Extract of a Letter from the Secretary of War. To Brig. Gen^l. Wilkinson 23 June 1797 — [undecipherable] enclosed to Capt Isaac Guion. Com[undecipherable] the [undecipherable] Detachment — [undecipherable] Interest — 1^st Complimenting to Capt Guion as a prudent and firm officer. (22) 2^d Showing that no opinion of a [undecipherable] through [undecipherable] has been [undecipherable], it does not [undecipherable] Spain [undecipherable] [undecipherable] any obstruction in Capt G[undecipherable] reaching his destination [undecipherable] from [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] such Conclusion — "If Spain [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] likewise [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] borrowing [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] Such [undecipherable] harmless in their affairs" [undecipherable] appointed to Spain [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Extract of a letter from the Secretary of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to Brigadier General Wilkinson, dated [undecipherable] [undecipherable] 23 June 1797 — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I take it for granted that Captain Guion is a prudent and firm Officer, and that his conduct [undecipherable] you have given me of him. [undecipherable] is no reason to [undecipherable] from any [undecipherable] in the [undecipherable] of the President, that he will meet with any obstructions which ought to [undecipherable: prevent?] him from reaching his two points of destination, the Walnut Hills and Natchez. I flatter myself he will not suffer his detachment to be interrupted in its object, by any frivolous pretences which may be presented to him on his passage. The papers in your possession will show you pretty plainly, as well as the letter 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 [undecipherable: prevent?] him" — "Spain you know has no reason to be afraid of the United States, and on the other hand the United States have as little to be afraid of Spain — you are [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and know that if Spain can or does [undecipherable] Belts and presents and promises among our Indians we have likewise belts and presents in our power and besides Garrisons and a General capable to render such practices harmless in their effects" — [undecipherable]