ANSON JONES, the son of Solomon and Sarah Jones, was born at the little settlement or neighborhood of Seekonk, [or Seekonkville,] in the township of Great Barrington, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, on the 20th day of January, A. D. 1798, [another record says 1799.]

My father was a native of Weathersfield in the State of Connecticut, but was brought up at Worcester, Mass. My mother, whose maiden name was Strong, of East Windsor in the same State (Conn.) My paternal grandfather was Joel Jones, of Weathersfield, Conn., whose wife's maiden name was Hannah Brewer. They both died when my father was a child, and he was brought up by one of his maternal uncles, Mr. Brewer, of Worcester, Mass. [My maternal grandfather was Timothy Strong, of East Windsor, Conn., whose wife's maiden name was Sarah Stricklin. The family still live in the old paternal mansion, which descended, first, to my maternal uncle, David Strong, and then to my cousin, David Strong, who, dying in youth, the property now belongs to the heirs-at-law.] I am the youngest but one of ten children, (seven daughters and three sons,) of whom four of the daughters and myself survive at the time of commencing these memoirs. My mother died at Lenox, in Berkshire county, in 1816; my father, at the same place, in 1822, July 23d, aged 67. [Grandfather Jones' children were Phineas, Joel, Solomon, Isaac, William, and Lucy, (late Mrs. Hatch, now Mrs. Northrup, of Lenox, Mass.) Father's children were Sarah, Sophia, Mary, Nancy, Betsey, (now Mrs. Bailey,) Clarissa, William, Ira, Anson, and Almira, (now Mrs. Blatchford,) and four others who died in extreme infancy; I am the thirteenth.] Not long after my birth my father removed from Seekonk to the village of Great Barrington, just previous to which one of my sisters, named Nancy, then about five years of age, was drowned by falling from a bridge near my father's house into a mill stream, near which he resided. She was a favorite child, and I can well recollect how much pain my parents suffered in after life from the recollections of this sad event.

My own earliest recollections are of the village of Great Barrington. Here my father resided until about the year 1805, when he removed to a country part of the township of Great Barrington, known as "Root Street," to a small farm which he rented. Here, when quite small, I attended school kept by my sister, Sarah Jones. The school-house was almost a mile from my father's house, and on the line between Sheffield and Great Barrington townships. Here I obtained the rudiments of my education. [Grandfather T. Strong's children were by the first wife, Eli, Samuel, Sarah, and David: by the second wife, Martin, Levi, Timothy, and Deborah, (or Abi,) beside two who died in infancy.] A little later, I went to school about two miles and a half, "Egremont Plains," walking the distance summer and winter, but do not now recollect the names of any of my teachers. Here I obtained a fair English education. At a little later period, and when about ten or eleven years of age, I went to school to the Rev. Mr. Griswold, the rector of the Episcopal Church in Great Barrington, and brother of Bishop Griswold, and completed my English studies. In 1812, my father removed to the township of West Stockbridge, in Berkshire county, to a small farm which he rented there. [My father was five years in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary War, the whole of which service was in the army. He volunteered in 1775, and was engaged that year in the defence of Bunker's Hill. He was also at Saratoga when Burgoyne surrendered. He again volunteered in the "Silver Greys" in 1812–'13. All my paternal uncles also served in the first war with England, and two of them were captured by the enemy, and suffered all the horrors inflicted upon prisoners on board the "Jersey prison-ship," but survived their sufferings, and were exchanged. My uncle Phineas lost a leg during the war.] Here he resided one year, and then removed to the village of Lenox, the county-seat of the same county, (1812.) Here I commenced the study of the Languages and the higher branches of the Mathematics at the "Lenox Academy," kept by Mr. Glezen, (1813.) [This year I wished to join the army, and volunteered to go to the defence of Boston, but my father prevented my going. I studied with my book on the bench before me, while at work making harness, and obtained much of my education at "night-schools," after working hard all day.] My father being very poor, I was obliged to work and assist him in his business, and attend to my studies as I could find leisure and opportunity. During his residence in Lenox he removed two or three times to different places, either in the village or neighborhood, and finally to the eastern part of the township, about two and a half miles from the village, where, in 1816, my mother died. My two elder brothers, William and Ira, were now of age, and settled in business, the former at Utica in the State of New York, and the latter at Little York (now Toronto) in Upper Canada. My eldest sister, Sarah, was dead, and my three other sisters, Sophia, Mary, and Betsey, were living at Litchfield, Conn., and my youngest sister (Almira) was at home. I had now arrived at an age when it became necessary for me to choose my occupation for life. I was fond of reading and study, and employed every means in my power in purchasing books, and all the time which could possibly be spared in reading them, or in the prosecution of my academic studies. My constitution was very feeble, and my general health and strength delicate. My brothers were in favor of my learning a trade; my father and elder sisters wished me to acquire a profession, and had long assigned me that of medicine. Without any means, either in possession or expectancy, I shrunk from the idea of making the effort to obtain a profession, and feared I should not succeed in it afterwards—which last thought the most troubled me. About this time my father took me to a printing office at Pittsfield, the publishing office of the "Sun," I believe, partly with a view to see how I would like the business of a printer, and partly to ascertain whether he could, in the event of my being pleased, obtain an apprenticeship for me with the proprietor. It was the first time I had ever been in a printing office. The business pleased me. I thought it was better adapted to my weak habit of body than many other mechanical branches with which I had some acquaintance; and also further, that it would give me a constant opportunity to follow the bent of my inclination for reading and study. However, notwithstanding I expressed my preference for this business, my father failed for some reason to make any arrangement for the purpose, and it was concluded I should study medicine. At this time I had a good English education and a tolerable acquaintance with Latin and Greek, and knew a little of Mathematics. Latin I acquired with difficulty; Greek with great facility, and Mathematics I was very fond of. The death of my mother, and my father's extreme poverty, left me without a home, and without a dollar. Under such circumstances the attempt to acquire a profession necessarily involved the probability of years of struggling and dependence, of all other situations short of vicious ones, the most wretched and unhappy. But I had a goodly share of ambition, and yielding therefore the more readily to the cherished wishes of my father, I was persuaded to decide in favor of the profession chosen by him, and it was concluded accordingly. This conclusion entailed years of unhappiness upon me. I had no knowledge of the world—was shy and timid to a fault—had no wealthy or efficient friends— my brothers, from whom alone I had a right to expect counsel or assistance, were opposed to the occupation I had determined upon, and consequently withheld either. It is true they were not able to do much for me pecuniarily, but their countenance, encouragement, and advice would have benefited me greatly. These, however, I could not have. Perhaps my choice in the end was well; but if it were to make again, I certainly should take a different course. Nor would I ever advise a youth, situated as I was, to make the choice I did, for, although some do succeed under such circumstances, a much greater number despair and fail. And success in this case even, I should say, by my experience, is too dearly purchased.

