[Addressed: William Rawle Esq. / The Attorney / [undecipherable]; docket: Letter from / Dep^t of State / the 24 Nov^r 1795 / to / William Rawle; wax seal] Department of State, Nov^r 24. 1795. Sir,) Some of the Subjects of his Catholic Majesty in Georgia, by their names originally English or Americans, joined by some citizens of the United States who were inhabitants of Georgia, have in bad humour made one or more expeditions into Florida, in which they both as Spanish foes, killed some Spanish Soldiers, and seized and carried off considerable property, belonging either to the Crown or to Spanish Subjects. Of these aggressions complaint has been made by the Spanish government, and the questions arise. 1. Admitting the facts as above stated, what process, and from what courts, should be issued against our own offending citizens? to what kind of punishment and under what laws are they liable? or must the prosecution be confined to the provisions of the 5^th Section of the additional Act for the punishment of crimes against the United States? 2. If the Spanish Subjects guilty of the abovementioned enormities have fled (which probably is fact) to the territory of the United States, ought they to be seized and delivered up to the Spanish Government? If we did not do this, especially if demanded, would it be right to attempt to punish our own citizens, who were probably drawn into the commission of those outrages by those very Subjects of Spain? If the Spanish Subjects should not be delivered up, is there any law by which they may be required to leave the United States, and to subject them to punishment on refusal? A military force is now destined to that part of Georgia where the offenders will probably be found, and the commanding Officer will be instructed to protect the civil Officers and effectually aid them in the execution of the process to be issued from the courts. I shall be obliged by your early answer. With great respect, I am Sir, Your obedient Servant, Timothy Pickering. William Rawle Esq.