War Office 14^th Novem^r 1787 "My last Letter to you was dated on the "26^th ultimo, and enclosed duplicates of mine "to you of the 16^th and also a copy of a Resolve of [Filson Club library stamp] "of Congress of the 13^th of the same month directing "you to apprehend John Sullivan styling himself "'late Captain 4^th Regiment of light Dragoons should "he come within the federal territory.'" I also now inclose a copy of a Letter "said to be written by John Sullivan to Major Wil"liam Brown dated Charlestown 25^th September 1787. "How far it may be practicable to execute the threats "therein contained respecting New Orleans it is dif"ficult, or rather impossible to judge at this distance "and with the slender information I possess on the "subject. "It has been reported generally that the "Inhabitants west of the Allegheny Mountains have "been highly gratified by the circulation of the idea "that Congress was about to relinquish the naviga"tion of the Mississippi for a number of years. Other "reports also have been received that the Inhabitants "of Cumberland have talked in a vague manner of "the practicability of seizing the Natchez and New "Orleans and from unauthenticated publications "have stated that there have been combinations on "the project by the Inhabitants of Kentucky and "Cumberland during the Summer past. But "nothing "nothing has been received that had the appear"ance of reducing these indistinct accounts to a "probability or of any System being formed to "carry them into execution until. M^r Sullivan's "Letter was received. Indeed his Letter can be re"garded only as an indication of his disposition "and notes evidence of any fixed design on the "Subject. Such an enterprise would be in defiance "of the laws of nations, disgraceful and perhaps "ruinous to the country by whose Citizens it should "be attempted." Although I cannot persuade myself "that there can be any just foundation to ap"prehend that such a design is seriously enter"tained excepting by an insignificant Banditti, "yet circumstances as the reports are it becomes "necessary that such precautions be taken on the "part of the United States as the nature of the "case may require, and then means admit. You will therefore in discovering this "Letter endeavour to ascertain — 1^st. Whether there is any plan formed or "forming of the nature mentioned in "M^r Sullivan's Letter. 2^d. If so the members of the party and the "names and characters of the most influ"ential persons who are concerned in or "abet the design. 3^d. When the design is intended to be execu"ted and by what mode or routes and "what means they can obtain for the "purpose. 4^th How they are armed, accoutred and sup"plied with ammunition, and whether "they have Cannon and the necessary "apparatus. In case you should receive such infor"mation on the Subject as to remove all doubt that "the design to which M^r Sullivan alludes is on the "point of execution, you will form your post below "the [undecipherable] such strength of superior powers as will "be able by force to prevent the passage of the party "down the Ohio. Previously to carrying out force you "will represent on behalf of the United States to the "persons conducting the enterprise the criminality "of their conduct and the obligations of the foreign "authority to prevent at every hazard such an [undecipherable] [undecipherable] should however these persuasions "and other mild methods be ineffectual you will "then have recourse to the means in your power "to prevent their proceeding to the execution of "their designs. You will be aware that I am placing you "in a delicate predicament. But there are points "of duty which must be accomplished without "regarding the consequences. I conceive my duty "and my respect to the justice and dignity of the "United States obliges me to give you these orders, "which will be your justification. I am persua"ded you will conceive it to be your duty to exe"cute them as far as may be practicable. "But should you find by your enquiries "that the design is full in embryo, and that the "period of its accomplishment is at a distance, "you will then send more full account of every cir"cumstance relative to the Subject in order to be "submitted to Congress"