The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 40, July 1936 - April, 1937 Page: 17
348 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Prince Solms's Trip, to Texas, 1844-1845
A treaty of peace between Texas and Mexico recognizing the in-
dependence of Texas would be of especial interest and benefit to
the Society, because it would stimulate emigration to Texas, Solms
believed.31
Late in October Prince Solms went from Galveston to Houston,
where he paid a brief call on Fisher, and then went on to Nassau
Farm to await Fisher for an extended conference. On November
16 he was again on his way, this time with a party of men who
had agreed to serve the Society as a military company, and, after
a week's journey on horseback accompanied by the hardships of
rain and a stiff Texas norther, reached Port Lavaca on the west-
ern shore of Lavaca Bay. An inspection of Lavaca and Mata-
gorda Bay occupied the prince during the next five days and led
to his selection of Indian Point (the later Indianola) on the west-
ern shore of Matagorda Bay not many miles inland from Paso
Cavallo as a suitable place for the debarkation of the Society's
immigrants. He selected Indian Point because it had fresh water,
wood for fuel and for building purposes, a healthy location, a
good harbor for all ships that could cross the bar at Paso Cavallo,
and provided the shortest possible road through the low country.
On November 28 Prince Solms sailed for Galveston to meet the
first ships bringing immigrants to Texas for the Society. A storm
delayed his arrival until the morning of December 2. During the
previous night, however, the immigrant ships sailed for Port
Lavaca and reached there before the next stormy period on
December 4 which forced Prince Solms, on board the Texas reve-
nue cutter Alert, Captain Simpton, back into Galveston harbor.
On December 9 the weather allowed Prince Solms to sail for Port
Lavaca, where he arrived on the 11th and found the immigrants
81S-B A., XL, 52-53; Kalender filr 1916, pp. 39-40.
In Jones, Memoranda and Official Correspondence, 391-392, is found an
official letter from Prince Solms to Anson Jones, November 2, 1844, which
says in part: "By the last steamer from Galveston I got dispatches from
home, by which I see that the Association [Society] is very anxious about
the annexation question, stating by good sources, that it would be a case
of war between the European powers and the United States, as I am sure
you, my dear and honored sir, are best aware of. The Association requested
me to write to the government, and especially to you, dear sir, whose
favorable disposition and feelings toward the Association I duly reported,
to get, as far as it is possible for you to give, a slight notice whether the
probability is for the independence of our beautiful Texas; whether we
may flatter ourselves with the hope of a man with enlightened views, like
you, dear Dr. Jones, at the head of the government, or whether Texas
should fall into the condition of a territory of the United States."
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 40, July 1936 - April, 1937, periodical, 1937; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101099/m1/25/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.