[From the Indian Commissioners to the Secretary of War] Niagara 10^th July 1793 Sir The enclosed extract from our journal will account for our being here. We think the coming of the deputation from the western Indians a fortunate event. It must have been their extreme jealousy of the United States that made them solicitous to speak with us in presence of the Governor, and our answer being satisfactory we believe it will have a better effect than the same sentiments delivered under any other circumstances. Our promise to send a special Messenger to the President to desire fresh orders might be sent to General Wayne not only to abstain from hostilities, but to remain quietly at his posts, was thought a very necessary measure; and it will be a like necessary that those orders should be issued and strictly observed. In a former letter we intimated our opinion and wishes on this point. We now think and our duty obliges us to declare it, that an exact observation of the laws of a truce is essential to the success of the Treaty. The Indians have information, confirmed by repeated scouts that General Wayne has cut and clear'd a road short from Fort Washington into the Indian Country in a direction that would have missed Fort Jefferson, but that meeting with a large swamp it was of necessity turn to that Fort, and then continued six miles beyond: that large quantities of provisions are accumulated at the Forts far exceeding the wants of the Garrisons, and numerous herds of horses and Cattle assembled beyond Fort Jefferson, guarded by considerable bodies of Troops. With these preparations for war in the neighbourhood (for it is but three days journey from thence to the Glaize) they say their minds cannot rest easy. The distance here mentioned is from Captain Brandt's information and is no doubt exact. We suppose that twenty to [undecipherable: twenty] miles may be deemed a days journey. The manner in which negotiations for peace are conducted by Indians demands a particular consideration on such occasions, not Commissioners or a few Councillors, but [underline: the body of the Nation] assemble. The negotiations will of course be delayed or interrupted, if the movements of their enemies call the warriors from the Council to watch or to check them. The measures pursued by General Wayne appear to have produced this unhappy effect and probably strengthened jealousies before almost insurmountable. We know that those measures are viewed by the British as unjust and unwarrantable; and we cannot suppose that their opinion will be concealed from the Indians if the latter have not previously entertained the same Ideas. After this detail it can hardly be necessary to express our opinions on the subject. It is obvious that to insure a quiet uninterrupted treaty, the Cattle horses and Troops beyond what are proper for the posts themselves, should not be advanced of the Ohio. Any that are now in advance beyond Fort Jefferson should certainly be immediately withdrawn: and we doubt whether that would be satisfactory, if their numbers in any degree correspond with the reports among the Indians and their Confederates. We have the honor to be Sir your most ob^t humble Serv^ts B. Lincoln Beverley Randolph } Commissioners Timothy Pickering N.B. yesterday arrived here two hundred and eighty Indians, part of the Seven nations of Canada. Mr. Baynton went by way of Cataraqui Montreal Lake Champlain &^c for Philadelphia, here inclose a duplicate of our letter by him—