Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-06-06
From the Philadelphia Courier.
TEXAS.

This interesting country at the present moment
attracts much attention. and calls forth 50 many
! inquiries. tina, we are assured will render an
acceptable service TO the public in presenting The
following information derived from source oil ac-
eurate personal knowledge
Under the Spanish dominion, Texas was Il
separate PROVINCE occupied by three military posts,
La bahia, 81. Antonio dc Bcxaf and Naeogdo-
chcs 4: and settlements OF Alexicans were arouna
each. Which crew into considerable town al BcA-
! ar of ahonf 1000 and at Naeogdoches and La Ba-
ha into villages OF about 500 and 30D mhabi-
tants Thi, number not increased, aud forms
ut present nearly the amount OF the Mexican ana
Spanish population in Texas; an addition oi 1000
would include the Whole.
The country at largo in all its beauty and iert'Il-
~ left unoeeupicd except by the wild horse
deer and the huflioe all oi which, AMONGST nNn-
rant natural pastures have multiplied to an extent
almost Incredible An intelligent trader among
fhc Indians ia the interior regions OF that country,
upon being asked how many buialoe he had seen
in one herd, replied, one million, -mcanne- liieral-
Is what he sad-but it may be restricted to
declaration that they could not be counted. The
deer are still more numerous, aud that noble am
nal the horse roves the country III ercgarlons mas
ses, with al the pride and majesty OF his Arabian
ancestors The progress of population has not
diminished the number oil either, but only limited
heir range.
Texas was but litlc known to our conntrymcn
until seen by the gallant bands who entered 1t IN
and Of the patriot cause, nj different periods OF the
Mexican struggle for independence.
They saw country equal to France in extent,
interscctcd with numcrou, rivers running hundreds
of mules into the interior, producing in its various
climate and soil all the commercial Staples OF the
whole American continent.
They brought home tho knowledge, and rave an
account oil s beauty, fertility and salubris aud
many were tempted to seek an abode there in
spite of the prohibition ofthc then existing laws.
Foremost in tins cntcrprize was Moses Austin.
who about twelve years since, obtained from the
commandant al Bcxar permission 10 introduce
settlers, and repaired to the United States 10 pro-
cure theta hut dying on the route, left 10 hs son,
Col Stephen +. Austin, the iultilmcnf oi his IN
dertahine. Ontlris gcnlcman's arrival At Bcxlr,
he found the eommandant iudspnscd 10 comply
with hi, engagements and the revolution being ac-
eompSlfed, aud new order Of things established,
| lac determined 10 proceed 10 the City OF Mexico,
and there renew the proposal olntroducmg settlers
/ into Texas. The result was a passage OF Il gene
raj colonization law, authorizing particular districts
ol country to be assigned 10 contractors who would
undertake to populate the country. This law laid
/ thr foundation oil n system which made more
liberal and extended hy that of the State Of Coahu-
ia and Texas, under which were made the grants
which have been made the subject of so much en-
! terprze.
Austin wa, the first to begin colonzine, and laid
the foundation OF the extensive settlements now eS-
! isins IN Tcxas. But others soon followed and
! Xlvaa, Burnct and Nchlen were equally success
ml in their application for lands. They selected
the district OF country Immediately on the hounda-
~ line oi the United States, lying between the
Sabine 10 the cast the 81. Jacinto and Nosustc to
the west. and the Gulf OF Mexico on the south,
running north about 300 miles.
Austln's settlement IS contiguous, and lies on
the western line OF Nehlein and Bnrnet, and cm-
braces the rivers ErasSo, and Colorado Grants have
been made to other, in different sections Of the
country, moro remote from our borders, and all of
GOOD linl,. But the settlements from the Sabine
To the Colorado being continued and near to us
are better known, and can be described with more
+ certainty.
Texas IN general IS "A prairie country, having all
the streams sirtcd by timber. This is more parti-
eulary lis character after passing the Trinity; and
rs you advance 10 the north west, the praircS are
OF vast extent. But in the grants OF Iavala, Bur
net and AehlrIn there is less OF prairie aud more of
wood land. They abound in beautiful natural
meadows, of dimensions from one to five hundred
and thousand acres, producing IA luXurant her
/ baCc at all seasons, but having large proportion
of woodland without undererowlh, aforaing fine
paSturagc, and presenting he aspect of splendid
lawns and parks, prepared with the taste and la
Dor ofhieh cultivation
On some OF the riyefs,-the BlassoS for in
atauce,--arc dense forests. but they are never
found the highlands.
The nidness OF the climate is SUCH that no
provision is made for horses, cattle, hogs, nor for
any stock on "A farm; natures ample store is sui.
hcrut throug hout the year and AT all season, they
hitcn on the natural pastures. OF course the,
multiply rap div and Texas may be called tht
paradise of animals Of the inferior order
That splendid plant the Indian corn, grow,
throughout ~ perfect majesty, almost scorning thu
aid of cultivation. From the Gull 20 an avcrae,
distance Of 20 miles, the country is level, ano
forms the sugar district. At this point, about
latitude 80 degrees, the surface becomes undll-
alup, and wheat, rye and oats can be raised and
one desfer further north produces abundant har-
,r>ts. Cotton is cultivated from the Gulf 20 the
Red River, aud yields largely, with staple u
nformls good and near the Gull, in length am
hncncss OF staple, approaches the Sea Island cot
ton.