[from — from a copy] New Madrid, on the Mississippi, Dec^r 7^th 1796 Sir Lieut^t Taylor has delivered me your Excellency's letter dated Detroit October 19^th 1796, and according to your intention I have acquainted him with the orders I have received from the Governor General of this Province respecting the treaty of friendship, navigation and limits between the United States of America, and the King my master. I have inclos'd a copy of my letter to him wherein I hope you will find sufficient and satisfactory informations. As Lieut^t Taylor has according to his instructions determined to return from here without going any further down, I am about sending immediately an Express to New Orleans with your Excellency's letter to the Governor General of Louisiana; I will think myself happy if I have succeeded in complying with your intentions. I have the honour to be with great respect, your Excellency's most ob^t ble^t Ser^t (Signed) Charles De Hault de Lassus Lieut^t. Col^o in his C. M^s. Service; and Commander of the Post of New Madrid. [Major Gen^l Anthony Wayne Commanding the Army of the U. S. of America] [True Copy from the Original, on in the W^r Office June 19 [signature]] --- (New Madrid on the Mississippi) Decemr 18. 17[96] Sir, According to his Excellency, Major Gen^d Wayne's desires, I have the honour to inform you of my having received from the Governor General of this Province informations respecting the ratification of the treaty of friendship, navigation, and limits between the King my master and the United States of America. You have seen in his letter which I have read to you, that I have orders not to prevent in the least the going down the Mississippi of the Commissioners, appointed on the part of the United States, to fix the limits, and of the Troops who are to accompany them; but that in the mean time he orders me to tell them, that the evacuation of the posts cannot take place, until the time of high waters. I will beg leave to observe to you, that although this is the affirmative answer that General Wayne speaks of, yet as he says that the Troops who are to take possession of the posts, are now waiting at Fort Massac, their coming down the river immediately, that is, before the high waters, would be somewhat sooner than the Governor General of this Province seems to expect; and somewhat contrary to Major Gen^d Wayne's own intentions, since he tells the Baron de Carondalet in his letter, to appoint the most convenient time for the evacuation [of] the posts. I hope you will be so good as to make that [obser]vation to such Officers as are in possession of Gen^d Wayne's [orders] respecting the taking possession of the posts, and at the the same time to make them sensible of the convenience it will be to both the Americans and the Spaniards to wait for a more proper season for the transport of Artillery, baggage, provisions &c which could not be moved at this present time without much trouble and risk, on account of the river being so remarkably low, as to render its navigation very dangerous. I have the honour to be Sir, your most ob^t ble^t Ser^t (signed) Charles De Hault de Lassus Lt. Col^o in his C. M^s Service; and Commander of the Post of New Madrid. [Lieut. Taylor.] [True Copy from the original, on file in the War Office June 12^th 1797 [signature] Stagg Clk [undecipherable]]