In 1817 I took leave of my father, and never saw him but twice afterward. I went to Litchfield, where my sisters were, and made an arrangement to read medicine with Dr. Daniel Sheldon of that town, and entered his office accordingly. He put me into Boerhaave and Van Swieten, and I made no progress. A year was thus lost. Finding myself incurring debts more than was pleasant, I went to Goshen in the same county, and engaged in teaching a country school, occupying my intervals of leisure in reading such medical or other books as I could borrow, for I was not able to buy any. Concluding my engagements in Goshen I determined to go to Utica, N. Y., where my eldest brother resided, which I did in 1818. He was engaged in mercantile business on a small capital, and I entered his store in the capacity of a clerk, at the same time I entered myself as a student in the office of Dr. Amos G. Hull of that town, and read whenever my other duties permitted. The only compensation I received for my services in the store was my board. I was obliged still to go in debt, and at the termination of one year I again found it necessary to resort to teaching. My brother's business in the mean time went badly, and on my resuming my studies with Dr. Hull, after my school term had expired, I went to board with a man by the name of Hinman, in Utica, who professed some friendship for me. In 1820 I completed my term of studies, and was licensed to practice, (by Oneida Medical Society.) Soon afterward I went to Bainbridge, in Chenango county, and failing of success in my profession at this place, in consequence of the ground being entirely occupied by an old and experienced physician, I was persuaded, after a trial of little more than one year, and most unfortunately for me, as it afterward proved, to purchase a stock of drugs and medicine on account, and open a store in Norwich. I went to the city of New York with flattering letters from Dr. Hull and others, and, without difficulty, purchased the necessary stock of medicines. I rented a store in Norwich and commenced business. So soon as I got fairly under way my friend (?) Hinman sued and obtained judgment against me for my board, (at Utica,) and immediately took out an execution for debt and costs, amounting in all to some hundreds of dollars, I do not know how many. It was sufficient, however, to ruin me, with other debts which were now pressed for, and which had been incurred by me in procuring my academical as well as professional education. My stock of goods was seized by the sheriff, and to prevent a still greater sacrifice, by having them sold at public outcry, I disposed of them at much less than cost, to Mr. De Zeng, and realized money enough to satisfy the execution in favor of J. E. Hinman; and immediately notified my creditors in New York of my situation, promising to pay every cent as soon as I might be able. Some mischievous persons, however, taking advantage of circumstances, had been to the trouble to circulate false reports of me in New York, and my creditors there refused to show me any lenity. I placed myself on the defensive, however, as well as I could, and finally, after a good deal of trouble, succeeded in effecting a satisfactory compromise. [I subsequently paid every dollar.] Finding I had little prospect of success in my profession in Chenango county, I had in the mean time concluded to go to Harper's Ferry, where I understood there was a good opening for a physician, and to prosecute my profession there. At Philadelphia, however, I was arrested by one of my creditors, and gave up my watch and the last dollar I had in the world but twenty, to satisfy his claim. Unable to prosecute my journey, and knowing I had not a single friend at Harper's Ferry, I concluded to try my profession in the city of "Brotherly Love," where I had made some acquaintances and friends. But after trying a few months I found I was not making expenses, and I then again had recourse to teaching for support. After teaching about half a year I had an offer (1824) to go to South America, (Venezuela,) from Mr. Lowry, the American Consul for Laguayra, and in the fall of 1824 I sailed for that port in the brig "Coulter." I remained in Venezuela, residing partly at Laguayra, and partly at Caracas, until June 1826, when I returned in the same vessel to Philadelphia. Having now succeeded in getting a few hundred dollars ahead, I resolved to take a course of lectures, and finish my professional studies and graduate. After paying a visit to my friends in the State of New York, and going as far west as Cazenovia in that State, where my eldest sister then resided, I returned to Philadelphia, and again opened an office there. In the winter of 1826–'7 I attended a full course of lectures in Jefferson Medical College, and in March, 1827, received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in that institution. [In 1827–'8 I joined the society of "Odd Fellows," by initiation, in Washington Lodge No. 2; and having passed the different chairs in that Lodge, I was admitted a member of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania 23d of March, 1829—elected Grand Warden June 8th, 1829—D. G. M. 14th June, 1830, and Grand Master June 13th, 1831. On the 29th March, 1829, I organized, joined, and put in operation Philadelphia Lodge No. 13, of the city of Philadelphia, framing its "Constitution, By-Laws, and Rules of Order," which are still continued unchanged, and have been the model for the Order everywhere. I was trustee of the South Fifth Street Hall and of the Kensington Hall, and President of both those Boards. In every station I filled I took a very active part—too much so for my personal interests.] For a while I thought I had a fair prospect of success, and continued to struggle along in Philadelphia, falling behind a little in paying expenses every year for five years, when I found I should have to give up the struggle for success in my profession there. About the time I had concluded to abandon my hopes in Philadelphia, I made the acquaintance of a man by the name of "Spear," a merchant, then doing business in Philadelphia. He had been in New Orleans, and proposed to me to join him and go into business at that place. Never having as yet met with any satisfactory success in my profession, and, consequently, a good deal disgusted with it, I too readily acceded to this proposal, and in October, 1832, sailed from New York in the ship Alabama for New Orleans. My name gave credit to the firm, but I soon found Mr. Spear to be a man devoid of principle, and reckless of character and every thing else. I therefore lost no time in dissolving my connection with him, which had been unfortunate to myself and some of my friends; and in the spring of 1833 I opened an office on Canal street for the practice of my profession. The summer proved very sickly, and I was succeeding as well in my business as I could reasonably expect, when I was myself attacked with the prevailing fever, and laid up sick for several weeks. By the time I was well enough to attend to my professional duties again the sickness had well-nigh subsided, and I had not realized enough to support me until the next summer. I had therefore to look elsewhere than to New Orleans for the means of making a livelihood. Besides, I found the pernicious habit of gambling, to which I always had an inclination, was growing upon me there. Before going to New Orleans, it is true, I had never indulged the inclination to any extent, but there the constant temptation thrown in my way I found was slowly overcoming my resolutions not to indulge this propensity. Whilst in this place, also, partly from having frequently little else to do, and partly to overcome the feelings of disappointments I had so often endured, and more particularly about this time, I also found myself learning to imitate the fashionable practice of taking a "julep" much oftener than was at all necessary. Both of these practices I most cordially despised, it is true, but notwithstanding the facts are as I have stated. I therefore felt anxious to get away from the place and its associations. About this time I made the acquaintance of two or three gentlemen who resided in Texas, particularly Captain Brown, who commanded the "Sabine," then in the Texas trade. It was represented to me that there was a good opening for a physician at Brazoria, then the principal commercial town in this country, and I was strongly pressed by Captain Brown (and others) to go down with him and look at the place. My impressions of Texas were extremely unfavorable. I had only known it as a harbor for pirates and banditti, and at first I was wholly opposed to going there to reside. Upon further inquiry and conversation, however, I concluded it was not so bad as it had been represented; and that whatever its former character had been, it had now assumed an entirely different one; and finally determined to accede to Captain Brown's request, to go and take a look at the country and judge for myself. I sailed with him from New Orleans on the Sabine about the middle of October, 1833, and arrived at Velasco after the usual passage. On reaching Brazoria, I was so much dissatisfied with the town that I forthwith engaged my passage back to New Orleans on the return trip of the vessel. She was not to sail, however, for a fortnight, and before the expiration of that time I had been persuaded, through the earnest solicitations of Mr. J. A. Wharton and other citizens of the town and its vicinity, to defer my return to New Orleans for one trip of the Sabine at least, and in the mean time to give the place a fair trial. The consequence to myself is, that I am in Texas still (1849)—the consequences to the country will be, to be judged of hereafter, when history shall have given her truthful and impartial award.

