[Copy] Canandaigua July 31 — 1795 Sir — I have this day rec. your letter of June 29^th & July 3^rd and which are the only letters I have rec. Since my appointment except that forwarded by M^r Lewis by way of the Oneida. In your letter of July 3^rd you mention you had written respecting the treaty, but unfortunately for me it never come to hand, and the neglect by way of conveyance I cannot tell — had I rec. [strikethrough: letters] [strikethrough: which I long expected] there before, I should have known better how to conduct the business which I am sorry to mention to you that has taken place — Gen^l Schuyler & Gen^l Cantine Co. Brooks & John Richardson Esq^rs have come forward as commissioners for the State of New York and have purchased the Cayuga reservation for 1800 Dollars, to be paid to them annually [undecipherable] — ing reserving to the Cayuga Nation Six Square miles, to them & their children for ever. They have also purchased the Onondaga reservation for 2000 dollars annually reserving to the Onondagas a piece of land about four and a half mile & a half Square, and have promised to the Oneida to purchase their land [undecipherable] of it. [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] the United States [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] with the Ind. Nations, and not having any directions from you & have [undecipherable] not interfere in the business as I supposed the Commissioners were fully authorised by the Government of the United States as well as that of their own, with full power to transact the business. I have [undecipherable] home to find on the law of the State, how [undecipherable] they were authorised to hold the treaty, but they have been backward to do it, or even to shew it to me when at the treaty, and which I have not as yet seen — The Indians all required me to acquaint them at the treaty which I accordingly did, but have not used my influence with them, as I very fear [undecipherable] were determined to manage the business as a separate interest from the United States. I inquired of Gen^l Schuyler how he found the law of Congress in regard to holding treaties with the Indian Nations; he made very little reply by saying it was very well where it [undecipherable] interfered with that of an individual State. Had I had your letter I should have managed the business more to your mind but as I [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] ago he had applied to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and had obtained sufficient power to call the Indians to the treaty, and in that it would have [undecipherable] independent act for me to prevent the Indians not to adhere to their invitation, as the business first originated at this place and returned to your charge in order that Commissioners properly Authorised might come forward to make the purchase before [undecipherable]. And as they have presumed to make the purchase, who were well acquainted with the law whereby they were authorised, will plead an excuse, for me who have not had opportunity to, a word of [undecipherable] information respecting the business, and had M^r T. Morris, [to whom you refer in your letter] been as attentive to his Constituents as to give information in Phil^a. the business would have been managed more to your satisfaction. I shall set out for the [undecipherable] Commissioners and will engage the treaty will not take place there under the present Commissioners — I shall be there in season as Gen^l. Schuyler is going first to [undecipherable] falls to view them for the purpose [undecipherable] — I have been cautious to not furnish the Indians who have been [undecipherable] [undecipherable] from the United States [undecipherable] in any way [undecipherable] it appear on the part of the United States [undecipherable] as I had no Special directions & therefore attended as a private individual without Speaking or having any thing to do in their Counsel more than an other individual — You mention you wish to have a copy of the letter written me by one of the Commissioners. You will excuse me at present as the Indians are now present on their way from the treaty & my House is thronged. The [undecipherable] was that they were about to hold the treaty at [undecipherable] and wished that Parrish would go to invite the Indians to attend — and mentioned, he could not find me the [undecipherable] which was the groundwork for thus calling the Indians to the treaty; as it was very lengthy to copy [undecipherable] — Signed John Richardson I shall write you more fully from Oneida. I am Sir with Great Respect Your [undecipherable] [Copy of a letter to Col. [undecipherable] July 31, 1795]