Queries proposed by Captain Hendrick. Aupaumut Chief of the Muhhea committe for Stockbridge tribe of Indians, and the Answers to those queries by Timothy Pickering, Commissioner on behalf of the United States for holding a treaty with the Six Nations of Indians at NewTon in the State of New York June the 27^th 1791. 1. Query. Whether if he makes a visit to the hostile Indians he may assure them, that the United States are sincerely desirous of making peace with them — Answer. The most solemn assurances may be given that the United States are sincerely desirous of making peace and I have received pointed orders to give every possible facility to the messengers of peace. 2. Query. — Whether if the Western Indians consent to make peace, the United States will not, as a condition of peace, oblige them to give up a part of their lands. Answer. The United States will require no such onerous condition. The Western Indians will retain all their lands, agreeable to the treaties of peace Subsisting between them and the United States, until of their own will and choice, they shall convey them, unless they should themselves become in their hostilities unite the United States, hurl drive them from their Country; and in that case their lands will never be restored to them. 3^d Query. If the hostile Indians should be disposed to make peace, and be willing immediately to commence the Negotiation; how shall the knowledge thereof be communicated so speedily as to suspend the operations of the Army of the United States. Should Messengers from those Indians, or he himself attempt to go directly to the nearest Military post of the United States, they might be in the utmost danger of being killed by the scouting parties or Militiamen. Answer. Should the hostile Indians be sincerely disposed to make peace, I have no doubt but they will hit on proper means of communicating a knowledge of it to General St.Clair or the Commanding Officer of the troops of the United States in the Western Territory; perhaps by sending some of their Warriors accompanied by one or more of the white men living amongst them with a White flag, or in getting some or three white men to come alone with their Message and a letter from you. A direct Communication in some such way is most to be desired; but if a circuitous route be pursued, our troops should begin to operate before the messengers of peace should meet them. And that a letter from you, who are not known to the Officers commanding the troops of the United States, may be properly received, I will write to General St. Clair, informing him of your Character and business, and assuring him that he may perfectly rely on the intelligence you shall give him. And that General St.Clair or the Commanding Officer may distinguish your letter of intelligence from a Counterfeit, it may be proper for you, with your own hand, to write me a request to communicate a specimen of it to him; and underneath I will write the letter above proposed. This specimen I will transmit to General St.Clair, and a duplicate to the Secretary of War, to forward to General St.Clair, without delay, so that when your letter of intelligence shall reach him, a Comparison of the hand writing may supersede or remove all doubts of its authenticity. And so you may be obliged, or find it expedient, to send runners to the Allegeny River with your intelligence for General St.Clair, I will write to Lieutenant Officers or Commanding Officer at Fort Franklin which is near the Junction of French Creek with the Allegeny River; desiring him to forward without delay any letters which you shall transmit to his care. Two letters I will send by Captain Beldrom who is now here but who resides with the Cornplanter in the neighbourhood of Fort Franklin. 4. What treaties have been made with the Western Indians relative to their lands. Answer. For your full information on that subject and other concerns with the Western Indians, I will furnish you with Copies of the Treaties made by the United States with the Wyandots, Delawares, Shawanese, Ottawas and Chippewas, in the years 1785 & 1786. I will also give you a copy of the treaty made last year with the great Creek Nation of Indians; in which you will see strongly manifested the good will of the United States towards the Indian Nations; for the benevolent spirit, conspicuous in that Treaty, truly marks the kind disposition of the United States towards all the Indian Nations within their limits. These queries and Answers I will transmit to the Secretary of War, and request him to give the necessary orders corresponding with these arrangements. With the same view I will write to General St.Clair by the way of Fort Franklin. Signed Timothy Pickering a.C. [Endorsed: 1 — No. 34]