Chapter I: Preface

To conceive the idea, and execute the purpose of making a book, is, to a modest man, not a little monstrous; and yet, modest or immodest, monstrous or not, the author makes his best bow to the reader, and holds himself subject to criticism for not making it better. But many are running to and fro in the earth, and knowledge is being increased; for the runners, are they not making books for the million? And having run somewhat with the runners ourself, we might as well tell our story of travel too. The story is not of sailing round the world with Captain Cook, or any other Sea King. Nor is it one of Orient--of Oriental climes or times, or of its discords or chimes, but it is one that pertains to stirring events, in stirring times, in the most stirring of all stirring climes--America, our own sweet land of liberty.

The Author, in justice to himself, will state that in preparing this book for publication, he has been sore pressed for time to bring it out with that degree of merit, literary and otherwise, that he would have it possess.

The Eulogium on Hon. Martin P. Sweet, which we offer as our prelude, is at once an act of friendship and pleasure, as well as of justice, to one of such brilliant mental endowments and genial qualities of heart, and we believe our readers will so regard it. Besides, while some may not fully appreciate the relevancy of the Eulogy to the residue of the book, yet, for himself, the Author sees and feels a species of mystical connection between Mr. S. and himself in all his travels and experiences in Texas and Mexico. And so much the more because of his earnest prophetic endeavor to dissuade him from going there.

With this brief preface, we submit this volume to the public eye, hoping to please and interest, promising that we will do better next time, if we ever publish another book.

CONTENTS.

PAGE.
CHAPTER I.
Hon. Martin P. Sweet--Interview with and Eulogium 9-29

CHAPTER II.
Trip to Galveston--Memphis Gentleman 30-40

CHAPTER III.
Social Types--Henry Clay--General Polk 41-44

CHAPTER IV.
Voyage Down the Mississippi--Poem on "Varieties'
Theater." 45-50

CHAPTER V.
New Orleans--Description of--Ocean View of Galveston--The
Island, How Formed--Commercial Importance of, etc. 51-64

CHAPTER VI.
Effect of Climate on Tastes, Appetites and
Temper--The Enraged Clergyman--"Renegade
Americans"--Morals and Religion--Reign of
Terror--The Robbery 65-70

CHAPTER VII.
Texas Oath of Office--"Code of Honor"--Dueling
Spirit--Judge Lynch and Horse Thieves--The
Doctor of Divinity--Conscript Law--"Like
People, Like Priest" 71-75

CHAPTER VIII.
The Doctor's Prize Ring Illustration--The Wealthy
Planteress--The Doctor's Dueling Card--Colloquy
with the Planteress--The Doctor and
the Judge--He Challenges the Latter--Shooting
on Sight--Masonic Reconciliation 76-85

CHAPTER IX.
Babel of Tongues--Sam Houston--He Comes to
Galveston to make a Speech--A Committee Wait
on Him--He Makes a Speech--His Appearance
On the Balcony of Tremont Hotel 86-91

CHAPTER X.
Houston's Speech--Col. Moore's Regiment--General
Houston's Review of it--Williamson S. Oldham
and Judge Campbell 92-98

CHAPTER XI.
Arguments on Secession in Outline 99-101

CHAPTER XII.
Texas Never Invaded--Feeling of the People--Galveston
Retaken--General Sherman and Lt. Sherman--Solemn
Scene Between Them--General Magruder and General Hebert 102-113

CHAPTER XIII.
The Federal Fleet--"Nicaragua Smith." 114-117

CHAPTER XIV.
The Captured Letter--Mrs. E.'s exile--Her Companions--Lewis
and Emma--Lieutenant H. 118-154

CHAPTER XV.
Lawlessness and Crime--Doctor O. and the Overseer--Doctor
F. Assassinated--Capt. Carr and Mr. Smythe 155-161

CHAPTER XVI.
The Two Days' Meeting--Power of Prejudice--The
Feast at Our House--Brigadier General M.
and Staff 162-166

CHAPTER XVII.
The Conscript Law--How the Writer Beat It, and
How at last It Beat Him--Trip to Mexico--Matamoras--General
Mejia--The Situation--Rev. Dr. L. and the
Writer--Petitioning Maximilian--Preaching in
Varieties' Theater 167-172

CHAPTER XVIII.
More about Texas--Plot against the Writer's Life--Pretext
for the Attack--Prompt Action of Deputy
Sheriff Hardin--Fear of Secret Assassination--Advised
to Leave the Place--Went to San
Antonio--Thence to Mexico--Lost in the Wilds
of Western Texas--How We Got Out--The Two
Mexican Rancheros--Gen. F. J. H.--Extradition
of Don Manuel G. Rejon--Cortinas--The
Writer's Family Flooded Out in San Antonio--They
Come to Him in Matamoras 173-182

CHAPTER XIX.
Lee's Surrender--Effect on Texas Soldiers--Trip
to New Orleans--Family Ship North--Writer's
Return to Texas--He Visits Brenham, Austin,
San Antonio and New Braunfels--Rev. Josiah
Whipple--The Old Woman in Austin What
Wouldn't Hear the Blue Coat Preach 183-190

CHAPTER XX.
Governor Hamilton--The Thirty Neros--The Old
German and His Wife--Fight with Indians--A
Native Texan's Opinion of Germans 191-195

CHAPTER XXI.
Texas--Topography, Climate and Products of 196-210

OLD LETTERS.--POEM.
Canto I. 213-222
Canto II. 223-225
Canto III. 226-231

FIVE YEARS IN TEXAS.