War Office July 3. 1795. Sir, I have rec'd your letter of June 19^th. When you informed me that one of the Commissioners of New York had desired that M^r Parrish might go to Buffalo Creek to invite the Cayugas & Onondagas to a treaty, I did not expect that he would proceed without orders. In a former letter I informed you that such a treaty could not be held without the authority of the United States. M^r J Morris told me the Act of the Legislature appointing the Commissioners directed them to apply to the General Government to appoint a treaty & a commissioner to hold it: but that Governor Clinton would not do it. I am persuaded his successor will. I have only now to add, that unless a commissioner of the U. States holds the Treaty, neither you nor M^r Parrish are to give any countenance to it; but on the contrary, to tell the Indians that it will be improper & unsafe. I am Sir Your ob. Serv^t T. Pickering [Address leaf: War department / T. Pickering — Captain Israel Chapin / Kanandaigua / State of New York; postal notation: FREE; [seal impression]] [Docket, verso: Captain Israel Chapin]