[undecipherable] War Office June 29. 1795 I have received your letter of May [undecipherable] & 22^d. I have now [undecipherable] information, that of [undecipherable] the [proposed?] treaty called for the Commissioners of New York, to purchase the land of the Oneidas, Onondagas [undecipherable]; and I have now to instruct you, that you are to give no aid or countenance to the [undecipherable], as it [undecipherable] to the laws of the United States made to regulate [trade?] and intercourse with the [Indian?] tribes. The Attorney General of the United States has given his opinion, that the reservations of [undecipherable] within the State of New York from no exception to the general laws; but whenever purchases of the [undecipherable] must be made at a treaty held under the authority of the United States. Besides giving no countenance to this [undecipherable] the New York Commissioners for it seems only one of them wrote you on the subject, I wish to have his name, and to have a copy of his letter; you are to tell those tribes of Indians that any bargains they make at [undecipherable], or that proposed to be held at [undecipherable], will be void, and as the guardian [undecipherable] will [undecipherable] them, [undecipherable] listen to the [undecipherable] of any Commissioners [undecipherable] unless they have authority from the United States to call to [undecipherable] treaty. The conduct of that Commissioner is the more [undecipherable] as W^m. Morris inform[s] me the legislature of New York is [undecipherable] an opinion they appointed by [undecipherable] to the General Government to sell the [undecipherable], but after [undecipherable] denying the authority of that Government, they [undecipherable] under the [undecipherable] in this matter, [undecipherable] application. [undecipherable] me a [undecipherable] copy of the Attorney General's opinion, & will [undecipherable] now [undecipherable] to you, and [undecipherable] you may [undecipherable] upon them again their [undecipherable] you ob^t. Servant Capt. Israel Chapin Timothy Pickering P.S. All difficulties on this subject I expect will cease as soon as M^r. Jay's administration commences. I shall advise him of all that has passed. TP. [Col. Pickering's Letter June 29. 1795]