N^o 14 Leut^t Bency S Pope to Don Manuel Gayos de Lamos. Camp 2. May 1797 Sir, Your letter of yesterday was delivered me by your Adjutant Captain Stephen Minor. The Governor General has, as appears from your letter to me, requested that I should be informed of a purposed attack on your part of the Illinois country by the British force of Canada and that such an expedition cannot take place without passing through the Territory of the United States. I have not a doubt but that the United States have made such arrangements as will secure to them the respect due the Nation and that at the same time every preparation has been made to carry into effect with firmness the late treaty between his most Catholick Majesty and the United States. The second part of your letter more particularly concerns me as a long delay of the evacuation of the Walnut Hills and Natchez; I cannot possibly consider in any other light than an indirect violation of the late treaty. The landing of any troops for the purpose of fortifying or reinforcing Nogalls or any other post above a due east and west line to be drawn 33 ½ ^o South from M^r Ellicotts present Encampment will be highly improper and no doubt considered as a direct attack upon the Honor of the United States, as well the liberties of the Citizens and an invasion of a part of our Territory; there being no war between the United States and Great Britain, the latter Power would have every reason of complaint should such a measure be suffered. I now proceed to the third and last part of your letter and cannot suppose the reasons offered for a longer detention of the posts within the United States and running the line, sufficient. The fortifying or remaining in force against your Enemies within the Territory of the U.S. when holding the opposite side of the Mississippi where you may with equal ease oppose your Enemies may be productive of disagreeable consequences to both our Nations. — I have the honor to return you my sincere thanks for your friendship and polite attention to myself and troops, and at the same time to inform you, that my present eligible situation supercedes the necessity of a removal. — I am with due respect your most obed^t hble Servant Bency S. Pope, Lieut^t Artill^y Comd^g U^d Troops Mississippi