Galveston, Texas Jany 14th 1846. Hon: George Sykes, My dear sir - I left a hasty note for you advising you of my departure South, with the official intelligence of the adoption of our Constitution for my Government. I lost three days by the non-connection of the Rails leading south, arriving in New Orleans on the morning of the 9th Inst, and leaving immediately for this place, where I arrived on the the [sic] morning of the 12th and set out at once in company with Capt. Elliot., H.B.M. Chargé for Houston intending to proceed from there to Austin, on to the Residence of President Jones. But fortunately I met the latter at Houston, where he had arrived on his way to meet the Intelligence, as he was expecting it daily. It required only a few hours for him to issue the Annexed Proclamation; fifty of which I ordered for my friends in Congress, and one hundred & fifty were dispatched to different [2] parts of our state. I returned here this morning in company with His Excellency the President & Capt. Elliot, and have only a few moments to send off my fifty copies, which must be my apology for this hasty note.- I shall remain here, as I have been informed by the President, I am to take charge of the [illegible] & public property belonging to our Navy to turn them over to the U.S. Government. I will be happy to hear from you, or from Congress - I remain with great esteem, your friend Jno. G. Tod of Texas &c.