Ashbel Smith to Anson Jones, January 29, 1844

Summary: Smith summarized various pieces of news concerning Texas in European courts. These included increasingly favorable relations with France, European emigration to Texas (which Smith thought was doubtful to produce any meaningful increase in population), his intended trip to London, his attacks on British abolitionists, and the likelihood that Britain and France would soon pressure Mexico to cease hostilities.

No 52.[sic] LEGATION OF TEXAS, PARIS

January 29, 1844

Hon. ANSON JONES

Secretary of State

SIR,

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of despatches from your Department dated September 30th with the accompanying documents.

Our relations with this court appear to me to be on an excellent footing; a very friendly disposition is exhibited on all occasions; and, our country is attracting much notice and the public estimation of it here is rapidly advancing.

In a conversation I had the honor to hold with the King on Wednesday last, his inquiries were numerous and showed he had given considerable attention to our affairs.

The annexation of Texas to the American Union, so much discussed in the American Newspapers is viewed in its true light by the French Government.

The colonization enterprise of Mr Henry Castro is as you are aware, not favorably regarded by the French Government. The objections to it are chiefly connected, I believe with Mr Castro; tho' I do not think this Government are disposed to favor any foreign emigration except to their own colonies.

Mr Bourgeois is at this time absent in Germany in relation to his colonization contract and to the Loan.

It has appeared to me for some time to be doubtful whether under present circumstances the contracts for colonizing from the continent of Europe would result in introducing a large and valuable emigration into our country. The English Red River Company appear to be coming to a better understanding among themselves and may now accomplish something.

I am not sanguine of the success of the Loan until peace shall be definitively established.

Agreeably to the intimation in your despatches I shall proceed in a short time to London; but much interest existing here in relation to Texas and the present season being one of great activity in Paris, the Chambers being now in session, I have thought it best to remain here a short time longer, especially as London will present but comparitively little political activity for a month or two to come.

The flagitious attempts made by the Abolitionists to deceive and mislead Her British Majesty's Government in relation to slavery in Texas, by misrepresenting the opinions and wishes of the Texian

citizens and Government are now, I believe, well understood in Great Britain. I continue to watch the abolitionists carefully, as they are regardless of truth and reckless of the means they employ. I formerly transmitted to you two letters written by Mr Thomas Clarkson, Chairman of the Antislavery Society, one addressed to Gen Santa Anna, the other to General Houston. The impertinence and insincerity of these people will appear in their true light when it is remembered that the same parties furnished means to build the Mexican Steamers in part, in 1842, and otherwise to prosecute the war against Texas.

On my arrival in London every attention will be employed to cultivate the friendly feelings entertained by the British Government towards Texas.

The restrictions recently imposed by Mexico on foreign commerce have produced some unfriendly feelings in France and England towards that country; and there is a rumor seeming to have some foundation, that these two Powers are about to act in concert to compel Mexico to remove the restrictions in question.

The Charge' d'Affaires at the Hague when recently heard from had not accomplished any arrangement with the Hanse Towns or Belgium.

My careful attention has been given to the different matters embraced in your despatches

I have the honor to be

Very respectfully

Your most obed servant

ASHBEL SMITH.

Source Copy Consulted: Ashbel Smith to Anson Jones, January 29, 1844, in George Garrison, ed., Diplomatic Correspondence of the Republic of Texas, Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the year 1908, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1911), 3 vols., 3: 1478-1479