As your answer is of a nature that requires the immediate communication of it to my General in Chief I request you to inform me farther, if you have positive orders to make the objections that you have signified to me; as it cannot necessarily influence the conduct of the King my Master towards the U.S. of the, and as likewise this is a necessary step to justify that I have not been negligent in acquiring this important intelligence. I have the honour to be with highest esteem, your most humble Obed. Servant Manuel Gayoso de Lemos Brigadier General and Governor of Natchez Gen^l Henry Smith Pope Commander of the forces of the U.S., on the Mississippi [No 16 From Lieutenant Henry Pope, to Don Manuel Gayoso de Lemos — dated Camp 5^th May 1797 —] Sir I received your letter by Captain Minor, requesting of me to be informed whether I had positive orders for the objections I made in reply to your letter of the 1^st instant involved. I have no official information from the United States of any pending negotiations that respects the late Treaty, and consequently have every reason to suppose that the United States consider the Treaty carried into effect as far as respects the evacuation of the Posts on the east Side of the Mississippi, above the 31st degree North Latitude, and therefore conclude that any reinforcements or additional Works will have a tendency to disturb that harmony which at present happily prevails between the two Nations, and which I am directed to cultivate. You tell me yesterday that you had received information from a Gentleman, that I intended to attack the Garrison at this place. I now request that you will discover the Author, that he may have it in his power to acquit himself of this imputation, or be brought to that just tribunal, a crime of so heinous a nature merits, as the Informer has been guilty of. I am with Consideration your very humble Servant Henry Smith Pope Lieu^t [undecipherable] Com^d U.S. Troops Mississippi