N^o 15 from Don Manuels Gayoso de Lemos to Lieutenant Henry Pope, dated Natchez 8 May 1797. Sir— Yesterday by Lieutenant John M. Cleny I received your answer to my communication of the day before. I am sorry to find the contradiction you give to such an official information, which leaves me room of doubt. And the project of an attack from the British on Granada as perhaps had in consequence thereof, it is the duty of the Commander General of this Province to oppose it by every means in his power, the improbability is that they will not be able to carry their plan into execution, as we rely on the friendship of the U. S. who certainly will not voluntarily permit such an armed force to pass through their Territory to attack the Dominions of his Majesty; but on other such an Exposition was projected, that British forces were well, that to accomplish it they must necessarily pass through the Territory of the U. S. they certainly never had their wills neither to pass the State by surprize a combination that serves to this. His means of avoiding Illinois, it is to prevent the effects of such an event, that the said Commander General takes every endeavour to detect their success at their first approach, in a continuation of it if patience should favour them in upper Louisiana. Wherefore from acting in a manner so as to alter alter the good understanding that happily subsist between our Nations. Political reasons have caused a suspension of the continuation of these Posts, reasons that are to be settled Ministerially, and that are out of my line to controvért; my duty is to comply with the respective orders of my General in Chief which are positively to keep the best harmony with you and attend to many other object concerning the safety of this Province. There is no reason to apprehend that the Treaty between the U.S. of A. and his Majesty will not take place in every point; the delay experienced with regard to one part of it is not a violation of the Treaty, and is only refered to the regular Ministerial procedure, which when settled will be exactly complied with; in the mean while no alteration can take place in our any part of his Majesty's Dominions be considered alienated, delivered in a solemn and regular manner, nor could that possession the Dominions of his Majesty does not cease. The communication that the Commander General of this Province has adused me in regard to you is a striking proof of the good sentiments treating that have determined to cultivate, by informing you of an important circumstance that concerns both our Nations, without expecting that you would offer any objections to the indispensable dispositions that he finds necessary for the safety of this Province. [signed] &c