Looking backwards and forwards at my life from this point, this seems emphatically true of myself. For sixteen years previously I had struggled almost in vain against innumerable obstacles, and finally abandoning myself to a fate which it appeared I could not control or direct, I passively floated as it were upon the tide which bore me to Texas; and the sixteen following years have been to me comparatively prosperous and successful ones. It is true I have encountered many hardships, and suffered much physically and mentally; but I have succeeded in every thing I attempted, and accomplished every thing I undertook. My sixteen years previous to 1833 had given me that schooling in the knowledge of the world at thirty-five, which men properly trained in early life generally have at twenty-five. In Texas, therefore, I commenced the world anew, profiting by my severe experience in its roughest ways. I have also had constantly before my eyes a conviction from which I have been unable to escape, that somehow or other the destiny of Texas was interwoven with my own, that they were indissoluble, and that the one depended materially upon the other. Every thing for the last sixteen years has tended to confirm and strengthen this conviction.

When I landed at Brazoria, I had just seventeen dollars in money, and a small stock of medicine worth about fifty dollars more, and I owed more than two thousand dollars, principally security debts, which I have since paid. I became involved in these security debts in consequence of my connection with Spear of a few months, and the villany of a man by the name of Stephens, residing at Woodville, Miss., whom we had credited, and who shortly after ran away and went to Canada.

Having concluded to give Texas a trial, I immediately commenced the practice of my profession at Brazoria, and soon took the lead of all competitors in that county. I devoted myself exclusively and earnestly to business, and soon had to ride over a space of from 20 to 40 miles in each direction from Brazoria. In the spring of 1834, the prevailing sickness set in very early, and from that time to the 1st of September, I was constantly occupied every day, and frequently at night, in riding about and attending upon the sick; and scarcely a person in the community escaped an attack more or less severe. At the date above, I was at the house of Mr. Rhea Phillips, on the Bernard, attending a case there, when I was myself attacked with bilious remittent fever of a violent type. I rode, however, to "Bell's Landing," where there was a steamboat about to leave for Brazoria; and on her I went home, and took my bed, which I did not leave again for more than two months. I had two relapses, and came very near dying; made my will, and felt perfectly resigned to leave the world, and had no fears of the future. Contrary to my most confident expectation, however, from the extremest point of depression and debility, I began to get better, and finally recovered my health entirely, but was a long time in regaining my strength. During my sickness, my business was attended to by Dr. Berryman, a gentleman who had just completed his medical studies in my office, and who was, not long after, killed in a duel with R. A. Stevenson. Late this fall, or early in the winter, (1834,) my sister Mary came out from New York; and I rented and furnished a house in Brazoria, and went to housekeeping. I sent also to New York for my cousin, Dr. Ira Jones of N. Y., who came out in the spring of 1835, completed his studies under my care, and subsequently was associated with me in business.

