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v°u said you would be down soon. Y/hy cannot we get then a group of careful thinkers together;/ and talk these things over? Would that seem like a discourtesy to last night's organization?
vhy cannot we fashion a code to govern the publication of history, and They that cannot measure up to the code at least will be ticketed? I have often thought of this.
I cannot keep on carrying this research work alone. ~ven the associates working with me, cost me in tirae and money for the leadership i must give. I have fitted up a nice headquarters, nevertheless these continuing expenses have me groggy.
Yet the work should not stop. When you do come, I hope you (and anyone you may have with you) .;ill have time to clearly see the course pursued, and its value or defect. The work you are doing at St. Edward's is'priceless. hy work would be impos sible except for these things you have done, and are yet planning' to do, I have sent your booklets to ohers and thus strengthened them to do better digging in their locality.
Tit is Spanish story here is not. San Antonio alone; if is all of Spanish South Texas. These missions T?ere not isolated temples here on this river; they were parts of great plans, and great activities, in sdtsl this South Texas. We are not going to get this story out.by enthusiasms but by drawing into-co-ordination many persons scattered about, each of whom have essential things that fit in.
Incidentally, T would like to see St. Mary's here have a part in this local work, as St. k'dward's has its potential part in the big, over-riding work.
This morning I read aga.in my chapter on the Teran expedition; it's a commentary and review, and the comments are broad in scope. There is also here a chapter of same type on the Ramon expedition. The Teran commentary shows the mighty efforts of the Viceroy down in liexico City and of Teran in the wilderness to find a v/ay to subject Texas. Tie Ramon commentary shows many changed conditions. The two togeher give the wild, primitive Texas background when those men were pioneering. The two chapters embrace about 30 typewritten pages. They are based on your translated diaries, and they would have been impossible without your several translations.
You could read them and get an excellent cross-section idaa of what I've been doing, and its character. And if some competent authority should express himself to Can Antonians they would understand better what thi3 quiet work means, ra&hBr than so much half-digested publication. (Yet publishing half-digested stuff brings in some money to buy bread.)
Because of the type and character of these commentaries they might be worthwhile for your publications. They were not written with such thought but because they give an unpublished review/ of those pioneering years and carry Texas information