The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 68, July 1964 - April, 1965 Page: 401

401

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The 'Texian Press of Waco has reprinted three scarce items of
Texana: Topographical Description of Texas to Which is Added,
an Account of the Indian Tribes by George W. Bonnell, originally
published in 1840; Sketches, Texas in 1840; Designed to Answer,
in a Brief Way, the Numerous Enquiries Respecting the New
Republic, As to Situation, Extent, Climate, Soil, Productions,
Water, Government, Society, Religion, etc. by Orceneth Fisher,
issued in 1840; and Texas: Its History, Topography, Agriculture,
Commerce, and General Statistics, to Which is Added, a Copy
of the Treaty of Commerce Entered into by the Republic of
Texas and Great Britain by Arthur Ikin, first published in Lon-
don in 1841. Each of the three volumes presently available as a
set in slip case was first written for the benefit of prospective emi-
grants to the Republic of Texas. Bonnell came to Texas to fight
in the Texas Revolution, and then was successively Commissioner
of Indian Affairs in 1837, a printer and newspaper publisher,
a member of the Texan Santa Fe Expedition, and finally while
on the Texas side of the Rio Grande in 1842 during the Mier
Expedition was captured and shot by the Mexicans. On the other
hand, Fisher was a prominent Methodist preacher in Texas dur-
ing the republic and after his first visit in 1839 wrote his book
to inform persons in the North of life in the new country. Ikin's
book was written after Great Britain had recognized the new
republic, perhaps to assist in his speculation in Texas lands by
encouraging immigration from England. James M. Day has writ-
ten an informative introduction to each of these volumes which
adds much to their readability. The publisher deserves a "well
done" for making available these little gems of early Texas
writing in an attractive format.
COOPER K. RAGAN
Father Wore Gray (San Antonio, Naylor Company, 1963),
edited by Lela Whitton Hegarty, is a volume of biographical
sketches and reminiscences of their Conferedate ancestors, com-