Answer. To the Chiefs and Warriors of the Choctaw Nation. Brothers. Your father has heard the talk which was delivered to the Secretary of War by Ealchushoopoia, Parshenahla, Hollownebar, and Shappanahoma. He is glad that you are well, and shall hold the Chain fast which unites you to the United States and desires that you may not suffer it to be broken. Ealchushoopoia has described the boundaries of your Country. Your father does not know whether the lines he has mentioned correspond with those laid down in the treaty of Hopewell: but he will have them written in a Book that they may known and considered hereafter. You wish that your land may be protected from the whites. This is right. Your father will always use his endeavours to prevent settlements on it; and as soon as Spain shall leave the Natches and Walnut Hills, he intends to send some of his Warriors to those posts who will help to keep bad White people from doing you wrong. Parshenahla says that you will be glad after the Spaniards leave the fort on Tumbeckbee River, that it should not be occupied. Your father does not know that it will be wanted for a trading post. By the treaty of Hopewell concluded in January 1786 you know that it is agreed that the United States may establish three trading posts and that six Miles square are reserved by that treaty to each post. Nothing however is going to be done at present about these trading posts or the fort on Tumbeckbee and care will be taken, whenever it shall be convenient to the United States to erect any, to consult the Nation before any thing is done. That it may always in future be easy for you to hear from your father, the President, and for him to hear from you when any thing goes wrong with you which which he can set right, he has appointed M^r Benjamin Hawkins his principal Agent to reside in the Creek Nation, and desired him to visit from time to time his Children, the Choctaws, and to appoint some person if he sees fit to reside with you to keep him well informed about his children and the conduct of any whites that may come into your nation as Traders or Visitors. He desires you therefore to respect M^r Hawkins as his beloved Man and to believe whatever he says to you. Your Chiefs, who have been to visit your father, have asked him to send some presents annually to the whole Nation. Your father would very gladly help his children in this manner: but the great Council of the United States has not given him any money to bestow in this manner and unless he gets it from them he cannot send it to his Children. He will, however, should they enable him to make an annual present inform them of it by his beloved Man M^r Hawkins. Your father has requested his Secretary of War to give some presents to your Chiefs who have been to visit them and to send by them to some of his Choctaw warriors some marks of his kindness. He is glad to hear that most of the old Chiefs and young Warriors who signed the treaty of Hopewell are living. He sends his love to them and to all his Children and wishes them never to forget that treaty, and to be assured that the United States will always consider them as their friends and Children. Given at the War Office in Philadelphia this twenty first day of December A.D. 1796 and in the twenty first year of the Independence of the United States of America. James M^cHenry Secretary of War