James McHenry Esq^r Lynchburg 30^th March 1796 Sir Nothing is yet done with your Suit against Tandy. it seems that Chancery jurisprudence is very tardy— I was at Amherst C^th last week as a Witness in a Suit Harris Gov^r & Tandy: he intends to plead limitation; but I shall be able to defeat his intention; My motive for having the first bought was that should anything be left after your Claim is satisfied, that Causey might come in for his. Tandy has bought a tract of Land in Buckingham C^ty where I'm told he shortly intends to remove. Having some Correspondence in the S^th western Territory from whom I frequently receive Letters, and judging from their information that it would answer well for a Mercantile Establishment for a Month or two past, I have been strongly in the notion of making the attempt subservient to my Interest by the Establishment of a Store in Knoxville & one in the Cumberland settlement; with this view as well as having some Interest in that quarter which I ought to [undecipherable] the friends my determination of going out to Knoxville the latter part of this week— From the information of one of my friends in Congress among other things, is an appropriation of $50,000 [undecipherable] for the purpose of establishing Trading Houses with the [undecipherable] and to offset the Promotions [undecipherable] hostilities [undecipherable] made to them. I think, as well as President, that Gen. Waynes treaty with the Alien Indians contemplates these trading Houses; I have run over my Set of Papers but I fear they are not all preserved, Particularly the one containing that treaty (for I was desirous of seeing whether or if any reference it might have to the proposed plan) as the [undecipherable] it must rest upon conjecture; Nevertheless. I think the Alien tribes are no less intitled to the favour & Protection of Government than the Western ones, and that these advantages will be extended to them also as being Just and Politic. — Just as Making some Compensation for the Sacrifices they have made, and are likely to make, in the Surrender of what is now considered an invaluable Property; Politic as tending to Conciliate their affections and attachment to the Union. Add to this the Proof of their well known Adherence to the views & interest of the Whites for whom they have so often valiantly fought. These are in my opinion, Motives sufficient to entitle them to a Participation of the advantages extended to their more hostile Neighbours. Pursuing an opposite Conduct will only beget jealousy & distrust, for their attachment must Languish, & their Confidence decline until [undecipherable] by means of [undecipherable] & [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] when the force their claims are disregarded, or their [undecipherable] unsupplied.— I am ignorant of the Principles upon which they are to be conducted, either the Interest, the Powers, or limits of those who shall have the superintendance of them. Nor can I well judge whether it be an Object worthy of attention or of this, you must best know; however, as far as I can form an Opinion I should be Glad to receive the appointment at one of those [undecipherable], upon which score, Sir, I beg leave to solicit your interest, well knowing that your Situation in life, puts it in your Power to be Serviceable to me in this way, or something Similar. And I can with Confidence assert, that should any other Credentials be necessary I can Obtain the most flattering ones for integrity, and an Ordinary share of other Qualifications which might render me eligible to the appointment. Should I be so fortunate, as to stand on such a footing of favor, as to render me worthy of y^r attention be assured, Sir, that I shall have a Grateful sense of the Obligation