Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-11-03
From the IIesperia al.
NOTES on TEXAS.

4 rom SH@ IAc1 le4id'i-
NOTES on TEXAS.
CHATTER
AsriraE in Tsras--GaIrcstoa Bay-LafHe IL
Pirate-1IcE;cnn prisoner8-aSlieiis--City o
Galueston-.Storm.
On the ord OF March, 1884, the ~ roralo
from Now Orleans with sixty hnnau beings Ian
dcd in Galveston bav, Texas, after Il stormy ans
pro,racted voyage Of two weeks. One OF tins
number ofpersonS was the author Of thoso Notes
The sun had lst sot the scssel came To an
Choir. The sails were fdrIcd and all anxious!y
gathered deck II 9aze upon the new scenes
which were spread before them. Sk!tis o!
small boats were seen gliding III all directions
from the shore. the oarsmen pulling with heafte
Of controversy, zach eager to hear first what
news had been brought by TIE strangers across
the waters Newspapers were demanded, and
pcrdse. with interest which showed that TIE.
spIrt-stiriiDg scenes OF Il new country IA ~"
midst Ola revolution, were not sufficient to make
the patriot or advcntu-CT zee! indifferent to what
was takinu place in other lands. iha more car
" engrant extended hearty welcome 10 his
newly acquired countrvman. one who was to
share with him the duHgers Of IL new and tnrbu-
lent country, while the latter seemed 10 regard
the former rs his friend and counsel III the novel
scenes in which he about 10 C.nbafk. We
here learned the recognition of Texas iudepend-
Cnce by the government of the United :5tatca.--
The intelligence reached Ecasco by vessel
which left New Orleans DAYS after the III
Dorado. 1t infused new life into the bosom OF
every Texian when he told that his country.
which bad always been regarded as the asylum
of tho outlaw and the desperate OF every land,
had at last received the countcnance oione OF the
Independent nations of tho earth. Inc Inteiil-
eence created great iov throughout the land
Cannon wcrO fred at many different points as
they were 10 be found. Many, too. hailed the
al, fret cfcr,
towards admission into the Union oi the STATES OF
tho North; an event dcvouily hoped for by every
citizen of Texas.
The want Of recommendations shore made it
necessary for all TO remain for the night IN the
vessel; sad disappointment to many who' urea
ofconfiaemcnt and The smell oi bilgG water, were
anxious to be once more on land, and to make
their first acuunintancc with the soil which WAS
to be the thea,rc OF their future toll and enter
prise.
On the clear and beautiful morning OF the 3d.
Mt an early honrai were ready 10 d.3ctnaark-
The vessel had anchord some distance from shore
owing TO tho shadows which put ont from the
land and the long boat was launched. NotWith-
standing the light draft Of our boat, we
were compelled TO wade thirty or forty yards be-
fore we reached the dry part Vi the island These
shadows put out INTO the bay from the land at
nearly every point in the harhor. and present
great obstacles to commerce, which can only be
surmounted bv the construction OF docks at an I'm
mcnse expense.
The eastern extremity of Galveston island lies
IN latitude % der. 10 min, longitude Nasning-
ton, IL deg. 30 min. 1t is thictv-slx miles IN
length from northeast to Southwest, averaging
three miles ia breadth This strip of land lies
opposite the BAY formed by the waters OF Buff
filo BAYOU. Sl.. Jacnto and Trinidad, and forms
a good harbor by arresting the surgcs OF the gut
The cas-, pass is a half mile in width, and the
water upon the bar at its deepest point does not
exceed fourteen feet. The water upon the west
pass is still less, and at no pnlGt Is 1t deeper
than six or seven feet. The whole island pre-
sents rather a drearv and .oghidiIng aspect. with
nothing 10 relieve the eve or diversity the pros
pect. except three lone trees upon It's sout-east-
ern side, about midway, and which stand as the
only beacon TO the mariner along thiS solitary
and mono,onous portion Of the Cult of Mexico.
Pelican island. which lies Mt the north and north
east is even more surnber aud dcSoate III lis APP
pearance than Galveston. The entire view OF
the country as Won enter the harbor Is dfscnur-
aging, and reminds ono of the marshes and la
goons the Mississippi The surface oil Calves
ton island is low, so much that there have
been times when IL has been nearly covered with
water through its whole extent. by the violence
of the winds and tide. The soil in places
is rich ailuv ia and great part OF the island Is
covered with grass that is found IN Ill the prarIes
of the West. Water. not entirely free from n
brackish taste, is to DC found by digging few
feet into the sand, and sometimes IN pools upon
the surface.
The island has the reputation of being healthy
on account of the constant and refreshing breeZes
from the ocean. and my own experience during
the sicklv season fully confirms the prevailing
opinion During the summer. many invaids col
!ected at this point from every part OF Texas. TO
embark for the United States, and IN short time
all revived under the saubrious influence of the
climate, Notwithstanding most OF them were com
pelled to biveuac in exposed parts OF the island.
or find quarters on board the different vessels
which anchored in the harbor. So soon as suita-
bic accommodations were provided, doubtless the
island will be an asylum for the afflicted oil e.
ve.y part of Texas. The musketoes are. how
ever, extremely annoying, and soma parts OF the
island almost insufferabIe.