MOBILE, ALABAMA, _April 27, 1839_.
The steamship New York carried us to Galveston in fifty-six hours.
The fine weather promised us a shorter passage, but our ship grounded
for several hours at the south-west Mississippi pass. When we sighted
the few masts in the distance from the harbor of Galveston, a gay wag
pointed them out to a verdant passenger as the steeples of the city.
Only a limited number of buildings are yet erected. A wrecked steamer
on the beach with upper cabins answered the purposes of a hotel. Levees
will be made for the protection of the city from inundation; the city
lies on Galveston island at the foot of Galveston Bay, which situation,
with an energetic and increasing population, will render it in time a
place of great trade and commerce. A small high-pressure steamer took
us up to the Capital of the Republic, Houston, named in honor of the
late president and hero of San Jacinto.
We had a fair number of cabin passengers, and a goodly number in the
steerage, migrating to the new settlements.
One of those amusing mock criminal cases which help to beguile the
tedious hours at sea, came off on the charge of a slight indiscretion
against a New Orleans merchant. Counsel in behalf of the state and
defence of the prisoner was procured; the judge took his seat;
the sheriff arrested the prisoner; witnesses were subpœnaed;
special-pleading began, and the examination of defence before the
jury, half of them ladies, being the entire number of our fair
passengers, contributed not a little to the amusements, in which
Finn, the renowned punster and comedian, took part. The jury retired
to the ladies’ cabin, dropped the curtains upon the court, rendered
a champagne verdict, which resulted in a similar sentence upon the
judge, advocates, and sheriff, the consequence of which was no want of
exhilarating material for the voyage.
A beautiful sail up the bay; a view of the battle-ground of San
Jacinto; a description of the positions occupied by the Mexican forces
of Santa Anna, and the Texans in hot pursuit; the perfect slaughter of
the former; the finding of the Mexican leader up a tree, and many other
details from an old Texan who was engaged in the combat, passed the
time agreeably, and we were in the narrow Buffalo Bayou, the branches
of the trees grazing our wheel-houses. The little town of Harrisburg,
fifteen miles below Houston, was burnt by the Mexicans. It should have
been the head of navigation, it was remarked, but the Allens founded
the city as it now is, and built a capital and engaged the settlers
to occupy it. There are some thirty frame houses being erected per
month. I visited the log cabin still standing, occupied formerly by
Sam Houston. Took a ride on the seven-mile prairie; visited General
Hunt, Secretary of the Navy, President Lamar, and was presented to
Sam Houston, Ex-President, at New Orleans, on my return to that city.
The accommodations, of course, in a new country just opened, cannot
be expected to equal those of old settled cities. Carriages are not
yet introduced; stumps still stand in the streets. Time has scarcely
permitted to make foundation walls, but the buildings are set up on
blocks, giving the pigs and chickens free ingress underneath.
My luggage was taken on a wheelbarrow, and at the first hotel I stopped
at I verdantly called for a single room; the landlord smiled, and said
that he had only a single one, which was a fifty-bedded room, and all
occupied. My curiosity induced me to see it. There were rows of bunks,
not unlike coffins in size, a little raised from the floor. I then
proceeded to another hotel, which was also full, the rush of emigrants,
land-purchasers, and speculators, being great.
I found a private house, but did not ask for a single room; there were
three apartments for three beds each, with two and three in a bed. My
Mississippi companion and myself were obliged to double up; we could
lie upon our backs and study astronomy through the roof, and in case
of rain put our clothes under the bed.
Our single rough pine table was well covered with arms, which
travellers use largely for safety and shooting. Deer are found in great
abundance, consequently venison, as well as fish and oysters, in the
vicinity of Galveston, is abundant.
After some few excursions I returned to New Orleans, much gratified
with my trip, and the exhibition of American energy in adapting itself
to the settlement of a new country.
I asked a Mississippi land speculator what he thought of Houston. He
unhesitatingly replied: “It is the largest three-year-old I ever saw.”
The steamer Merchant brought me through Lake Pontchartrain, sighting
Fort Pike in the pass to Lake Bourgne, passing the mouth of Pearl river
and the Dauphin Island, into the Gulf of Mexico, and up Mobile Bay to
the city. The shipping lies thirty miles below; light draught ships
and brigs come up to the city; heavy vessels load by lighters; large
numbers of steamers are at the wharves from the Upper Tombigbee and
Alabama rivers. It is an agreeable city, with hospitable inhabitants,
and an extensive cotton trade; many broad fine avenues and streets are
studded with the Pride of India, a tree filling the air with fragrance.
My friends have driven me out to Spring Hill in the suburbs, with its
pretty private residences, the race-course, Choctaw point, and other
localities. The hotel is comfortable; the markets and restaurants are
well supplied, and lunches at the saloons supply the inner man with
game, Barataria Bay oysters, and all their accompaniments. The South
prides itself upon its choice imported liquors, and the genuine leaf
Havana cigars. The sabbath is well observed here; attendance at church
is general. The negro population is well dressed and happy.
* * * * *
N. B. Some years since the writer visited Galveston, Houston, and many
other portions of Texas in the interior, and was highly gratified at
the great growth of the cities named, the style of brick dwellings
which had replaced frame buildings, the march of civilization, and the
general comfort. In the interim of time since his first visit he had
seen the early settlement of California and Oregon, as well as the
new states of Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, and watched the
progress of American advancement.