apprized of any military enterprizes, that may be intended against the nation by your excellency or under your authority; I request your excellency will have the goodness to give me such timely notice as may enable me to provide for my safety. of the eight Indians detained by me some time ago and committed to the custody & care of Lieutenant Nicoll of the Federal troops, three have made their escape since I came from S^t. Marys, I thought it best, as they belong to one of the most friendly towns, to send home the others, and have given orders accordingly. I thought it necessary to do this, in order to increase and confirm the good dispositions of the [undecipherable: probable reading Eufsotahs] to whose town they belong and who earnestly requested it. Should your excellency wish to have personal information from me relative to Indian affairs I will attend at any time before my going to the nation, on your giving me notice. I have the honor to remain Your Excellency, obedient Servant &^c James Seagrove, Agent of Indian Affairs, S.D. U.S. [underline: Extract] of a letter from James Seagrove Esq^r. To the Secretary at War. Savannah 13^th August 1793. My last respects to you was dated the 4.^th inst. in duplicate of which you will find herewith. Yesterday arrived here the person whom I sent with my letters of the 5^th July to the chiefs and others of the Creek nation respecting the unfortunate affair of David Cornells being killed. My letters were delivered in the Upper and lower towns, and received with more than usual moderation and temper by the Savages. They however insist on satisfaction for the loss of Cornells and a boy. This ought, and indeed must be done, but the mode and how to accomplish it so as to please all sides is a difficult task. The plan I have all along proposed since this affair took place, was by way of a discount. Captain Fleming who was killed at traders hall in march last, was a valuable man and one much respected by the Creeks. him I intend to place in lieu of Cornells. and M^r Moffett who was killed at the same time for the boy, who was a cousin of Cornells. This I hope still to effect altho' the friends of Cornells seem pretty obstinate insisting on having two men delivered up to them, these may answer in some degree from the demand which I at first made; but as it hath not been complied with on the part of the nation; it is forward and ill timed in them to look for any such thing. The demand in itself I conceive altogether inadmissable, and therefore should the Indians insist on it I know not what may be the consequences. The measures which I have taken for meeting the nation on the 10^th next month you have been advised of by me. My determination is to meet them at all events, and tho' their demands in the affair of Cornells are high, yet I flatter myself I can bring them to reason, and restore peace to our country. Exclusive of the affair of Cornells all other matters were in a good train of being settled; but this hath given our enemies in the nation and the Spaniards fresh matter to keep up the unruly spirit of the disaffected towns, as well as to work on the relations of Cornells, who are numerous and have influence. My letters from M^r Barnard in the nation are as late as the 25.^th Ult. all was then quiet, and not any party out towards the frontiers of Georgia. The Spaniards in Florida have lately had a visit from them, a party of Creeks took off all the horses they could find between the rivers S^t. Marys and S^t. Johns. Governor Telfair with his council of nine Generals have been sitting for eight days, but what they have determined on is yet a secret. I have not received an answer to the letter I wrote him the 3^d instant. I observe by an Augusta paper of the 8^th Ins^t. that a most wanton outrage hath been committed on the Cherokees by a Captain John Beard from Governor Blounts territory. It appears that the attack was made on the Hanging Maws house where a number of chiefs were assembled, that several were killed and wounded. I fear this may cause fresh trouble with the Cherokees. this took place on the 12^th June last. (Inclosure) From Richard Thomas to James Seagrove Esq^r. Yours dated the 5^th inst^. came to hand the 16^th previous to its arrival we had been alarmed by report of the death of our Brother David Cornells, we were in hopes it was without any foundation; but your letter has confirmed the truth of it; the behaviour of M^r McDonald should be a caution to you for the future not to employ any man on such particular business, but those