5.

 Thus, Sir, I have given you the facts of the case and

how this very simple matter of approaching the

Mexican Secretary has been prolonged and

twisted about by the fears & apprehensions of a

timid & vascillating, [sic] (tho' very gentlemanly) person-

age at the head of foreign Affairs in Mexico.

You can Sir, draw your own inferences from the

statement already given, but should perchance

my opinion and version of the whole matter

be esteemed of any value, I will give it to you.

1^st The present Govm^t or cabinet could not refuse

to hear me in some way or other for they had

authorized M^r P before my arrival, to say that

if commissioners from Texas appeared, they

should be heard. This, however, I only knew very

recently-and beside this they were no doubt

apprehensive of the consequences of any direct

refusal to listen to me, coming to them secretly.

2^nd They are nevertheless afraid to have it known

by the Public that they are entertaining the sub-

ject of any arrangement with Texas, while they

are endeavouring to raise money thro' Congress,

as they say to reduce Texas to order; and the

opposition and Santana's Party would make

a great hue & cry, and the members of the cab-

inet might lose their places in consequence.

In other words, they are too weak as a govern-

ment to stand, any new shock, which might fall

upon them, if they were openly to favour an arrangement.