Page:John O. Meusebach - Answer to Interragatories.djvu/9

 in the Dukedom of Nassau, May 3, 1844.—(See White, page 3.)

The company—its members being neither business men nor financiers—fell an easy prey into the hands of shrewd land speculators. At first, a speculative Frenchman, Bourgeois d'Orvanne, having heard of the intentions of the company, and being in possession of a so-called grant-concession in Western Texas, offered it for sale. Head over heels his offer was accepted, notwithstanding that his contract showed on its face that it was already forfeited, but probably under the condition that an extension of time could be obtained from Congress of Texas.

In April, 1844, Prince Solms was appointed trustee and general agent, and Bourgeois d'Orvanne as colonial director, and both started in May forto [sic] Texas, for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements for the reception of the emigrants to be shipped in the fall of 1844, and for the transportation and settlement of the same on their lands. (See page 27 Coll. Doc, 1845, and White's brief, p. 4.)

Failing to get from Congress an extension of time for d'Orvanne's grant, the Prince wrote in a private letter to the director in Europe "that they were now in the disagreeable situation of having emigrants coming and no lands to grant to them." If he had added that land could be bought at the rate of from 5 cents to 10 cents per acre at that time, without onerous conditions attached to it, he would perhaps have kept the directors from another hasty beginning. Because just at this time Henry Francis Fisher, from Texas, a part owner of the so-called Fisher and Miller grant or Colonization Contract, made with Pres. Sam Houston, September 1, 1843, arrived in Germany and offered his contract for sale. Head over heels the offer was accepted and an agreement signed June 24, 1844, by which Fisher and Miller transferred and conveyed to the German Emigration Company their