[In 1834–'5, a charter or dispensation (the first in Texas) was obtained for a Freemason's Lodge, to be called Holland Lodge No. 36, from the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, to be held at Brazoria. Of this lodge I was Master, from the time of its formation until the winter of 1837–'8, at which time it was removed to Houston, in Harris county. This winter, viz., 1837–'8, the Grand Lodge of Texas was established, of which I was then chosen Grand Master. The old Holland Lodge No. 36, of Louisiana, surrendered its charter, and was newly chartered as Holland Lodge No. 1 under the Grand Lodge of Texas. Since the expiration of my term of service as Grand Master of Masons in Texas, I have until the present time (1849) held the office of Grand Representative of the State of New York to the Grand Lodge of Texas, and still continue to discharge its duties.]

At the close of this year, (1834,) I found myself apparently permanently established, and in possession of a practice worth in money and available property about five thousand dollars a year, with a prospect of its increasing; and had I continued at my business, and not been induced to join the army, and go into public life, I might and probably would at this time have been worth an independent fortune, and as wealthy as any man in Texas; not, it is true, from the practice of medicine alone, but from that and the investment of its proceeds in property, which now would in most cases have yielded me an increase of from ten to twenty fold.

[Up to this year (1834) my habit of body had been spare, my weight being about 120 or 121 pounds. After my sickness at Col. Wharton's, in 1836, I began to grow fleshy, and my weight since has been increased to 150 or 155 pounds—height, 5 feet 8½ inches.]

This year (1835) the difficulties between Texas and Mexico assumed a character which made it quite apparent that a separation must take place, and that a protracted war would ensue. I was one of those, however, who counselled forbearance, and the maintenance of peace as long as the one was proper or the other possible. I consequently did not join in the war-cry early, and was not one of those who early this year secured the appellation of "war-dogs," most of whom afterwards, when the struggle actually came on, showed themselves true disciples of Falstaff, and that they believed "discretion the better part of valor," by leaving the country. I resisted all applications to take part in premature proceedings of rashness, satisfied that "sufficient for the day," when it came, would be "the evil thereof." I therefore attended closely to my professional duties, and was this year again eminently successful in business, though an anxious observer of the political horizon of my adopted country. I fitted forth my cousin, and sent him to the siege of Bexar, at his special request, with letters to the unfortunate B. R. Milam, then a soldier under Gen. Burleson. So soon as I could, in the fall, finding a rupture with Mexico was unavoidable, I prepared to visit San Felipe, where the "Consultation" was sitting, to witness in person their proceedings. At Columbia I found Padre Alpuché, a Mexican of some distinction, and a friend of Zavala's, who like him was disaffected with his own government, and had come to Texas to take part in opposition to it. He represented to me that he could be of service, if he could get to San Felipe and have an interview with Zavala, but could not ride on horseback, and had not the means of procuring a carriage. I therefore undertook to provide for him, and fortunately learned there was a buggy in town belonging to Col. W. B. Travis of San Felipe, which I could have. I therefore had my horse tackled to it, and with the Padre started to make the trip, over roads literally covered with water, or knee-deep in mud. The first day we lost our road, got benighted, our horse tired down, and it was midnight when we arrived at our place of destination, Mrs. Powell's. The next day we went to Cole's; here we were detained by the stormy weather more than a week. I however, by all this experience, satisfied myself that my friend, the Mexican Senator Padre Alpuché, was, in the first place, a coward, and in the second place, untrustworthy in other respects, and that he would, consequently, not do to depend upon for any thing important. This was doubtless of great service, for afterwards it became known to me that it would have been unfortunate for Texas if his advice had been followed; and that it was not followed, was probably owing to me, in a great measure.

My impressions of the Consultation, taken as a whole, were unfavorable—it was near the close of the session. There appeared to me a plenty of recklessness and selfishness, but little dignity or patriotism. Still there were some good men there. But I felt sick at heart at the prospect. I was introduced to Bowie—he was dead drunk; to Houston—his appearance was any thing but decent or respectable, and very much like that of a broken-down sot and debauchee. The first night after my arrival, I was kept awake nearly all night by a drunken carouse in the room over that in which I "camped." Dr. Archer and Gen. Houston appeared to be the principal persons engaged in the orgie, to judge from the noise. What made the whole thing more unpleasant to me, was, that the whole burden of the conversation, so far as it was, at times, intelligible, appeared to be abuse and denunciation of a man for whom I had the highest respect, Gen. Stephen F. Austin, then in command before San Antonio de Bexar, for not breaking up the siege of that place, and retreating to the east of the Colorado. I remained but two or three days at San Felipe; my feelings of disgust and disappointment I shall never forget. I cannot even now visit the place, though it has in the mean time been burnt and rebuilt, without the recurrence of sensations any thing but pleasant. I took occasion, however, publicly to express my opinions of what I saw and heard, until my friend, Col. John A. Wharton, came to me and assured me my life was in danger from some rude attack which was threatened, and advised me, that, however true and just my remarks might be, it was not the disposition of some parties to allow the utterance of them. I however continued their expression as long as I staid at San Felipe. Perhaps my feelings carried me too far, but I think my general impressions were correct. History will not be able to say much in favor of that "Consultation," nor of the Provisional Government they established. It however had the effect intended, of precipitating the final, and probably inevitable result, of an early separation from Mexico. I returned to Brazoria, satisfied we were in a bad scrape, and that the best and only course was an unconditional declaration of independence. I believed it not only useless, but false, to talk about sustaining the "principles of the Constitution of 1824." There were but the two alternatives left us, absolute submission to, or absolute independence of Mexico. Of course, I advocated the latter, and refused to have any thing to do with any other policy, or connection with the advocates of any other.

