But few could afford to
live on corn at this price, and a very large
proportion Of the inhabitants, in conse-
quence Of their extreme poverty, were
compelled to subsist altogether on meat,
and that was so poor as to be considered
unwholesome. " hen our accounts left
there, the inhabitants in many places were
subsisting on the flesh Of .HdStdrg&, wild
horses ard even that was scarce. Their
sutIcrings thus far through the season have
been distressing cnough--what they VIII
be the ensuing winter, may be easily con
iecturod. Al the late emigrants were anN-
ioas to return, bat many would be proven
ted from dong 50, IN consequence OF the
loss Of their horses, which had died OF hun
ger. The horses that remained were too
poor to perform journey back, and even
If they were, ii would De almost impossible
10 find Subsistence for them ON the road.
The Mexican country was in very I'M
settled state, aud thr rich Spaniards were
leaving TIE country as last 40 PosSip'c' VIII
their yaluables. -Four or five Spanish gen
tlemen recently arrived IN the neighhor-
hood of Natchtochrs, outhrr way to New
Orleans. 'ihcy were from Mexico, where
in consequence Of the troublesome times,
they had sold off THEN property and purcha-
sed about laGo mules, which they were car
ry1ng into Louisiana 10 disposeof. \ large
proportion of the mules, were laden with
packs, aud it was Supposed the gentlemen
had large amount Of specie and bullion
with them.
FIVE schooncfs arrived at Mr.. Austin's
settlement some tine since, but in rc'urn-
ing down the Colorado, three of them were
wrecked ou the har aad entirely lost. Our
Informant did not understood what Their
load consisted Of, OF whether they al