times did from his imperfect acquaintance with the English language,) the eye, and even the agitation of the man, bespoke the truth of the sentiment, which he was labouring to express.
Hunter's object in visiting Mexico, (in as far as I could ascertain it,) was to induce the Government to assign a portion of the vacant lands in Cohahuila and Texas, to some numerous tribes of Indians, mustering in all nearly 20,000 warriors, who had been driven from their hunting-lands on the Missouri and the Missisippi, by the rapid spread of the population from the Anglo-American Eastern States. Retiring across the vast Prairies of Louisiana, and pursued, step by step, by that civilization, before which they fled, they entreated Mexico to grant them lands which they might call their own; and offered, if allowed to settle upon the Southern banks of the Colorado and Sabina, to take the oath of allegiance to the Government, to embrace the Catholic religion, to devote themselves to agricultural labours, and to defend the frontier against all encroachments. This favourable opportunity of acquiring a valuable addition to the population of the country was lost by that dilatory spirit, which, both in Spain, and its dependencies, has been the source of so many evils. Hunter left Mexico without having received any positive answer to his demands; and it is said that, in order to clear himself from the imputation of bad faith before the great council held upon his return, he advised the Indians to cross the frontier, and to