In December, 1835, I took steps to aid in calling a public meeting of the citizens of the municipality or county of Brazoria, at Columbia. There was a large attendance. I drew up, offered, and advocated, as chairman of the committee, resolutions in favor of a "Declaration of Independence from Mexico," and calling a Convention of the people of Texas on the first Monday in March, 1836, to make the Declaration, and to frame a Constitution; also resolutions fixing the basis of representation in said convention, &c., &c. These recommendations were advocated by myself, J. Collinsworth, and B. C. Franklin, and opposed by W. J. Russell. Fearing to trust the vote, I proposed not to take it, but to let the resolutions be signed by those who approved them, and go to the country as the expression of the individuals whose names should be appended. This mode was adopted by the meeting. We succeeded in getting about twenty or thirty names from among those who were present; but as the proceedings could not be printed for several days, our plan continued to gain, until nearly everybody signed before they were published. The Provisional Government, if it could be called a government, adopted the suggestions of the Columbia meeting, and made the call for a convention agreeably to the recommendations of our resolutions. I believe, therefore, I took the first efficient step for the independence of Texas, and offered and advocated the first resolutions for that purpose. The people of the country were at first startled by the boldness of the Columbia Resolutions, but events were in progress in Mexico which had the effect I anticipated, and by the 2d of March following, there were but few in the country who did not acquiesce in the propriety of the course proposed in those resolutions. The vote in the Convention on that day was unanimous, as I believe. (V. p. 114.)

In taking the active and responsible part I did in the Columbia meeting, I had no personal motive of any kind in view. Office was then the farthest thing from my mind. I felt solicitous to give a right direction to affairs, and perfectly willing to let whoever wished have the carrying of them into execution. I had kept aloof, and taken no part in bringing about or accelerating the public difficulties, but now they were upon us, I had no disposition to shrink from duty or responsibility. The crisis had come, and it was time for every patriot to speak out; but I solemnly declare, I was actuated by motives wholly unselfish. I might, if I wished, have been elected to the Convention, which I had taken so active a part in having called, but I declined all requests to become a candidate. I had no disposition whatever to enter upon a career of public life. I continued, as usual, my attention to business which was rather more pressing than ordinary in consequence of the absence of my cousin, who, however, did not remain away long. The siege of Bexar ended in the assault and capture of the place, and he returned home. Nothing further of interest personally occurred this fall, except the establishment of the Masonic lodge at Brazoria, of which I was chosen first Master. It was called Holland Lodge No. 36, and worked under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, and was the first Masonic lodge ever opened in Texas. It is still in existence as Holland Lodge No. 1, at the city of Houston.

There was no mistaking the portents of things when the year 1836 dawned upon Texas. Santa Anna and the Mexican people were thoroughly aroused by the events of Bexar, and evidences of an early and formidable invasion came with every breeze from the west. I began to prepare for the storm. I broke up housekeeping, and sent my sister home to New York in February. In March came the news of the fall and massacre of the Alamo, and I immediately enlisted as a volunteer private soldier in Capt. Calder's company, 2d Regiment infantry, and joined the army at the Beeson crossing of the Colorado, two days before the retreat to the Brazos commenced. My cousin, Ira Jones, I left at Brazoria to look after my interests, and herewith instructions, as requested by him, that if the place should have to be abandoned, he should join me in the army, which he subsequently did. During the time the troops were encamped in the Brazos bottom, the dysentery and measles broke out, (April, 1836,) and at the very urgent solicitations of Col. Sherman, and many of my friends and former patients in the army, I consented to take the post of surgeon to the 2d Regiment. It was necessary, in fact, for me to do so, but I made it a condition of accepting, that I should be permitted to resign so soon as the necessity of my acceptance of the place should cease; and that, in the mean time, I should be permitted to hold "my rank" as a private in the line. In accordance with this agreement, I continued to do duty in both capacities, until the increase of sickness compelled me to give up my "privateship." I was so successful in treating the cases of sickness which came under my charge, that, although the army was without tents to some extent a part of the time on the march, there was not a single death in the 2d Regiment from the time I was appointed, until the battle on the 21st of April.

[April 2d, 1836.—I discharged from this time the duties of Judge Advocate General, until I left for New Orleans, in May. V. "Army Orders."]

I saw but little of Gen. Houston, and had not much conversation with him until the evening of the day we crossed the Brazos at Groce's, when we took supper together with some relatives of Mr. Groce, who were occupying his house temporarily. He asked me, after supper, privately, what I thought of the prospects. I told him the men were deserting, and if the retreating policy were continued much longer, he would be pretty much alone. He said there was a "traitor" in the army among the officers, and asked me to guess who it was. I immediately, without a moment's hesitation, replied that I "guessed" it was one of his volunteer aids, Col. Perry. The General said, I have intercepted a letter of his to the Cabinet; he is endeavoring to have the command taken from me, and wants it himself. I told him I had no confidence in Perry, and thought him a reckless fool, but that he (Houston) might depend upon it, there was a deep and growing dissatisfaction in the camp, and that Perry's conduct was but an index of that feeling. He seemed thoughtful and irresolute; said he hoped yet to get a bloodless victory; and the conversation dropped, with an expression of an earnest hope on my part, that the next move he made would be towards the enemy. (April 15th, 1836.)

On the morning of the day we left camp at Harrisburg and crossed the bayou, a "general order" was issued, and a detail was made to stay with the sick; and I and Dr. Phelps (hospital surgeon) were of the number. I resolved, as I have done on subsequent occasions, to "disobey the order." I, therefore, having attended to my daily routine, handed over my sick to the hospital surgeon, and joined the army at the crossing, about sundown, and proceeded with it to Lynchburg. As a consequence, I participated in the battle of San Jacinto next day and the 21st, and that night was occupied the entire time, and until sunrise next morning, in assisting to dress the wounds received on the field. I accompanied the Commander-in-chief and the captive Mexican President to Galveston, having resigned my office of surgeon to the 2d Regiment in favor of my cousin, Ira Jones, who had joined the army a short time previous. I was now appointed Assistant Surgeon General and Medical Purveyor to the army, and sent to New Orleans to procure supplies (May 10th.) I was absent about a month, and returning, made my head-quarters at Brazoria. The latter part of the summer I had a violent attack of dysentery, while on a visit with Judge Collinsworth at the house of Col. Wm. H. Wharton, ten miles from town, and was confined to my room for more than two months. During this time my cousin returned from the army, and in a few days after sickened and died, an event caused no doubt by exposure and fatigue while on duty; for he had one of the best constitutions in the world. He had many warm friends, and his death was deeply regretted by myself and all who knew him.

