[488] on the Oakmutgee, [undecipherable] forward with Barnard and then to escort me into the towns, I shall leave this tomorrow with a guard of Federal troops, and hope to have Col^o Gaithers Company as far as the Oakmulge, from whence I will write you if I have time, by the return of the troops. The conduct of the Spanish agent in the nation is much changed in our favor." --- Fort Fideus October 14^th 1793 Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your lette of the 17^th ult^o which I received this day by express from Augusta, and to enclose you a duplicate of mine of the 7^th instant. I arrived at this post in the evening of the 10^th I found M^r Seagrove had not gone to the Indian Country for the reasons he has assigned you in his letter upon the subject. I have very little news to communicate to you upon Indian Affairs, the agent for this department has transmitted all the information to be obtained, I must however Sir, observe that a war with the Creeks is inevitable such is the Spirit of the frontier inhabitants unless the general government should in some public and decided manner express their disapprobation of the measures, It is dangerous to advocate the cause of peace. The success of Col^o Mellons invasion has given the people a strong desire to penetrate into the Indian Country, In hopes of destroying their towns and bringing off prisoners— [489] for this purpose we are informed that there are now two parties making preparations to cross the Oconee, I cannot vouch for the truth of these reports, but it would be extremely unfortunate if they should take place, as all accommodations with the Indians would be at an end. They seem at present greatly embarrassed, what men seem to pursue but are rather inclined to peace than war, as appears by Jim Barnards letter to Major Gaither, a copy of which M^r Seagrove transmits you. I am inclined to believe that the governor would forbid the above mentioned parties from entering the Creek Country if he could be informed in time of their intentions for though he conceived that Col^o. Melton could be justified by the General orders he had heretofore issued for repelling the Indians, as I wrote you on the 2^d instant yet he would not countenance any further expeditions, unless authorized by the general government. The Indian prisoners have been ordered to Augusta where they arrived on the 12^th instant. I have the honor to be & --- Fort Fideus 18^th October 1793— Sir, An express arrived last evening at this post from Timothy Barnard. M^r Seagroves deputy in the Creek nation by whom we learn that the Indians are very well disposed to renew the peace with the United States and that nothing can at this favorable juncture prevent perfect reconciliation, but the [undecipherable: probable reading "Coweta"] [continued]