Oneida April 22 [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] When I was [in] Philad[el]phia the winter past. I [undecipherable] a personal inter[view] with [undecipherable] the character & present state of the Indians [was] a subject of much com[muni]cation — among other things of propriety & practicability of an accom[m]odation [undecipherable] the Indians in the vicinity of the M[iam]is — [undecipherable] incessant complaints which [undecipherable] from [undecipherable] — I ascribed to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] of them who had [undecipherable] & [their?] [undecipherable] ignorance [undecipherable] the real des[ign] [undecipherable: Determination?] — to ensure do [undecipherable] justice to the Indians — [undecipherable] prejudice & not taken apprehending [undecipherable] [undecipherable] proposed that a number of their Chiefs should be [undecipherable] down, [undecipherable] — that both might have a fair hearing; this being [undecipherable] was sug[gested] by [undecipherable] who appeared that [undecipherable] [undecipherable: Monitor?] who appeared [undecipherable] [undecipherable] them [undecipherable] either to [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] and they [undecipherable] well a tract [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] to be interested by [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] correspondence [undecipherable] As Cap^t Brant [undecipherable] myself — I wrote him upon the state of Indians at large & the discouragements that attended their every attempt to introduce the arts of civilized life among them — I expressed my fears that their [undecipherable] would finally issue in their ruin. — My chief design was to obtain his sentiments [undecipherable] the hostile Indians in the vicinity of the Miamis. A few days ago, I had his [undecipherable: answer] — [undecipherable] by [undecipherable] runners — [undecipherable] to transmit you [undecipherable] copy of his letter [undecipherable] I wish I have [undecipherable] but for your perusal. — I [undecipherable] at present make no comment upon it. You will readily observe that many passages in it bear strong traces of British influence & [undecipherable: interference]. As I deprecate an Indian war, from every principle both of humanity & [undecipherable], yet can [undecipherable] be avoided without a direct violation of the laws of the general government. Permit me Sir, to suggest the idea of sending Cap^t Hendrick [undecipherable] one [undecipherable] of the Stock Bridge Tribe to the westward — their [undecipherable] [undecipherable] more [undecipherable] influence [undecipherable] the Miamis, Shawanese, Delawares, than all the other Nations. — Cap^t Hendrick is well acquainted with their customs, [undecipherable] — I have seen the war and several [undecipherable] from these western tribes to make them a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] as far as [undecipherable] Buffalo Creek — when he met with some of [undecipherable] Nations, who reside in that [undecipherable], [undecipherable] of the Oneida [undecipherable] they have availed [undecipherable] to the measure — Cap^t Hendrick [undecipherable] has [undecipherable]; he could [undecipherable] them [undecipherable] the justice [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] their treatment [undecipherable] disposed to give [undecipherable] to the Indians — after [undecipherable] long [undecipherable] of hatred; but they would give [undecipherable] for a fair hearing — [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] to Cap^t Hendrick — How [undecipherable] [undecipherable] has a high esteem of Cap^t Hendrick — I mentioned him to [undecipherable], when at Philadelphia — they were together at [undecipherable] in 1794 at Fort [undecipherable] — to [undecipherable] at [undecipherable] Indian [undecipherable] at Buffalo Creek — Cap^t Hendrick with [undecipherable] go in [undecipherable] name [undecipherable] behalf of his own Nation, or at your direction [undecipherable] may be thought best — if he can only be furnished for the journey with [undecipherable] articles of [Cloathing?] — both strings of wampum, with a little pocket money — the whole amount of which would be no more than fifty or sixty dollars — his family might want as much as [undecipherable] besides which [undecipherable] this must fall — [undecipherable] your approbation [undecipherable] [undecipherable] will furnish me with the earliest notice [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] time should be lost — [undecipherable] I remain. [undecipherable] respect [undecipherable], Sir, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Hon. H. [undecipherable] S. Kirkland