On my return, after my long sickness at Col. Wharton's, I found every thing in disorder; my office had been broken open, and every thing taken from it that was portable and valuable, even to my saddles, bridles, and blankets. My desk had also been robbed of what money I had. Two lawyers had "squatted" in one room of my office, and I was unable to get them out for several weeks; when I succeeded, it produced a "challenge" from my friend, the Chief Justice J. Collinsworth, which I accepted, to fight with pistols at ten steps. It was, however, settled, his object having been to "bluff," which, when he found would not succeed, he got his friend, T. F. McKinney, to get him out of the scrape. He ever after, however, hated me, and being in the habit of drinking to excess, threw himself away, and was finally lost in Galveston Bay the following year. At the close of this year, (1836,) having resigned my office in the army, I again prepared to resume my practice, which now for some ten months had been interrupted. Before many months, however, I was diverted from my purpose, by solicitations from various friends, (?) from various motives, to be a candidate for member of Congress from Brazoria. It would be difficult to analyze the arguments and feelings by which I was actuated in consenting. I had "fought, bled, and died" for the country in the first place, and this had increased my desire to see it prosperous and successful. Habit had accustomed me to reflect more and more upon public matters. The first Congress of Texas had committed the most woful blunders, and there had been much reckless and interested legislation. I felt a desire to see these things remedied, and thought I might be useful. I was urgently solicited by some friends, whose wishes I respected and felt disposed to gratify. I therefore, unfortunately for my own happiness, yielded my consent to let my name be brought before the people. Soon afterwards it was discovered that I was opposed to the "Texas Railroad, Navigation, and Banking Company," and its friends turned against me. I made no secret of my sentiments. This I conceived to be one of the most corrupt schemes of iniquity ever sanctioned by a Legislature and a President, and constituted one of the main reasons why I was willing to give up private life, that I might have an opportunity of crushing it. But the issue was made sooner than I expected. Its friends were powerful; and Gen. S. Houston, then in the heyday of his popularity, had sanctioned it, and approved the law chartering it. But I attacked it so successfully in an article signed "Franklin," published in a Matagorda paper, that I effectually crushed the hydra; though from it have sprung a brood of enemies, which to this day have not ceased to strike at me for my opposition to it. Prominent among these are Dr. B. T. Archer, T. J. Green, T. F. McKinney, and A. C. Horton. I was elected to Congress, and first took my seat in that body at the called session of the 2d Congress, in Sept., 1837. In speaking of the 1st Congress of Texas, I have uniformly denounced in terms of censure, three acts as corrupt, and one as impolitic. In this connection, I may as well name them. 1st, the Texas R. R., N., and B. Co., (above alluded to;) 2d, the location of Houston as the seat of government; and 3d, the sale of Galveston Island. These three acts constituted a perfect "selling out" of Texas to a few individuals, or, at least, of every thing that was available in 1836; for, burdened with the Texas Railroad, Navigation, and Banking Co., if it had been practicable to carry out the scheme, the public lands of the country would have been comparatively worthless. The Company would have been the great "feudal landlord" of the whole, and held them all by a feudal tenure. Houston and Galveston were pretty respectable speculations by members of a legislature; but the other was a grabbing up of every thing that was left.

There were many impolitic acts passed by the 1st Congress, —such as the one reviving the corruptly purchased charter of the "Agricultural Bank," [V. Act for relief of McKinney & Williams, 1st vol. Laws of Texas]—but the one to which I have more particularly alluded above, is the "Land Law," of this year. The passage of that law vested, in my opinion, certain rights and privileges which made it incumbent on the next legislature to pass the land law of 1838, which, objectionable though it may have been, was the best, under the circumstances, which could have been passed at that time, without conflicting with the equitable rights which had grown up under the former one.

[January, 1850.—I have been blamed for voting for the land law of 1838. The reasons are partly stated above. There are many others which influenced me. The colonization laws of Mexico and of Coahuila had vested rights—also the Consultation and Provisional Government, which had to be respected; and the country would not have submitted to a disregard of them by Congress. The evils are manifest which have grown out of that law. The Committee (of which I was one) foresaw and predicted them in their Report. The object was to make as good a law as possible under the circumstances, which we did, and presented it. Amendments were made which I disapproved of; but I defy any man now, after twelve years' experience of the law with its resulting evils, to draw up a bill which Anglo-Saxon land-stealers cannot take advantage of, without violating the rights which had inured to citizens of Texas under former legislation by Mexico, Coahuila, and Texas herself. The Mexican colonization system, which we had to carry out, was not well adapted to prevent the frauds of Anglo-Saxon cupidity and Anglo-Saxon ingenuity. The fault, therefore, is in the system which public faith required us to carry out, and not in the "law" by which it was done. I wash my hands of this matter entirely. The President in his veto pointed out the evils of the bill, as the committee had done which reported it, but failed to point out any remedy, or to propose any plan by which the public faith could be preserved. Everybody of ordinary sagacity knew there would be frauds committed the moment a land-office was opened in Texas. It took no prophet to tell us that; it would have taken all the prophets and apostles to boot to have told us how frauds were to be prevented in Texas land matters. It is a very easy matter to pull to pieces, though a very difficult one to construct, a perfect edifice. The greatest fault after all that can be found with this bill is, that it did not stop "perjury;" for, aside from perjury, (which no law can stop,) few evils have grown out of it. The law itself possesses every possible safeguard against fraud.]

