about forty thousand. Now, if you are to credit the Texan Government,
it has increased to about seventy-five thousand. Such, however, is not
the fact, although it, of course, suits the members of the republic to
make the assertion. Instead of the increase stated by them, the
population of Texas has decreased considerably, and is not now equal to
what it was at the Independence.

This may appear strange, after so many thousands from the United States,
England, and Germany have been induced to emigrate there; but the fact
is, that, after having arrived in the country, and having discovered
that they were at the mercy of bands of miscreants, who are capable of
any dark deed, they have quitted the country to save the remainder of
their substance, and have passed over into Mexico, the Southern United
States, or anywhere else where they had some chance of security for life
and property.

Among the population of Texas were counted many thousand Mexicans, who
remained in the country, trusting that order and law would soon be
established: but, disappointed in their expectations, they have
emigrated to Mexico. Eight thousand have quitted San Antonio de Bejar,
and the void has been filled up by six or seven hundred drunkards,
thieves, and murderers. The same desertion has taken place in Goliad,
Velasco, Nacogdoches, and other towns, which were formerly occupied by
Mexican families.

It may give the reader some idea of the insecurity of life and property
in Texas, when I state, that there are numerous bands of robbers
continually on the look-out, to rifle and murder the travellers, and
that it is of frequent occurrence for a house to be attacked and
plundered, the women violated, and every individual afterwards murdered
by these miscreants, who, to escape detection, dress and paint
themselves as Indians. Of course, what I have now stated, although well
known to be a fact, is not likely to be mentioned in the Texan
newspapers.

Another serious evil arising from this lawless state of the country is,
that the Indians, who were well inclined towards the Texans, as being,
with them, mutual enemies of the Mexicans, are now hostile, to
extermination. I have mentioned the murder of the Comanche chiefs, in
the government-house of San Antonio, which, in itself, was sufficient.
But such has been the disgraceful conduct of the Texans towards the
Indians, that the white man is now considered by them as a term of
reproach; they are spoken