[1797 June 23 - July 25] Extract from the Sec^y Letter of at July — 97 "In looking over your talk to the Shawanoes, I find in it an advice to them to treat of the necks of bad Birds who should come among them and tell them lies, or send them to you. — There is certainly nothing improper in requesting that they should drive out of their Nation or seize and bring to you, if you please, incendiaries & spies who would sow between them & the United States the seeds of discord & hostility, but as it may be going too far to call upon them to put them to death such persons before their crimes can be ascertained, I will hope that the advice to kill, may be considered by them merely, as a strong expression of your desire, that they should be expelled or given up to the United States to be dealt with according to the nature of their Crime." — Gen^l Wilkinsons Answer to the above. — The expression in a talk which I delivered to the Shawanoes & to which you except, was intended to have its full force & effect, & I think it may be vindicated on the most obvious grounds of Justice and sound policy — I am conscious of nothing more proper proper & political, than that the Savages should themselves be the executioners of every villainous Monster who may go among them to excite them to War with the United States, and to let flip the tomahawk on helpless women & Children; I can anticipate no injurious consequences from such Conduct, I shall not however again employ the term. — — Extract from the Sec^y of War July 25. "I wish sincerely to render the Army as respectable as worth & talents can make it." Gen^l Wilkinsons answer — I have confidence in your disposition [undecipherable] to promote the respectability of the Army, and therefore most hope, that you may be so obliging as to consult me as to the merits of such candidates for Commissions as have been Junior — I am particularly led to this request by a survey of the late appointments, among whom I find a Levi Lane formerly a private & a most worthless one in Bradford's Company of Artillery, he has been more than once