The called session of the 2d Congress was merged in the regular session, and this lasted until January, at which time Congress adjourned to meet again in May. In the recess between the regular and adjourned sessions I visited Brazoria, and spent the time partly in settling up my old business there, intending to be ready to resume the practice after the adjourned session. That came on, and I again returned to Houston, and completed my term of service with the close of that session in June. At this period I became engaged to be married to my present wife, Mrs. Mary McCrory. The marriage was fixed for the last of the month; in the mean time I again made a visit to Brazoria on private business. While here I received a message from the President, requesting me to come to Houston immediately, —that he wished me to accept the appointment of Agent to the United States for the purpose of procuring a navy for Texas. So soon as I could arrange matters I returned to Houston, and when I called on the President, he told me that he had changed his mind about the service he wished to employ me in—that he had tendered the appointment of Minister to the United States to P. W. Grayson, (then a candidate for President,) but that he having declined accepting it, he wished me to accept it, and let S. M. Williams go for the navy. I told him both offers were entirely unexpected by me—that I did not feel competent to discharge the duties of either, and that although I had come to Houston agreeably to his request, it was to decline the appointment tendered. He then urged and insisted on my taking the office of Minister, said he did not know any one else he could get whom he could trust, and appealed to my patriotism to induce me to consent. I finally told him I would think of the matter, and give him an answer next day. But the next day I was taken very sick, and the final conclusion of the matter was delayed until I got about again, which was nearly a month. No person having been found in the mean time, I consented to accept, and my instructions were made out and handed to me. In consequence of accepting this appointment, the marriage arrangement was postponed until I should return from Washington city, which, as Gen. Houston's term would expire in a few months, was understood would be in the course of one year. I started from Houston on horseback, having recovered barely sufficient to ride, and went by Brazoria to Velasco. Here I took passage on the steamer Columbia for New Orleans. From, this time I have kept a pretty constant diary of my life to the present period, as will be seen by reference to my books and papers. [See four small pocket memorandum books, and one large folio, also files of letters and other manuscripts.] I shall, therefore, merely string together some leading incidents, in order to give a connected view of my life from this period to the present time of writing. Most of my public acts will be found in the records of the country's history for the same period. I remained at Washington City nearly one year as the Representative of Texas, when I was recalled by General Lamar. I returned to Texas on one of the government vessels, (then called the Viper,) a war schooner, in company with Mr. S. M. Williams, agent for their purchase, and M. A. Bryan, the Secretary of Legation, both of whom were recalled about the same time. We landed at Galveston, where I first learned I had been elected to the Senate for two years, to fill a vacancy in that body occasioned by the death of William H. Wharton of Brazoria county. [I knew nothing of my having been a candidate.] I at first determined to decline, being tired of public life, and wishing to attend to my private affairs, but by the over-persuasions of many worthy citizens, I yielded to their request that I should serve. [My friends had compromitted me.] This was a great sacrifice for me; it ruined my business and prospects, and brought me in constant contact with an administration which was gradually sucking the life-blood of the country away. I had the pain of constantly watching the ruin which was progressing, without the power to arrest the downward tendency of things. [I had seen enough of this in the former administration.] At Galveston I accepted a public dinner on my arrival; shortly afterwards I went to Brazoria and partook of one with my fellow-citizens there. I then went to Houston to settle my business with the State Department, to visit the President, and make a final report of my stewardship while abroad. While here the yellow fever broke out; and not liking to leave while there was danger of an attack (on the road) where I could not get the necessary assistance, I thought it most prudent to stay and face the enemy. I escaped, however, and in October started for Austin, to which the seat of government had been removed. The 4th Congress met here, and I took my seat as Senator from Brazoria. For a little while I had some hope, and exerted myself to roll back the tide of reckless and adverse legislation, but I soon found it was useless to waste my strength in unavailing and hopeless efforts. I found that argument was not available—it was not intelligence so much as honesty and patriotism which was wanting in Congress. I, therefore, contented myself with doing what little good I could in a quiet way, and as there was no rudder, to let the vessel drift. Having abandoned all idea of resuming practice in Brazoria, which had now passed entirely into other hands, and becoming interested to a small extent in Austin city property, I, at the close of the session of Congress, commenced building myself a house on Pecan street. On the 17th of May I was married, and spent the summer principally in making improvements on my place, or in doing nothing. The fall of the year brought the 5th Congress, and I took my place rather mechanically in the Senate. A few days after the session commenced the President obtained leave of absence, the Vice President vacated the chair of the Senate to assume the executive functions, and I was chosen by one majority to fill his place. Deciding questions of order suited me, gave me employment, and filled up time which otherwise would have hung very unpleasantly on my hands; for, in the proceedings of a Congress, when the government was rushing downward with hourly increasing velocity, I, of course, could feel neither interest nor pleasure. It was at best only "locking the stable door after the horse was stolen." The 5th Congress came to a close, (1841,) and as if the ruin was not already sufficiently complete, Gen. Lamar started the Santa Fé expedition, which, as the gamblers say, "made a clean turn" of every thing on land, and the Yucatan one of every thing afloat. Having passed through my term in the Senate unsatisfactorily and unprofitably enough to myself, I made another effort in good faith to escape to private life. I sold my house and improvements in Austin, and took my family and returned to Brazoria county, and recommenced the practice of my profession at Columbia, boarding with Mr. Ammon Underwood. By fall I had succeeded in establishing a business about as extensive as I could attend to. But my office-holding had impoverished me, and embarrassed my affairs just at a time when the wants and expenses of a family were beginning to be felt. I however was beginning to emerge from these difficulties, when I was again implored to take upon myself the duties of office. The Presidential term of Gen. Lamar expired in December of this year, and Gen. Houston's second term commenced. It was a question of life or death with the country, which had been brought to the extremest point of exhaustion consistent with the ability of being resuscitated. Gen. Houston's first term had been characterized by many errors and follies, and by a wide-spread ruin Gen. Lamar had completed what his predecessor had begun. At this inauspicious moment I was solicited, urged, implored, and finally persuaded by Gen. Houston, K. G. Anderson, and very many others, to accept the office of Secretary of State. I was assured I should have worthy associates in the cabinet, &c., &c., &c., &c., and promised as a sine qua non to acceptance that I should have a paramount control. I then entered upon this new field of duty, with a determination to snatch the country from the verge of destruction upon which she was tottering, and to save her if possible, notwithstanding the almost insurmountable difficulties with which she was surrounded. In this purpose I never faltered nor ceased until complete success had crowned my efforts. It is too true the conditions of the compact with the President were violated by him in more than one instance; and when the danger appeared to be past, he wished to act in such a way as to induce the impression that Samuel Houston was the sole man in the government; but I was not to be turned from a purpose of such magnitude, when nearly completed, by these things. My object was to save the country, nor did I care to whom the credit, of the act should inure, so the object sought was accomplished. To the candor and the justice of posterity I am willing to leave the settlement of these things; and though not indifferent to the good opinion of my fellow-citizens, I have no disposition to discount an enduring possession for present notoriety any more than "to mistake the noise of a mob for the trumpet of Fame." [From this time to the 19th February, 1846, see the public records and archives of the country for the history of my acts—also my letters to Mr. Tyler and others, as well as my memoranda and other manuscripts. Note.—1850, February 1st. I never was a politician or an office-seeker, either in Texas or anywhere else. I have never asked place or preferment. When I came to Texas it was with far other views. The necessities of the country, not my own will or wishes, drew me from private life.]

