TO WASHINGTON. 537 
minski, and the other gentlemen who had taken the 
land route from Corpus Christi, were on board. We 
stood out to sea with a light wind, and soon after head- 
ed to the north-east for Galveston. 
January 9th.. Entered the port of Galveston this 
morning, where we remained until 40’clock, p.m. This 
city had greatly increased since August, 1850, when 
we stopped here. Its commerce, too, judging from 
the number of ships and steamers, must have augment- 
ed in proportion. 
January 10th. Late in the afternoon we reached 
New Orleans, where I took up my quarters at the St. 
Louis Hotel. 
January 11th. On my journey from Texas, I learned 
by a newspaper that the United States Senate had, on the 
assembling of Congress, removed the restriction which 
prevented the use of the appropriation under certain 
conditions; so that the survey might now be permitted to 
go onagain. But the commission had been broken up ; 
the injury had already been inflicted upon its mem- 
bers, who were now scattered and on their way to 
their homes; and it was too late to return to the field 
of operations. I, therefore, sent a telegraphic despatch 
to the Hon. Alex. H. H. Stuart, Secretary of the Inte- 
rior, advising him of my arrival at New Orleans, with 
a portion of the officers of the Commission, and request- 
ing information respecting the funds at my disposal, as 
well as instructions as to further proceedings. 
January 14th. After waiting four days for an 
answer to my despatch, the necessity of my being in 
Washington as soon as possible required that I should 
delay no longer; particularly as I now learned that 
