setting off for galveston, texas, on 2 may, fremantle found himself meeting sam houston, the father of texan independence, though he found the elder statesman to be vain and egotistical, as well as bitter and uncouth in his mannerisms. this occurred less than three months before houston's death, presumably making fremantle one of the last foreign visitors to meet the general. the english observer finally left texas on 8 may, arriving in shreveport, louisiana, and partaking of the hospitality of general edmund kirby smith and his wife.