[March 14. 1793. To the Secretary of War. Received] 63. Treasury Department March 18. 1793 I have before me your letter of the 8^th [strikethrough: past] instant transmitting sundry accounts for supplies at Fort Vincennes during the year 1791, to "the neighbouring Indians". From the nature of the case, it appears to me proper to request your [undecipherable] opinion concerning the propriety of allowing these claims. Though I entertain a favourable [undecipherable] of the Officers concerned and readily accede to the idea that the situation of men, at the period, called for measures to conciliate the Indians in question — what would of course involve expence — Yet I cannot help thinking the expence [undecipherable] is stated to have been moderated, compared with the occasion is [undecipherable]; and there are some items which, on different accounts, appears a [undecipherable] rather [undecipherable]. As he [undecipherable] without due authority, as there is in every such case a natural tendency to abject — [undecipherable] whether if the claims, on general [undecipherable] should appear to you to be such as to require admission — some middle comp[undecipherable] can be adopted, [undecipherable] making the ideas a partial advance on account, and further examination on the spot, into propriety of the charges. It is observable that the principal account has no other [undecipherable] than a general Certificate from [undecipherable] Prior. Most respectfully [undecipherable] Your Obed Ser[vant] [& The papers are not [undecipherable] for you further [undecipherable] The Sec at War]