The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 16, July 1912 - April, 1913 Page: 92

92 The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
claims for the "Eliza Russell" and "Little Pen." He requested
that the removal of the Government from Houston, and Mr.
Jones's and his own absence on other service might excuse the
want of reply to that communication, but I was assured both by
the President and himself that there was great anxiety to adjust
the claim for the "Eliza Russell" and that the destitute condition
of the Treasury was the sole obstacle in that respect. Mr. Terrell
then shewed me an opinion which he had given as Attorney Gen-
eral upon the claim of the "Little Pen" submitted by Messrs.
Lizardi and Cos. Agents, some short time before I arrived in the
Country, and the Inclosed is a copy of a note which I have sub-
sequently addressed to him.2
In the shape that the case had assumed I felt it incumbent upon
myself to enter into it at length, and to endeavour to explain the
grounds upon which it must now be considered and adjusted
I shall continue to press the arrangement of both these claims
with the urgency prescribed in Your Lordship's Instructions; but
there can be no doubt of the disposition of this Government to
settle the first as soon as it is in a situation to do so, and I hope
that the exposition I have now submitted may have the effect of
removing all difficulty respecting the other.
Charles Elliot.
The Right Honorable.
The Earl of Aberdeen K. T. etc.
ELLIOT TO ADDINGTON
Private. Galveston December 16th. 1842
My Dear Sir.
In the situation of affairs here I conjecture that you will always
be glad to hear at the latest date that there is no change for the
worse-if none for the better. And I will only say upon my own
part, that it is no love of long letter writing which has disposed
me to trouble you at what I am afraid you may consider an uncon-
scionable length upon the topics of my present correspondence, but
'See Garrison, Diplomatic Correspondence of the Republio of Texas, III,
1022-1023; in Am. Hist. Assoc. Report, 1908, II.
2Ibid., III, 1058-1062, Elliot to Terrell, December 13, 1842.
8F. 0., Texas, Vol. 4.