Letter from William L. Delap to George Cupples, March 20, 1845
Transcription
George Cupples Esq.
Matagorda 20th March 1845
My Dear Sir,
It is some time since I received your
welcome favor from Washington. Were I to attempt to extenuate my
offence is neglecting to answer it sooner, although it is my professional
duty to patch up bad cases still I am afraid I should
make but a poor defense so trusting to the mercy of the Court
I at once plead guilty. I never received the letter you say you wrote.
The one from Washington was the first. I hope you were much edified
by your visit to the place where the colected wisdom!! of Texas was
assembled, amused you could not fail to be by such a quantity of
ignorance, pomposity and foolishness as was congregated there. I observed there
was some difficulty in obtaining the relief required by M. Castro. Just
the way with our wise legislatas they will strain at a gnat and swallow a
camel. They feel it a duty!! to their constituents to show that they have
done something. (vox et praeterea nihil) and fire away like good native Americans
at all furreigners right or wrong. Poor paddy (alas! my country) they did
not spare him, however at least they did find out that the green sprigs of the
Emerald Isle ( first flower of the ocean, first gem of the say ) had taken a
part in the struggle against the bloody Mexicans and that they really were
not niggers. I did not receive the Register you sent me; it has been taken
by some of the postmasters on the route, not an unusual occurrence. It gives
much pleasure in learning the success of the entirprize, I fear the situation
of Castriville may be exposed to Indian attacks. The annexation of
