truth, as a very late writer upon that country will bear witness; and what he has particularized no one will question.

This journal, imperfect as it may be, has been ready for the press since the writer's escape from the Castle of Perote, but has been kept back for fear of prejudicing the condition of his countrymen who were detained, until recently, prisoners of war in Mexico.

The designs accompanying the work were executed on the spot by Charles M'Laughlin, one of the Mier prisoners, who participated in all the dangers and sufferings of this eventful expedition, and to whose genius great credit is due for their faithfulness to the life. [17]
 

Introductory Chapter

 
The election of General Sam. Houston, in 1836, as first constitutional president, over Stephen F. Austin, the father of his country, did not show less confidence in the virtues and capability of that deceased patriot. In casting their votes between these distinguished individuals, a majority of the electors of Texas voted for the former, believing that, from his military reputation, he would pursue an active belligerant policy, which, at a short period, would extort an honourable peace from our enemy. They feared in General Austin a more temporizing and pacific course, which they believed less calculated to procure the peace they so much desired. Whether these were just grounds of apprehension as to the policy of that wise and good man, must to some extent remain a secret; but in frequent conversations with the author subsequent to the election, he evinced a desire to give Mexico a reasonable opportunity of settling the dispute without farther recourse to arms, and, in the event of failure, to use the most energetic means to coerce it.

Not so with General Houston. He was elected [18] as the war candidate; for the nation believed that a war policy would procure us a speedy peace. In this they were disappointed; for General Houston's first official act was a visit to the captive president of Mexico, then confined at Orozimbo. This artful tyrant had the address to make him believe that, if he, Santa Anna, could see Houston's old friend, President Andrew Jackson, at Washington City, they would complete the treaty which he so solemnly promised the Texians. President Houston then,