Having despatched Col. Reilly to Washington City with instructions on the subject of annexation, and given instructions to Gen. McIntosh at Paris for settling the French difficulty, I turned my attention to the Legislature for such action as our situation required, and principally to the all-important subject of finance. The currency of the country, or promissory notes, had sunk so low that they no longer circulated as money. A rigid economy was therefore enjoined, and an expenditure based upon, while it should be within, the actual receipts of the Government. As a temporary expedient, the issue of a limited amount of exchequer or treasury bills was recommended, for the double purpose of meeting a present emergency, and for facilitating the operations of the revenue department of the Government. Retrenchment was the watchword of the administration, and rigidly was it enforced, as the pockets of all government officers attested. On the adjournment of the 6th or "Retrenchment Congress," I visited my family at Columbia, and then joined the President at Galveston, where instructions were prepared for Dr. Ashbel Smith, who was despatched on his important mission to Europe. From this I again returned to Columbia, and then joined the President at Houston, to which place the seat of government had been arbitrarily removed. I remained here as long as it appeared to be necessary, and then went to spend some time with my family at Columbia, and attend to my business at that place. [Note. In June I went to New Orleans as Commissioner of the Five Million Loan, which I negotiated with Mr. Bourgeois D'Orvanne.] In July I was summoned by the President to join him at Houston, and again started to go there, but was taken down severely sick at Col. Wm. T. Austin's, where I was detained for several weeks, and then went again to Houston; and from thence to Columbia, where I stayed several weeks. I then joined the President at Washington, on the Brazos, to which place the seat of government, in a fit of Executive spleen at Houston, had been removed. Here shortly afterward commenced the regular session of the 7th Congress of the Republic.

[Oct., 1842. From this time I was never absent from the seat of Government, except on (public) business. Note.—Jan. 1st, 1850. Having, during a period of more than ten years, been called upon to act much in conjunction with Gen. S. Houston, justice to myself, as well as to him, requires I should give a summary of this connection, and an estimate of his character. In 1835, I formed a very unfavorable opinion of him on first acquaintance, regarding him as a miserable sot, without dignity of character, and without principle of any kind, and altogether reckless. In the campaign of 1836 I became partially reconciled. From the time of his election to the Presidency, I wholly disapproved many of his prominent public acts, particularly during the 1st Congress in 1836–'7, and continued opposed generally until 1842. His course that winter (1841–'2) restored him to my confidence; but from that time, and the close of that session of Congress, we gradually drifted apart, until in 1848, when he joined the "free-soil party," we separated forever. I have therefore, at two periods, approved his course; at three others, disapproved it. The "vote," so far as I am concerned, seems to be three to two against him; and I think this is about the proportion of good and evil in his character, as exhibited during the time of my connection with him. But for the emergency in which Texas stood, I would never have acted with him at all. To show his intense selfishness, I advert to the certain fact of his seeking, in the first place, to break down my administration; and failing in this, to appropriate to himself the credit of all my acts, as Secretary of State and President of Texas, and by every means which ingenuity, recklessness, and falsehood could devise.]

About this time (1842) I removed with my family to Washington, and commenced boarding with J. L. Farquhar. This year I made a purchase of M. Austin Bryan, of his quarter of a league of land, near Washington, on which I now reside, known as Barrington. I paid him about $400 in money, and a medical bill for a small amount which he owed me. In Jan., 1844, I rented the plantation of Gen. James R. Cook's widow, adjoining my Barrington tract, and commenced farming on a small scale; and at the same time building and making other improvements on my own tract. I contracted with Mr. John Campbell to build a house, kitchen, and smoke-house, and to pay him $700, and furnish all the materials on the ground. (Details omitted here, v. original.)

On the 2d day of September of this year, (1844,) I was elected President of Texas for three years, from the 9th of December, by a popular majority of about 1,500 votes over Gen. Edward Burleson.

On the 5th of March, 1845, I removed to my new home, "Barrington," named after my native town in Massachusetts. On the 19th Feb., 1846, I surrendered the Government of Texas into the hands of Gen. J. P. Henderson, Governor, and Texas ceased her career as a Republic, and began that of a State of the American Union. May she never have cause to regret the change.

Since 1846 I have resided constantly on my farm, super-intending my agricultural pursuits, and the education of my children. So closed the year Anno Dom. 1849.