War office 15 Febry. 1797.

Dear Sir

In one of the last letters which I received from the late Maj^r. Gen. Wayne he informed me that the British had erected and garrisoned a work on the Isle de [undecipherable] Blaut, and requested instructions how to act, suggesting, that our submitting to its being so occupied without remonstrance might in time be construed into a relinquishment of our right to it. The same intrusion has also been stated to me by Brig. Gen. Wilkinson, with the addition that he has understood that the the best has been taken by the special order of the British government. Being in company with M^r Lester yesterday evening, I took occasion to mention to him the situation of the beam[?] & [undecipherable] occupancy and by whom it was occupied by a British garrison, subjoining, that as I found had intended as soon as I had a [undecipherable] to employ him and [undecipherable] Secy of State on the subject. To this he replied that he hoped the matter could be settled without its [undecipherable] taking a diplomatic course, that he would rather the evacuation should appear a voluntary thing, and that if I would be so obliging as to give him a memorandum of the fact he would immediately write to Candada reporting it.

I send you the note and memorandum I have contemplated that you may be apprised of the subject should it become necessary to refer it to you for discussion

I am Dr Sir your ob sr

James McHenry

15 February 1797

Mr Pickering

To be entered in the book of General letters

Secy of State