" The encloſed extract of a letter from Colonel Hamtram[undecipherable: ck] is corroborated by information from Kaſ[undecipherable: kaskia,] St. Vincennes, and Maſſac." " At the ſame time Colonel Howard is ſtrength[undecipherable: ening] his works at St. Louis, and organizing the militia[; they] are taken into pay at nine dollars per month."— [No. VI.] *Extract of a letter from Lieutenant Colonel Hamtr[undecipherable: amck to] Brigadier General James Wilkinſon, dated Detro[undecipherable: it,] May, 1797.* " THE departure of the fourth regiment, and no[undecipherable: t] the artillery, makes us very weak—it has reduced [undecipherable: the] guards from officer's guards to non-commiſſioned offi[undecipherable: cers,] and our ſtrength does not admit of three relieves. " I have had, for a long time paſt, a large numb[undecipherable: er of] Indians—I do not know well their intentions—b[undecipherable: ut I] think it would be prudent not to weaken the garr[undecipherable: ison] more than it is; and I am pretty ſure that both the Fr[undecipherable: ench] and Spaniards have emiſſaries amongſt the Indian[undecipherable: s. I] have it from indubitable authority, that a large Belt [undecipherable: from] the Spaniards is now travelling through the differe[undecipherable: nt na]tions." [No. VII.] *Extract of a letter from Lieutenant Piercy Pope, to the Se[undecipherable: c-]retary for the Department of War, dated Camp[undecipherable: —,] May, 1797—Received 29^th June.* S I R, " I ARRIVED at the Walnut-Hills on the 13[undecipherable: th of] laſt month. Previous to my arrival at that place, ord[undecipherable: ers] were lodged with the Commandant of that Poſt, no[undecipherable: t to] ſuffer my troops to come any lower down until fu[undecipherable: rther] orders. At this place I remained for eight or ten days, when I received a letter from Governor Gayoſo, informing me, that he ſhould be happy to ſee myſelf and detachment arrive, I immediately embarked all my troops and moved on to Natchez, at which place I arrived the 14th April, was received extremely well, and every thing appeared to go perfectly right for ſeveral days; the evacuation appeared to be going on with great life, when all at once the military ſtores were immediately ordered back, their troops buſily engaged all night taking back and remounting the cannon; this kind of conduct, I aſſure you, appeared, and ſtill appears ſtrange; they are ſtrengthening the garriſon here, detachments of troops daily arriving; the whole of which are both-day and night working and fortifying themſelves; I can't ſay againſt what. Reinforcements are daily going up to the Walnut Hills—for no other purpoſe but ſtrengthening that place. The militia is ordered to be embodied—this however is a report, though I believe a very juſt one, which has alarmed the inhabitants extremely, who are reſpectable and numerous. I am alſo informed, this evening, that what is called the Mexican regiment are now on their way to garriſon this place and the Walnut-Hills. There have been ſeveral attempts made to draw on the Indians upon my troops: I have fully aſcertained this fact, and demanded of the Governor to have a principal actor immediately brought to puniſhment, or ſent out of the country. He has been ſent for, and is now on board of one of the gallies, which is now about deſcending the river." [No. VIII.] *Don Manuel Gayoſo de Lemos, to Lieutenant Pope.* Sir, BY Mr. Philip Minor I am informed, that you was preparing to come down the Miſiſippi to take poſſeſſion of