To M^r Edward Price. It having been determined to establish a trading house on the River S^t. Marys in the State of Georgia, for the purpose of supplying the Creek Indians with necessary Goods, provided agreeably to an act of Congress; you are hereby appointed the Factor for the purpose of conducting this Trade; in which the following instructions are to be observ'd. The principle of the trade is to furnish the Indians with Goods at such moderate prices that the sales may simply reimburse to the United States the prime cost, and charges, [strikethrough: charges] you will find in the Invoices which will be delivered to you by the Surveyor. 2 The object of this trade is by supplying the Indians on such easy terms to manifest the liberality and friendship of the United States, and thus by the ties of Interest and gratitude to secure their attachments and lay the foundations of a lasting peace. 3 To provide against the numerous accidents and losses to which this trade will be liable, thirty three and a third per cent should be added to the Goods beyond the first cost, and charges. This is to be considered a general rule. You may find it necessary however to depart from it, by charging some articles lower, and some higher, in order [underline: the better] to satisfy the Indians in the course of the trade. But it will be important to fix early on the proper prices; and afterwards to adhere to them steadily. The Indians will then know what to depend on, and not to have their jealousy excited by the apprehension of unfair dealing, which a fluctuation of prices would be apt to beget. 4 The Goods are to be sold to the Indians either for Money or Peltries. For the Peltry the prices usually given by the Traders will naturally be your rule; and in this respect the habits of the Indians must govern. If these prices are so high that a loss would be incurr'd on the returns when brought to the Market in Philadelphia, such loss must be counteracted by an addition to the prices of [undecipherable]. A list of the sales at which Peltries are sold in Philadelphia then will be furnished by the Surveyor. Instructions as to the manner to which your returns on Peltry are to be made as often as the quantity on hand and conveyances shall present; you will address them to the Surveyor. 5 James Seagrove Esq. the Superintendent of Indian Affairs in Georgia and his assistants (whose names and usual places of residence are subjoined) are to advertise the Indians of the establishment of this Factory, and of the benevolent principle on which it is to be conducted; and to invite them [strikethrough: the] to commence trading. On your arrival at St. Marys you will embrace the earliest opportunity to give notice thereof to the Superintendent, and of conveniency, to his Deputies. They will endeavour to furnish an Interpreter for the Factory. 6 One of the greatest difficulties to be apprehended is the demand of Goods on credit; either by the Indians themselves or the Indian Traders residing among them. But such credits are wholly inadmissible; and selling to the Traders with or without credit would be subversive of the main principle; for such traders would probably sell at their usual high prices; while the true object of the United States is to supply the Indians at moderate prices. And with these benevolent views of the United States you will on all occasions endeavour to make the Indians acquainted. If difficulties should occur in carrying on the trade, by the refusal of credit to the Indians, and by the total denial of goods to the Indian traders, you will make report thereof to the Department of War, stating facts with your opinion thereon and your ideas of the best mode of furnishing supplies to the Indians to effect the salutary objects indicated in these instructions. 7 The Surveyor will procure for you the necessary information as to the mode of saving and packing the Peltries, to ensure their getting to Market in good order. 8 M^r Charles Anderson and Bustard are appointed to assist you in all the business of the Factory and you will take the earliest opportunities to make them acquainted with the business to conduct it. 9 The commanding Officer of the Troops destined to serve on S^t. Marys River will at all times furnish you with necessary Goods. One great object of their service is to protect this Indian trade. 10 Goods to the amount of One thousand five hundred Dollars are annually to be delivered to the Creek Station agreeably to treaty. That quantity you will now receive, and the same is to be separated from the Goods destined for trade, and delivered in the presence of M^r Seagrove or of one of his Deputies pursuant to his orders. 11 M^r Seagrove has recommended Colerain as the place most suitable for the establishment of the Factory; and this is to be accordingly attempted. He informs that some buildings erected there by him are well adapted to the object and may be occupied accordingly. Any repairs requisite to render them safe and tolerably convenient you will make. The commanding Officer of the Troops will probably be able to find among them the necessary mechanics to whom an allowance not exceeding one fifth of a dollar a day may be made for every reasonable day's work. You will furnish all the materials which must be purchased for repairing the Store house and any other buildings necessary for the accommodation of yourself, your Assistants and the Troops, to put them into comfortable quarters; of which a separate account is to be kept. 12 The hospital stores for the troops are to be in your custody, and issued on Returns signed by the Surgeon, expressing the names of the Sick for whom the stores are demanded. 13 You will keep a regular and frequent correspondence with the Surveyor, and in cases which appear to you proper, with the Department of War, to which all your dispatches for the Surveyor may be directed. 14 You and your Assistants and others necessary to be employed, are all to be dieted at the public expense; but you will keep an exact account thereof as well of what shall be drawn from the Stores as of what you shall purchase; and in both it is expected that the most œconomy will be observed. 15 If the trade should succeed, the Store may of course be exhausted of some particular kinds of Goods. You will from time to time give the earliest notice thereof making your remittances which must be [strikethrough: the] the source for [strikethrough: other] supplies. 16 It would have been extremely desirable to carry on this trade with the Indians, without the use of Rum; but from an apprehension that the habits of Indians in this respect could not be controlled that article has been provided. Still however you are to use your endeavours by friendly advice to the Indians to persuade [strikethrough: them] them to let it alone; taking care not to hazard their disgust. But if you find that Rum must be sold to them, let it be in such small quantities as may guard them against drunkenness during their continuance at the Post; for which you will give them this reason — That while trading you desire them to remain sober that they may know what they do, and be satisfied that the trade is perfectly fair and honest. When they are ready to depart, such quantities as they desire to carry with them and the Stock will allow for balances due them, may be delivered. 17 The forms of the accounts and returns you are to render will be furnished by the Comptroller of the Treasury; but in default of their timely arrival, your knowledge of accounts will enable you to form a mode that cannot fail of being satisfactory untill you can receive them. 18 I close these instructions with suggesting to you the necessity of kind and friendly treatment of the Indians who may visit your Station and of perfect candour in all your dealings with them. Patience in particular will be requisite and caution when any of them get drunk. To avoid the latter evil you will use your endeavours with the influential men among them to draw them off from the Station as soon as their traffick is over; and untill then you may continue as above suggested to make but small issues of rum. Given at the War-Office of the United States the 26^th of November 1796. Timothy Pickering. [Copy, examined: Edward Price]