Now I have all the pages. Let me produce the transcription from the primary document (pages 2–5), using the alternate copies (pages 7–10) to fill in the heavily damaged top sections of pages 3 and 4. James M^cHenry Esq^r Lynchburg 30^th March 1796. Sir Nothing is yet done with your Suits against Tandy. it seems that Chancery jurisprudence is very tardy. I was at Amherst C^o last week as a Witness in a Suit Harris from v Tandy. he intends to plead Limitation; but I shall be able to defeat his intention; My motive for having the Suit brought was that should anything be left after y^r Claim is satisfied, "that Creesy might come in for his. Tandy has bought a tract of Land in Buckingham C^o 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 ans^r well, for a Mercantile Establish^t; for a Month or two past, I have been strongly in the notion of making the design 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, to which I ought to attend, has form'd my determination of going out to Knoxville the latter end of this week.— From the Information of one of my friends in Congress, among other things, is, an appropriation of 150,000 D for the purpose of establishing Trading houses with the Indians, having for its object, the Promotion of Trade & Intercourse with the Indian tribes. I think, as well as I recollect, that Gen. Wayne's treaty with the N^thern Indians contemplates these trading Houses; I have rummaged my File of Papers but I find they are not all preserved, particularly the one containing that treaty; (for I was desirous of seeing what, or if any reference it might have to the Propos'd plan;) as the case is, it must rest upon conjecture; Nevertheless, I think the S^thern tribes are no less intitled to the favour & Protection of Government than the N^thern 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 attach them 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 unless they are reanimated by new acts of beneficence; the higher are their expectations, the more violent will be their resentment when they find their Claims are disengaged, or their wants unsupplied. — I am ignorant of the Principles upon which they are to be conducted, either the Interest, the Powers, or limitations of those who shall have the superintendance of them; Nor can I so well judge whether it be an Object worthy of attention. 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 places, upon which score, Sir, I beg leave to solicit your interest, well Knowing that your Selection in life, it is 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 ellegible to the Appointment. Should I be so fortunate, as to stand in such a Point of view, as to render me worthy of y^r attention, be assured, Sir, that I shall have a gratefull sense of the Obligation which you will lay me under, and which shall be manifested by a faithful discharge of the duties incident to the Appoint^t with a zealous & unfeign'd desire of contributing all in my power to the promotion of all, & singular the Interest of those I should represent. At the same time I shall be leave to add, "that I would not prefer an Appointment to the N^thward of Tellieu Clok house, there, at [undecipherable: probable reading "Sthinst"]-Point, the Cumberland Settlement, or else where along the Tenasee should be my choice if I had it." I shall conceive it, Sir, an act of Condescension if you will please to favour me with [undecipherable], as it will serve for my government. And altho I do not presume to [undecipherable] sooner than it may be convenient, yet the sooner the better. I am with great respect. Sir, Your m^o. Ob^t. hble servant Thomas Dillon p.s. A provision is made for the discharge of the Dep^t you were so Kind as to make for me. Th^o. Dillon