1 year
Explanation:
Austin’s trip to Mexico City in 1833 was colored by Mexico’s on-going political turmoil. He had repeatedly expressed his frustration with the speed at which the government was moving and the lack of apparent interest over the state of affairs in Texas. This frustration, coupled with the belief that unrest amongt the Texas populace, prompted Austin to write a letter on October 2, 1833 to the ayuntamiento of Béxar urging the government there to begin the process of organizing a separate state government. It was this letter that formed the basis for Austin’s arrest.
The initial months of Austin’s imprisonment were quite dismal. He was placed in solitary confinement in a cell that he described as a dungeon. He was occasionally allowed to walk the prison for exercise, but otherwise remained isolated in his cell. Austin was given meager food and no access to reading or writing materials. Initially his only visitors were Father Michael Muldoon, an Irish priest who had spent time in Texas during 1831–32, and his appointed counsel, which changed three times in a matter of weeks. Father Muldoon acted on Austin’s behalf in order to gain reading material. Austin’s condition improved somewhat in May 1834 when his solitary confinement was lifted and he was allowed to interact with his fellow prisoners. Austin was discharged from jail on December 25, 1834 on bail with the promise that he would not leave the city.
