[Docket on verso: [undecipherable] / Copy from [undecipherable] [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] / 18 April 1792 / proved and compared / Col° [undecipherable]] [To Col. Willett] 10D. 18 April 1792 Sir I can not regret [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] your letter of declining the acceptance of the commission of a brig[adier] G[eneral]. But [as?] you have the right to be judge & master of your own conduct — The President of the United States has [perused?] your letter of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] where you express your [undecipherable] of an Indian War — Be assured that nothing can be more despicable [undecipherable] and the government — That [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [undecipherable] in the [War?] the [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] must that they [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] they become [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] cannot be [undecipherable] by any heavy [undecipherable] [undecipherable] whoever [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] But neither [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] is the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the Regiment of the United States [undecipherable] [undecipherable] within the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] Preparatory overtures have [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to the Indians who are in [undecipherable] a great council at the [undecipherable] [Village?] the next month — [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] person of [character?] intelligence and address [undecipherable] to be present at that Council on behalf of [undecipherable] to unfold in terms which [undecipherable] — The [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that we agree [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] concern [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] brothers and [undecipherable] the Indians who had a right [undecipherable] 2^d. That if any of the Indians [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] any lands they claim by virtue of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] be [liberally?] compensated [undecipherable] [undecipherable] 3^d. That we are not only [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] [Confederation?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to perpetuate [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to those of their [undecipherable] fathers [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] It concerns [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] peace must be the [undecipherable] — But [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] — The words however [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] your [undecipherable] the President [undecipherable] you would [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — I am authorized to assure you that [undecipherable] your undertaking [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I can assure you there [undecipherable] [undecipherable] little personal hazard [undecipherable] would not [undecipherable] [undecipherable] you! [undecipherable] would [undecipherable] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] Your [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — That if you [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I [should?] flatter myself you [undecipherable] have the glory [undecipherable] [undecipherable] being most [liberally?] compensated in [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] begun [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] If you should incline [undecipherable] [undecipherable] this affair, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] would [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — The [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of your [undecipherable] [undecipherable] you — [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [undecipherable] Capt. [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Indians [undecipherable] [accompany?] you [undecipherable] [undecipherable] at [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I [undecipherable] Indians [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [Permit?] me to [undecipherable] you [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] The [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] you would [undecipherable] most explicitly inform me of your [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] determination