Diary of Henry Matthews (1799-18??), a Methodist circuit rider, schoolteacher, and practicing physician from Ohio, who made his way from Ohio, through the Illinois Territory, to Texas. This volume consists mainly of transcriptions of letters sent by Matthews to various family members and friends describing Matthews’ life on the circuit and as a school teacher in Ohio. Accompanying these letters are poetry and prose passages recorded by Matthews. In 1818, Matthews writes of his recommendation to the Annual Conference to ride as an itinerant pastor; he was just 19 years old. It also includes notes on his travel plans, time spent as a schoolteacher, religious recommendations, and lists books he has been reading. A page in the back dated 1840 includes a list of names, residences, and destinations.

Henry Matthews (1799-18?) was a Methodist circuit rider, schoolteacher, and practicing physician from Ohio, who made his way from Ohio, through the Illinois Territory, to Texas. Primarily a circuit-riding preacher and schoolteacher in his early days in Ohio, Matthews practiced medicine more formally in the 1830s and 1840s in San Felipe, Texas, where Matthews and his wife Miranda eventually settled. This final volume also appears to be primarily a private diary, but many of the entries are made over printed finance notes, for which the book was originally printed. Entries range from weather reports to crop and garden reports to mentions of Matthews’ medical practice in San Felipe and appears to be a diary that includes personal and religious notes. There are loose pages at the end. The first two thirds is written right side up, there is a break in the writing, and the rest of the book is filled from the back writing right-side-up with respect to that cover, so that the book needs to be flipped upside-down to be read.

The author wrote to Jim B. on the thirtieth of May, Neel Jones and John Wallace also visited the author. She talks of how it rained in Billington when she visited and then she got a cold from it. [2]The author again is not feeling well and this prevented her from visiting Jim Wilson. She had dinner with Callie and Will.[3] Bettie had a headache and the author had eye problems. The author mentions that there are a lot of Veterans when she went to go get her eyes checked out. [4] There was a dinner party and many old friends showed up. [5] She stayed at Cooper's house for a night. Afterwards she was watching over a baby that got a fever. The author's uncle is thinking about moving back to Texas. [6]She continues to discuss the problems of her uncle going back to Texas. She then mentions that her eyes are becoming better. She was able to read some of her father's letters. [7]The author plans to visit some friends for 2 to 3 weeks. The author has some letters that she is carrying that need to be delivered and one of her friends has yet to deliver …

Musical score for voice and piano or harp written in Paris in November 1818. Cover has black and white lithograph depicting a man standing with a shovel.

Message from Juan de Juanicotena to local alcaldes with an account from General Arredondo concerning the defeat of the rebels of Bexar.

Message from Manuel de Iturbe to officials in towns and villas saying that he is sending a viceregal communication concerning recent events, encouraging loyalty. The document is signed by local authorities acknowledging that they received and passed on the message from de Iturbe.

Message from Manuel de Iturbe to Spanish officials saying he is sending a decree from the Audiencia with news from Spain, with procedures for electing deputies to the cortes. The document is signed by local officials acknowledging their having received and passed on the message from de Iturbe.

Announcement from Ildefonso Ramón saying that Bernabé González has given everything over to his son-in-law, in return for support until his death. The document is heavily stained in places and has a large tear in the upper right corner of the paper.

Announcement from Ildefonso Ramón saying that Dolores del Rivero has given power of attorney to Ramón Guerra to settle questions of her late husband's lands, etc. The document is signed by numerous individuals at the end, including Tomás García Davila and Ildefonso Ramón.

Message from Joaquín de Arredondo announcing a decree on troop maintenance, delivered to alcaldes in Laredo.

Message from Joaquín de Arredondo exhorting the public to remain loyal to the Crown, and condemning certain insurgents . Also included is a royal decree granting amnesty to those involved in contraband; Juan Juanicotena is named interim governor.

Message from Joaquín de Arredondo indicating how the "required loon" of 100,000 pesos is to be collected in the provinces. de Arredondo lists out who is responsible for collecting the payments in each province including Coahuila, Nuevo Santander, etc.

Announcement from Joaquín de Arredondo to local alcaldes in Laredo saying a one percent tax on properties should be collected.

Message from Joaquín de Arredondo to local alcaldes saying that they should help out in construction of the church.

Message from José Andres de Sobrevilla saying that Mariano Cavasos has given power of attorney to Jesús Sánchez to settle pending matters.

Announcement from José Francisco de la Garza saying that Dolores del Rivero gives power of attorney to her brother, Vicente del Rivero. The document is signed at the bottom by numerous individuals.

Announcement from José Lázaro Báez Benavides saying that power of attorney is given by Gertrudis Perez to José Antonio Pérez. The document is signed at the bottom by all of the parties involved in this agreement.

Announcement from José Ramón Díaz de Bustamente saying that he has received permission from the governor of the province to issue passports into the province of Texas. The document is signed by local officials in towns and villas such as Refugio, Reynosa, Camargo, Mier, and Revilla, all listed on the left side of the first page.

Message from Manuel de Iturbe to Spanish justicias announcing the excommunication of Miguel Hidalgo and his followers. This message is signed by Spanish officials acknowledging their having received and passed on the information.

Announcement from Manuel de Iturbe to the Spanish justicias and captains in the villas and towns with results of elections for the cortes. de Iturbe mentions that places that have not yet elected someone should do so. There is a second document, signed by Juan Mazoleni and other Spanish officials acknowledging having received the announcement from de Iturbe.

Announcement from Manuel de Iturbe to justicias saying that he is sending a decree from the junta in Cádiz. The document is signed by local Spanish authorities acknowledging their having received and published the impending decree.

Message from Manuel de Iturbe to Spanish officials saying that 20 million pesos are now available for loans. The message is signed by those officials, acknowledging that they have received and passed on the document.

Announcement from the Real Audiencia de Mexico concerning the establishment of a 7-man Junta de Comercio in Mexico; orders are given for selecting members, duties, etc. The document has slightly frayed edges, and a piece of tape running down the center of the page.

Announcement from Viceroy Calleja with changes in taxes on commercial shipping. The bottom of the document has a short paragraph from Juan de Juanicotena, saying where the message was sent to within Nuevo Santander such as Laredo, Reynosa, Camargo, etc.