[Cover/docket notation, written sideways: Letter from [undecipherable] of 22 Sept^r 1797 [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] [undecipherable] / 2 Copies taken / 1 [undecipherable] (1.5.) / [undecipherable] as / [undecipherable]] Near Downings Town 22 Sept^r. 1797 Sir, I received yesterday your letter dated the 24^th [undecipherable] at Chickasaw Bluff. Having had no advice from you of the time of your departure from [undecipherable], and reason to expect that it would have [undecipherable] a much earlier period, than [undecipherable] it did [undecipherable] when I wrote my despatch [undecipherable] that it could not possibly overtake you short of your arrival at [undecipherable]. Having likewise ordered the annual presents for the Chickasaws to be delivered to them at the Chicasaw Bluff, I would not suppose that you would have passed it without discharging that part of my instructions. I shall make no comments at present on the protest of Lt Colⁿ. Dehault Delassas against the troops of the United States descending the Mississippi, or the pretexts set up at different times by the Spanish officers to avoid the Execution of the treaty. It may be proper [undecipherable] to observe that notwithstanding these circumstances there has no fact come to the knowledge of Government that would indicate their conduct to be in consequence of orders from this court, while the reasons themselves shew, that the [undecipherable]truction of the hosts did not proceed from the Court, but was [undecipherable] taken at the risque of its Officers to guard the Spanish [undecipherable]ps no more effectually against a supposed invasion by Great Britain from Canada — It may be proper also to remark that it is evident no such invasion was intended, and that every measure of the American Government and every order that has issued from it, carry with them the most sincere desire to preserve peace with Spain and avoid every cause of hostility, and that the very early and minute information which has been given by its officers to the Spanish Commandants on the Mississippi of every intended movement of our troops, long before they would possibly take place, must of itself satisfy them, that the President can have nothing else in view but the execution [undecipherable] the Treaty. It is [undecipherable] for any reasons that have been yet assigned by the Spanish officers, to prosecute by effectual measures an object so interesting and desirable to the United States as the possession of our territory and free navigation of the M[ississippi] would subject the Government to severe and justly [undecipherable] censure. In [undecipherable] this spirit [undecipherable] had [undecipherable] dictated the instructions of the President through [his] Secretary of war to Brig Gen^l. Wilkinson and yourself. Seeing by your letter that it is possible this may find you at the Chickasaw Bluff I submit it to you to determine from the information you must have obtained whether it will be necessary to leave a small part of your force there to keep possession. If you have good reason to believe that Spanish troops would be sent to reoccupy the Bluffs on your departure I should consider it proper to leave a small party to hold it till [undecipherable] time as I can be provided with a garrison, [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] the rest of your detachment at or in the vicinity of Natchez without attempting any Military establishment at the Walnut Hills till after the evacuation of Natchez. With respect to the state of things in that quarter. My last letter from M^r Pope is dated the 28^th of June & the following is an extract of it: 'I have several times called on the Governor of this Province to know whether or when he would be ready to evacuate the Posts. He had always answered that some negotiations were going on between the two Courts and until that was [undecipherable] his orders [undecipherable] from the Baron de Carondelet to evacuate them. I have lost no time to inform myself whether such negotiations were going on or not, but can get no information on this head. I believe owing to my dispatches being intercepted by the Spanish. I have enclosed you a proclamation of the Baron de Carondelet of the 31^st May, which has thrown this District in great confusion, nine tenths of the people, under a full persuasion that, agreeably to treaty, they had a right of declaring themselves Citizens assembled and embodied themselves, and went so far as to arrange themselves into [undecipherable] and entered into a resolution that they would no longer submit to the Spanish jurisdiction, which they say ought long since to have ceased. You will see to what length this business has been carried when you peruse a paper I enclose [undecipherable] containing four propositions drawn up by a Committee [undecipherable] voted by a large and respectable meeting of the inhabitants [undecipherable] this District. These propositions were handed to Governor [undecipherable: Gayoso], all of which you find he has acceded to and he has also [sent with] a copy of the same to the Baron de Carondelet to obtain his concurrence. A noncompliance by the Baron with these propositions I think will be productive of dangerous and disagreeable consequences. Should any force be attempted to be brought forward to force the people into any measures they will meet with [undecipherable] opposition from a numerous and spirited set of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] determined [undecipherable] to resist [undecipherable] [undecipherable] a letter from Francis M^cIntothy, the [undecipherable] chief of the Choctaws informing me of two hundred of the six towns who have [undecipherable] determined to cut off the American troops [undecipherable]. In consequence of this information I sent a courier into the nation and desired that they would remain quiet at home. I have every reason to think that they are quiet at this time but how long this will continue so is uncertain as they are entirely [undecipherable] say under the immediate influence of the Spaniards who will no doubt use every possible low mean artifice to bring them [undecipherable] this settlement, for this district has been lately threatened with [undecipherable] the Indians by the Spanish Government; however the people of the country have more influence with the Savages than what the Spanish Government have any idea of. Two men who have been up at the Walnut Hills assisting in repairing [undecipherable] fortification arrived here about three hours ago; [they] inform me that that place is now just in a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] defence. At that place they have about two hundred [undecipherable] and a reinforcement of sixty passed this place four days since for that place. I believe they have received orders from below not to suffer any more troops to pass the Walnut Hills. [undecipherable] is on his way with about three [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that place. Their arrival will throw a different appearance on the present [undecipherable] of [undecipherable]. I have subjoined to this extract the proclamation of the Baron de Carondelet of the 31^st of May and copy of the agreement entered into between the inhabitants of the Natchez and Governor Gayoso. I have this moment received from the Secretary of State copy of a letter to him from M^r [undecipherable] Elliot dated Natchez July 4^th ultimo, in which he says: 'The inhabitants of this District with a few exceptions yet continue tranquil last evening I received the agreeable intelligence, that the Baron de Carondelet had confirmed the agreement entered into between Governor Gayoso and the Committee appointed [undecipherable] the meeting at M^r Belts, for restoring tranquility to this district. I enclose you a Duplicate of my letter to Brig. Gen^l.