[undecipherable: War Dep^t?] [undecipherable] July [undecipherable] [1797] Sir, I inclose you duplicates of my letters of the [undecipherable] and of some [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] instants — By my latest accounts from the Northwestern frontier, the [undecipherable] affairs [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of the boundary line [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] a part of the Lands which has been relinquished. [undecipherable] it at the same time renders pretty evident that Spanish officers have [undecipherable] by [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to induce the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to emigrate to the West Side of the Mississippi and join [undecipherable] some hostile designs — The military [undecipherable] and fortifications have also been [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable] in upper Louisiana, on the [undecipherable] projects that [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — It is [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] from Canada through our Country. With respect to our [undecipherable] from Canada you very well know that our chain of posts on the lakes, is calculated to guard all except to the United States from that [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] information of any military [undecipherable] in Canada indicative of such a project; that no [undecipherable] [undecipherable] have approach[undecipherable] our Country [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] preparations, which could not have been concealed by the [undecipherable] to be led by our officers whose duty it is to give [undecipherable] and notice to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of any [undecipherable] nature [undecipherable] that any officer discovers; namely the United States. The truth is that the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the present [undecipherable] to its detriment in consequence of which the Province has been kept in an almost constant state of alarm for its own safety — Such being the real state of things in Canada; it is strange that the Spanish Officers should have so long continued ignorant of them; or if they know them; that they should have made an impracticable project a pretext for the security of [undecipherable] within our Country — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] they have [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] as strong as possible by your [undecipherable] and [undecipherable]; that you should lay in a large stock of provisions; that you should establish [undecipherable] means of having notice [undecipherable] and receiving information [undecipherable] from the [undecipherable] and the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] through— Therefore your Officers commanding at [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]; [undecipherable] you should confide [undecipherable]; that you should convey [undecipherable] to the Spaniards; also to be considered in a state of formality or [undecipherable] and that, very [undecipherable] to be facilitated from these [undecipherable] between the soldiers of the respective [undecipherable] and prevents the [undecipherable] of these being induced to insult or [undecipherable] them. If [undecipherable] [undecipherable] officers are displaying [undecipherable] let the Spanish officers make [undecipherable] attention [undecipherable] with [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] however, the necessity of [undecipherable] your [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] from [undecipherable] inroads [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] in such a country. It will be proper even to [undecipherable] notice from the Spanish Officers, as all things [undecipherable] a more [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] you upon no account to [undecipherable] your [undecipherable]; and this [undecipherable] [undecipherable] no way is satisfactory — I expect, however, the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] this side [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] as your [undecipherable] may be [undecipherable]. But though I hope [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the public stores and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] on the East Side of the Mississippi in your [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that he is [undecipherable] accordingly — I am &^c Your obed^t Servant [undecipherable: James McHenry?] Cap^t Isaac Guion [undecipherable: document number notation] [July 27. 1797 War Office [undecipherable] Cap^t Isaac [undecipherable] Guion commanding Detachment of the Troops of the United States at the Natchez] [seal] [Duplicate]