[Illegible Text — Some or all of the pages of this file are wholly or in part illegible. We have not been able either to locate a better copy of the document, or to enhance its legibility electronically.] Canandaigua Nov^r 18, [undecipherable] Sir, Your letter of Oct^r 17, & 21 with enclos[ures?] [undecipherable] in which it appears complaint has [been] made [against] Wright blacksmith for the Oneidas — It has been [undecipherable] carefully I could [procure?] one for that part of the [service?] as his situation is [so] much above any [attainment?] of white people and is truly a sacrifice of society and almost every thing of luxury that would be desirable. The principal [objection] [held?] by the [country?] of [state?] appears to be for [his] being a trading [shop?] or selling liquor to the Indians which is a thing I have never had any [accusation?] against me in the last [interview?] I have to do [it?], and he has told me he never did any thing of the kind [undecipherable] they would not pardon him and that he seldom had any in his house and denies him self the necessary use of [it] [undecipherable: that no extraneous?] [should?] arise there from. Though what I deem the same [complaint?] has been [raised?] and [known?] to me, for my own part I must [report?] the Oneidas have [expressed?] their satisfaction in the present blacksmith and begged me to continue him as he accommodates them with the necessary blacksmith work they [stood?] wished for, and have not raised a word of complaint about him which is a thing they are not backward to [express?] upon the smallest failures. I shall [feel?] much interest in inquiring and re[port?] to you the true [relation?] whether the present [one?] be continued or [removed] — I [suppose?] I would not be displeasing to the Quakers to introduce one of their own people in the place of the present blacksmith — The Quaker resides at Canandaigua and a [county?] of them in Phila. to inform the Indians and do not make that progress that [undecipherable] the [Oneidas?] agreed to receive them and [some?] [undecipherable] the [Indians?] agreed to an education — they wished for [undecipherable] see the advantages that would arise to the Oneidas, and [undecipherable] doubtful whether they advance any further. Their object is [undecipherable] I have endeavored at all times to assist them, although I have more thanks from those that have had education than from those that have not. Henry Deus who has lately been educated in Phila has returned to Indian habits and is very little [undecipherable] for his own [undecipherable] on the [black?] nights he has lately been [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] him or [undecipherable] him and then told the same to which [undecipherable] done [undecipherable] or [undecipherable] he would give a [certain?] sum [undecipherable] draw the [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] cause I may have [had?] with the Indians and further [insisted?] it is much easier to [make?] and [undecipherable] themselves as Indians than an Indian [undecipherable] which [think?] much better to be a Quaker. I have mentioned in my former letters respecting the annuity [in?] goods for this [undecipherable] Nations and among the [said?] Oneidas [undecipherable] but with [no?] other ideas and to have it constitute a part of their annuity — I have distributed the goods among the several Nations and with the rest 500 weight of powder & a quantity of flints Cap^t [Hendree?] forwarded to me — he [sent?] me here. Nov^r [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [signature undecipherable]