Sir, Phila^a March 20. 1796. In my other letter of this date I omitted one thing, to which it is now time to attend. — While the Indian war continued at the westward, and a British war was apprehended, the Government was unceasing in its endeavours to fasten the friendship of the Six Nations. Hence treaties were held and liberal supplies furnished, without regard to the stipulated annuities. Now the circumstances are so changed as to render a restriction of such supplies both proper and practicable. The annuity also of the Six Nations has been advanced from 1500 to 4500 dollars. From this annuity must be paid the blacksmiths, and schoolmasters if any are employed, and provisions and clothing issued very sparingly. The amount of the annual expenditures for blacksmiths and schoolmasters should be fixed by the superintendants, as near as may be, and deducted from the gross amount of the annuity which is to be furnished in clothing &c. as in the Treaty of Konondaigua in November 1794. M^r Chapin will not be able all at once to deny the customary supplies; but he may be instructed to curtail them more and more, until the expenditures come nearly to the fixed annuity: for some supplies to important Chiefs and distressed individuals will long continue to be expedient. We have made too many professions of warm friendship for the Six Nations suddenly to abandon them, and particularly to neglect the Chiefs. I am very respectfully Sir, Your ob^t Servant Timothy Pickering James M^cHenry Esq^r Secretary of War.