Extract of a letter from the Secretary of War to Brig. Gen^l. Wilkinson 23 June 1797 — [undecipherable] to Cap^t Isaac Guion, Com^dg. [undecipherable] [undecipherable]tion in Interest — 1^st Complimentary to Cap^t Guion as a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] from officer — (22) 2^d Shewing that a opinion of a bon[a] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] has [undecipherable] form[undecipherable] it does not [undecipherable] Spain [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] any obstruction in Cap^t [undecipherable] reaching his destination by [undecipherable] from [undecipherable] them — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] principles [undecipherable] Conclusion — Of Spain, So as [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] likewise — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] money in the power [undecipherable] Garrison to a Colonel [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — Martin [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to Stand [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [top portion of page largely undecipherable due to dark staining and ink transfer] I take it for granted that Captain Guion is [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] Office, and that his conduct will [undecipherable] [undecipherable] you have given me [undecipherable] he [undecipherable] is no reason to [undecipherable] from any facts in the [undecipherable]tion of the President, that he will meet with any obstruction which ought to prevent him from reaching his true points of Destination, the Walnut Hills and Natchez. I flatter myself he will not suffer his detachment to be interrupted in its [undecipherable] by any frivolous pretences which may be presented to him on his passage— the papers in your possession will shew you pretty plainly, as well as the letters from the Commandant of New Madrid [which you have inclosed me] that however the Spanish Governor may wish to induce the Officer of your Detachment not to proceed to the posts to be delivered, he nevertheless does not mean to prevent him." Spain you know has no reason to be [undecipherable] of the United States, and on the other hand the United [undecipherable]