The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 37, July 1933 - April, 1934 Page: 192
330 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
made more navigable and connected by canal with Galveston Bay.19
Throughout the fall months he busied himself with exploring
the river, and considering possible locations for a ten-league grant,
for which he had made formal application to the state government.
His petition of February 24, 1830, reinforced by the recommenda-
tion of the officials of the municipality of Matamoros, had based
his plea for this large concession on services rendered to the com-
mercial and agricultural development of northern Mexico. He had
not only introduced steam navigation on the rivers of the country,
it declared, but if the grant were allowed, he would settle his large
family in Texas. In the meantime, his petition for one league of
land, the normal amount allowed the head of a family, was
approved and provision made for the survey. It was to be located
on Austin and Flores creeks, northwest of Brazoria, and about six
leagues east of the Brazos River.20
This did not mean that Henry Austin had definitely decided to
settle in Texas. If his application for a special ten-league grant
had not been eventually approved, it is doubtful that he would
have decided to make Texas his permanent home. As he wrote
his cousin:
"It would be folly for me to devote the remainder of my life to
the occupation of a league of land.
"I must do something on an extensive scale with prospects of
ultimate advantages of magnitude or do nothing, you and I may
indulge our imaginations with the pleasing prospect of passing the
remainder of life in the tranquility which a snug stock farm appears
to offer but neither you nor I could exist in such a State."21
Although Henry Austin was undecided as to his future course
when he left Texas for New Orleans in the late fall of 1831, a
friendship with Stephen F. Austin had been formed which was to
have a profound effect on his future. In September, 1830, Stephen
had written his brother-in-law, James F. Perry:
"I expect Henry Austin here . . . and on the first inter-
view with him I shall tell him of this part of my habits so that he
9"Austin to Stephen F. Austin, August 25, 1830, Austin Papers, II, 473.
20Texas Gazette (San Felipe), September 6, 1830; Spanish Archives, VII,
59-61; VIII, 505, in General Land Office, Austin.
"'Austin to Stephen F. Austin, October 20, 1830, Austin Papers, II, 518.192
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Texas State Historical Association & Barker, Eugene C. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 37, July 1933 - April, 1934, periodical, 1934; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101094/m1/211/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.