The national standard is an azure ground with a large golden star in the centre. The national seal is a single star of five points, encircled by an olive and live oak branch, with the words, "Republic of Texas." The superficial surface of the republic of Texas, as claimed by the Texans, is supposed to be about 300,000 square miles, or nearly 96,000,000 of English acres, the whole of which was sectionized or laid out under the impresario system of Mexico, as colonies, but is now by special enactments of the Texas congress divided into the following judicial districts : First District.-Galveston, Liberty, Montgomery, and Harris counties. Second District.- Matagorda, Brazoria, Fort Beud, Austin, and Colorado counties. Third District.-Fayette, Washington, Bastrop, Travis, Milam, and Robinson counties. Fourth District. Bexar, Gonzales, Jackson, Victoria, Goliad, Refugio, and San Patricio counties. Fifth District.-San Augustine, Nacogdoches, and Houston counties. Sixth District.-Jefferson, Jaspar, Sabine, and Shelby counties. Seventh District.-Harrison, Fannin, and Red River counties. The principal inland towns are as follows: San Augustine, situate on the old road to San Antonio, about twenty-seven miles from Gaines Ferry on the Sabine River, in Eastern Texas, amid rolling lands; and is, therefore, perhaps, one of the healthiest towns on the eastern part of Texas. Population about 1000. Annuhuac, on Galveston Bay, at the mouth of the Trinity River, contains about fifty inhabitants. The river has more timber on its banks than those of any other river in Texas. City of Houston, formerly the capital of Texas, on Buffalo Bayou, about ninety miles from Galveston, contains a population, according to the census of 1839, of 2073 souls, of which 1620 are males, and 453 females. Three steam-boats run to Houston from Galveston, but the navigation to it is seriously obstructed by the Red Fish and Clopper Bars, which vary from three to five feet in water. Brazoria City, about thirty-miles from the mouth of the Brazos River, contains between five and six hundred souls. Here the first settlement of the Anglo-Americans was formed. The situation is low and unhealthy. Bolivar, on the Brazos river, a small town about twenty-five miles above Brazoria; population 200. Austin, formerly Waterloo, on the Colorado river, is the capital of Texas. It is situated in the most fertile and healthy part of the country; population about 1000, but during the session of congress the population may be estimated at 2000 and upwards. San Patricio, on the bank of the Nueces; this is an interesting location, being inhabited by a very orderly colony of Irish settlers, who have not mixed themselves up in state affairs in any way. They have a priest of their own nation, and magistrates selected from among themselves; they continue their allegiance to the Mexican government to this day; they never feel the hand of civil superiors, and may be considered a truly independent and happy community. Town about thirty-five miles from the sea; population about 200. San Antonio, on the San Antonio river, is the centre of a fertile country, and is a place of some trade. It contains a population of 2000, of which two-thirds are Mexicans, and is strongly recommended to English emigrants, as one of the best locations in TEXAS. Goliad, formerly La Bahia, also on the San Antonio river, is a small town containing about 250 inhabitants. Gonzales, on the Guadalupe river, is an old Mexican town, situated in a fertile region. It contains a population of 250, chiefly Mexicans. Victoria, on the Guadalupe river, is one of the most flourishing towns in the republic. It contains 600 inhabitants, and is also recommended to English emigrants as a healthy and fertile location FOR TEXAS. Nacogdoches, in the north of Texas, contains 750 inhabitants, and is represented as a flourishing town. |