Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-02-21
THE COURT OF TEXAS.

The advertisement that Osnge City," contain
ing one hundred and twenty-six acres of land, one
store house, two dwellings, and sundry out-bud-
ings, is for sale, reminds us of some incidents re-
lated by gentleman who went to Texas before
that renowned empire had acquired It's present I'M
paralleled celebrity. At that time the capital of
Texas, Washington, was pretty much in the condi.
ton Of Usage City, i'll some respects Mr. l.. the
gentleman who gave us the narrative of his adven-
lures travelled from the coast to the capital of Tex
as in a private conveyance, travelling facilities not
being very numerous. He had formed in his mind
certain images of what his reception would be at
the Court of Texas, charged as he was with pet
ty diplomatic Grand, which however warranted him
to believe that his reception would not be atogeth
err " bare and bcggarly." Texas was then younger
by several years than at present her gigantic re-
sources were undeveloped; the tame Of her sons
had not filled every ear, and the United States had
not courted her very valuable alliance, as they have
done now, TO their shame be it said.
Mr.. L. had no particular difficulty in arriv-
ing in the vicinity of the Capital of Texas. Alive
with sangune expectations to the beauty, of
Washington, as his humble equipage entered the
city, he peeped out, and looked cautiously around.
Six small shingled houses greeted his eyes, this
was the glory of Texas, the capital of that cele-
brated empire. This thought Mr.. L. is the sub
urbs His doubts were soon dispelled in "thln
air y these six shingled houses constituted the en-
tire domain. Our traveller was set down at the tav-
ern, and forgot his surprise at the dmlnutlve area
of the Texan capital over good supper of " corn
dodgers and chicken-fxins" There still foated
before him. however, visions of the Texas dlplo-
matte corps, the stately American Minister, his re-
cepton-his Excellency would nod, he would en-
deavor to do something of the sane sort-his Ex-
cellency would scrape and bow, he would follow
suit. Such plentiful compliments, such inslnuatng
smiles, such remote and delicate diplomatic insnu
atons these things ran in Mr.. LIS head, assls
ted in their fight, perhaps, by copious drinks O.
"corn" whisky strong enough to scrape mans
throat like fish bone
Our diplomatst arose next morning with pleas
;, ing anticpations Of accomplishing the objects o
his mission in a manner at once dgnfed and com
pete. His first enquiries were for the American
Minister near the Court Of Texas the Mnste
was not then in the city, but resided about six mile
out Of the metropolis, on the Plantation of Col. w
All thought Mr. l.. very right in the General HI
has retreated to some gentelnans park in the neigh
borhood to escape from the dissipation of the CAPT
tai. Before visiting the Minister, MIR. L-resol
we'd to visit the officers of the Cabinet He sallie
: forth, therefore, and saw above one door slgr
"Treasury Department"
1t was small one story house, shingled wit
= what they call ".Shakes,' all over the West an
Southwest. Mr.. l.. approached and knocked. Tn
. Secretary was not in. He then tried some of tn
other officers but finally discovered the Chief Cler
OF the Treasury Department, young man who oc
cupied an apartment by himself, bed at one en'
and table in the middle. This important office
chiefly remarkable for his intensely green spec
tacles. On the table in the room, there were thre
y little bundles Of paper, one was labelled Galve
u ton, another Matagorda, and another Veasco.-
$ These were the ARCHIVES of the department
T. Mr. l., after some agreeable conversation wi
- the Chief Clerk of the Treasury Department.
l. gain took to his vehicle, and drove out to the pla
81 tation of Col w. to visit the American MinistC
During his drive he endeavored to frame speec
lie not very long, but immensely important just nece
e. saTy to Introduce his subject with becoming graz
Us y yet not so altogether elevated as to be reyor
C. After an agreeable drive, the boy who condu'
IN ed our diplomatst stopped at pair of bars.
Gu "Whats this Z" said Mr.. l.. "This place is I
oil Colonels" replied the boy, he's about as wide
wake as bear in Lniary thaw !"
~ After taking down the bars, and walking throu
he considerable cow-yard, Mr. l. approached
a double log house, of an ancient fashion, about
ch doors OF which was the usual accumulation of p
VI dogs, hens, and chips An elderly farmer was Sc
: ed on stump, smoking powerfully fragrant p
is- SIS this Col. WIS plantation Z" said Mr.. L.
ne "Yes," replied the ler-Puff-puif- puff.
ne els Col. w. at home: ~ asked Mr. L..
IN Eyes! Pm him." was the repy.-Puf-puf
W; puff.
ed Does the American Minister reside here"
", quired Mr. l..
tai {" ! reckon" was the repy.-Puff
9p' "Will you be so kind as to say that Mr. L.
his Diplomatic Agent from the United States would
Ter happy to see the American Minister near the Co
be of Texas" said Mr.. L..
'g- Upon this the elderly farmer slowly screw
IN himself up off his seat, and poking his head i
md the door of the log hut cried out" Gineral /"
pe Soon aiterward another elderly gentleman mi
mo his appearance at the door, dressed in pictures'
er guise, with pair Of pantaloons that not o.
'ne seedy, but which had every appearance of hav
on been threshed out.
sis this Gen. M" said Mr.. l., in
IN most dulcet tones.
len "Holler, my old chip" said Col. W, 81
d. deefer than mud-turte with three holes puncl
to through his back"
to ais this General M" said Mr. L.. I