[p. 29] The Commissioners of the United States for making Peace with the Western Indians beg leave to suggest to Governor Simcoe [See Copy in A 60 p 278] that the very high importance of the negotiation committed to their management makes them desirous of seizing every proper means that it may contribute to its success— That they have observed with pleasure p.30 the disposition manifested by the Governor to afford every requisite assistance in the preparatory arrangements for holding the treaty with the hostile Indians — But all the facilities thus afforded, and all the expenses incurred by the British Government on this occasion will perhaps be fruitless, unless some means are used to [strikethrough: resist] counteract the effect of deep rooted prejudices, and unfounded reports among the Indian tribes; for the arts of a few bad men, dwelling among them, or having a familiar intercourse with them, by cherishing those prejudices, creating and spreading those reports, may be sufficient to defeat every attempt to accomplish a peace — As an instance of such unfounded reports, the Commissioners have noticed the declaration of a Mohawk from Grand River, "that Governor Simcoe advised the Indians to make peace, but not to give up any of their lands"— p.31 The Commissioners further observe, that if any transactions at former treaties now exceptionable, the principles of the present treaty are calculated to remove the causes of complaint, for the views of Government are perfectly fair and altho it is impossible now to retrace all the steps then taken, the United States are disposed to render as far as shall shall be indispensable and the existing state of things will admit — and for the lands retained to make ample compensation— The views of the United States being thus fair and liberal, the Commissioners wish to embrace every means of making them so appear to the Indians, against any contrary suggestions— Among these means the Commissioners consider the presence of some Gentlemen in the convoy to be of consequence— for altho the Indians naturally look up to their Superintendents as their Fathers, yet the presence of some Officers of the Army will probably induce them to negotiate with greater confidence on the terms of Peace— Independently of these considerations, the Commissioners, for their own sakes, request the pleasure of their Company— The Commissioners, feeling the greatest solicitude to accomplish the object of their mission will be happy to receive from the Governor every information relating to it, which his situation enables him to communicate— the necessity to know the sales and settlements of the lands now the Ohio founded on the treaties of Fort M'Intosh and Fort Harmar, render it impossible now to make that River the boundary— The expression of his opinion on this point in particular, will give them great satisfaction— Navy Hall June 4^th 1793 (an exact copy) B. B. Littlehales/ 2^nd copy [King]