Canandaigua 4^th Oct 1796 Sir Your favor of the 1^st ulto was duly rec'd. and the papers inclosed accompanied with one from Tench Francis Esq^r with sixteen hundred & fifty Dollars inclosed which arrived safe & which I was very glad to receive as the Indians are daily calling on me for Blacksmith & gun smith work and many other supplies which I cannot refuse them. The goods for the Six Nations are not yet arrived, but heard of them yesterday, they would have been here before, were it not on account of the water in the Mohawk River being remarkably low which almost prevents [boats] to passing. A Mr. Hodgdon has written me that a quantity of powder & lead would be forwarded me for the Six Nations from Albany equal to that directed by Gen^l Knox in 1794 which I hope will not fail as powder and lead is so necessary for the Indians and on which they [strikethrough: cannot be much depend] & are articles which [strikethrough: have not been to be procured there] short of Albany. I shall apportion the whole annuity to the several Nations as [equal] as possible: the manner that I have done heretofore is to divide [to each] Village and have them no exp[ense] I herewith transmit you the number of the Six Nations to share the annuity of [five] thousand five hundred Dollars and is no small matter to make the division among them as eight or ten from a Village will not amount [to] receive the share for the others but all are desirous to attend which makes their meetings large. I have lately rec'd. a line from Capt. [undecipherable] in which he informs the Ind. in their [undecipherable] ing [having] continued to have the road opened through their Country, but some of their Chiefs I [undecipherable] are obstinate & I fear will not allow it. I have dispatched to Capt. [undecipherable] will be forwarded. let them delay as, private conveyance in a few days. I am Sir with very Respect[fully] [undecipherable] [I. Chapin] (in exp'd) P.S. I shall compensate the matter with Capt. [undecipherable] on as reasonable terms as possible. [9614. 7 of 8] [undecipherable]