[Copy] Canaadaigua May 6^th 1795 Sir You mention it is probable the Onidas Stockbridge & Tuskarara Indians will be left off to the care of Some Agent in their Vicinity, and if So perhaps the Salary of the Agent in this place will undergo another change — I would willingly agree to the first proposition as I believe it would be best on many accounts as they are at Such distance from us makes it all most impossible to attend to them So far at the East, & those on the other extreme being So far to the westward. the latter it has been convinced to be more important to attend to them the former. The onidas however have not complained to my knowledge, excepting in the case of their School master & Blacksmith which I believe will ever be attended with complaints they have those now in Service who they chose — I have given Wimple encouragement to work Since my Fathers death & I believes he will do as well as any would do in that Situation — [strikethrough: But it is a tough job] [strikethrough: the Salary] — I The Oneidas observed to me the other day the US believed them to be like a beaver — as a beavers legs are Short and can not run fast. therefore that the people of the State Supposed they could not run away and do them any mischief on the Frontiers &c I told them the US had a disposition to as well by them as those at the westward and that their past Services would be rewarded — But Sir not to forget the Salary. I believes you cannot but Suppose by what you have Seen the troubles of the Indians are very considerable, but not So much to an individual as it is to a family who they think they have a right to call on — and if for a Short time it will be easily dispenced with — but the repeated repeated burthen of them during the year and the trouble and embarrassment of the family is Such as to render it impracticable to attend to much other buisness, and many times it is more than I can attend to to wait on them and to attend to their various calls and applications, beside the trouble at home I Shall often have to go to Genese River & Buffaloe Creek and other places where they live So that it will occupy the whole of my time in those Services in omigwama of which I must be obliged to hire considerable labour not only to manage but for me but to Assist me in [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in many things for the Indians — Mr. Parrish minds 300 Dollars for interpreting and wonders that only to be his buisness and he hires at a distance from me I have but little Assistance from him otherwise. If never was inclined and object with my Duties at you D^r but I believes managed the buisness merely on account of the benefit of the Settlement as it appeared very necessary Some person Should take charge of them — the Same principals induced me to take his plan and also as it was their particular request. Before the Indians were Knowing to my appointment they made a Speech to the President and your Self requesting you earnestly that I might be appointed to Succeed him my father in Office if I could give a copy of their Speech if it was necessary but it was Strongly in my favor as I Stood with their principals they were present and about two hundred Warriours and to evince the truth of what a number of Gentlemen have told you in my favor I herein inclose you an extract of Cap^t Brants letter which is as follows — Niagara 22 Ap. 1795 — Sir — Should any meeting be held with the Indians I hope you will be the person to transact business. Your Father managed buisness to give us general Satisfaction and as you must know his plans and mode of dealing with us and the knowledge we have of you, makes me think you a fit person to fill his Office and that your may be appointed is much our wish. As your Father ever transacted buisness with uprightness and fairness, and I know had the Sincere wish of doing Justice to his employers and the Indians Sighed J^as Brant —— " But believe me Sir to do Strict Justice to the United States, and to the Indians will ever be the object of my pursuits, but to do it for a life some than four hundred dollars will by no means compensate my family for their repeated troubles from the Indians and myself for the many fatigues which I shall be compelled to undergo. My Father had determined to make Some Addition to buildings for the accommodation of the Indians — A small house for them to keep in when here would relieve me from considerable trouble of them as they would not throw my house So much — Also a Store for their provisions and goods would be necessary — I think Government has made provision for those buildings, could I had think you to write me your Opinion on erecting them — I have often thought it would be best for me to lay in a Stock of provisions in Store in the fall of the Year when I could procure Wheat Corn Means pork and beef for any Year, as by not having them on hand, I am obliged to give higher for them in other times in of year — Your advice respecting this and other matters will be kindly accepted of by I Sir, with great Respect and Esteem Your Obdt Serv^t [Copy] J C [Copy] [endorsement, rotated: Copy of a letter to Col^o Pickering May 6^th 1795]