Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Lusk, Samuel (fl. 1836) to Charles Cabaniss re: praising Texas & urging him to leave Alabama

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01860.27 Author/Creator: Lusk, Samuel (fl. 1836) Place Written: Coles Settlement, Texas Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1836/01/17 Pagination: 3 p. + addr 25 x 20 cm Order a Copy

Lusk emphasizes the profitability of Texas farming and remarks "I think they will Declare Independence...."

Coles Settlement Texas, January 17th 1836
Mr. C.P. Cabaniss
[?] agreeable to promise I have taken my pen in hand to drop you a few lines. I am [?] pleased with my [?] highly delighted with the country the best I have ever seen. I have but a league of land well [improved] for which I have to give 8 thousand dollars in 5 payments, the 1st payment [must] [?] and then on also 300 head of cattle and I do think I shall make many in this country for every thing sells high and if a man will work and make [corn?] he can get 100 [p?] bushell [sic]. I shall put in 100 [?] in corn which if I have a good season will make me 2500 bushells [sic] of corn and it will be worth to me that many dollars. Land has risen very much since I got in or since the taking of San Antonio. We will have a convention [meet] the 1st of March which will form a constitution and will then form themselves into a legislative body a pass laws for the country. I think they will declare Independence and then we will have a good [holesome [sic]] set of laws on the place I have. But there is a store house and I will get goods most fall and Charles if you have made no arrangements then I would like very well for you to come out and [join?] me in a store. You attend the store and me to the farm and house as I shall keep publick [sic] now. Charles not flattering you shall I think is the best country in the world at this time for that business, and will be better. My plan is to do a [cash] business.
[America] says she wants you to come. You will write when you get this and let me know what you think about it as I will go into business and will have a partner. You will direct your letter to Coles Settlement up way Fort [??]. You will have to pay the postage to Fort [Insup] you will give [my]
Best love to [Abner] Tate and Lady, to Thomas [Cabaniss] and Lady and to all the old friends and say to them I would not be back at [Hazle?] the big man I was there before I [failed] say to any of my creditors that if I live I will some day pay them and if they had not been so hard with me and let me have some money to have made a start on, I could have paid sooner. But I have to make a start in this country off of nothing and I will keep enough of that to live on. Anyone that sends their dabt to this country to try to make me pay money, never get it for I shall own no property here.
Your friend
Samuel Lusk

[address:]
Cedar Spring Tex
18th January [?] Boundary
From[Lusk Samuel?]
Mr. Charles P. Cabaniss
[Hazleg?], Aba

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources