Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/605

Rh foreigners; but the first authentic account that the world will receive of this part of the Mexican dominions will probably proceed from Dr. Coulter, a gentleman of great science and activity, now in the service of the Real del Monte Company, who intends, upon the termination of his engagement with the Association, to proceed to the North, and to employ two years in exploring the frontier provinces of New Spain. General Victoria, whose protection I solicited for Dr. Coulter in this arduous undertaking, promised to give him every facility. Indeed the Mexican Government has a direct interest in his success, for it knows nothing at present of its possessions to the North of Sonora, and has ample employment in the more Central Provinces for the few scientific natives, whose services it can command.

General Wavel, whose projects of colonization in Texas, where he possesses a large grant of land, are already before the public, has had the goodness to furnish me with a very detailed account of that province, which will, I believe, be found to comprise all that is at present known of the Eastern frontier North of the River Bravo. The country appears to be rich in valuable produce, abounding in water, and possessing rivers of sufficient size to ensure to its inhabitants the benefits of internal navigation, which have produced so wonderful an effect, in the course of a few years, in the