Page:John O. Meusebach - Answer to Interragatories.djvu/14

10 a great many, I suspect, were from the pen of the Colonial Director, Bourgeois d'Orvanne, a Frenchman,—were made for circumstances, which for Fisher & Miller's grant in reality did not exist. That was the first result of the over hastened acquirement of a contract which they had either not read, or not understood, the bearings and consequences of which were fully overlooked. I take from White's brief, page 4, the correct statement of the further proceedings of the Company's agent in Texas:

"Prince Solms came to Texas in advance for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements for the reception of the emigrants and their transportation to, and settlement (after annullment of d'Orvanne's grant) now upon the land granted to Fisher & Miller. Arrived here he found that the lands were in a wild and unsettled region infested with dangerous tribes of hostile savages, and far removed from access to the actual necessities of life. Under these circumstances, in order to effect the objects of the Company, and at the same time as a matter of justice to, convenience for, and comfort and protection of the colonists, he found it necessary to establish towns and depots at suitable distances from the point of their disembarkation at the coast, up to the interior of the country. With this view he selected as his first town Carlshaven, on Matagorda bay, now known as the city of Indianola. The second depot was established at the junction of Comal creek with the Guadalupe river, now known as the city of New Braunfels."

(The third and last depot was selected, located, surveyed and settled with emigrants by his successor in office, it being the town of Fredericksburg, Gillespie county.)

White's brief, page 6: "The first ship of the