Near Downings Town 29^th Sept 1797 Sir I here inclose you a copy of my letter of the 22^d Inst. also a copy of a letter from the Baron de Carondelet to Brigadier Gen^l. Wilkinson dated New orleans 29^th [undecipherable] the generals answer thereto, dated [undecipherable] which I received by yesterdays mail. This letter from the Baron de Carondelet will shew you [undecipherable] the President has had no reason to yet [undecipherable] to believe [undecipherable] that the proceedings of the Spanish officers relative to the retention of the posts within our territory have not been a consequence of orders from the [undecipherable]; such being the pretext to be used that the event under your command had not met with so many obstacles, or that those delays had not afforded the Spanish officers time to take measures, correspondent with their views and prepare new obstacles to the execution of your orders. Knowing themselves too weak on the Mississippi to hold our territory, were we disposed to wrest it from them by force, and surrounded with disaffected [undecipherable] subjects, they have called in stratagem and deception to cause the President to appear to acquiesce, by some act of his in their keeping possession. It is therefore to be regretted, that you had not weighed more maturely the instructions I sent you. They would have saved you from the promise you have given the Commandant of New Madrid, not to descend farther down the Mississippi than Chicasaw Bluff, which appears neither to have been sought for by him, nor yet forced upon you by powerful or imposing circumstances. They would have informed you, that your communications to the commandant of Natchez was to be made by you [undecipherable] in the vicinity of the Natchez united to [undecipherable] and well fortified, unless prevented from approaching it by force. For had the President been of opinion with you, that the propositions and assurances you were directed to make would have had the [undecipherable] some effect if made at a distance, or by Lt Pope, it would have been unnecessary to have instructed you on the subject, or aided their operation by any addition to Lt Pope's party. A great object with the Baron de Carondelet is to gain time, prevent if possible the appearance of our troops in force in the vicinity of the post he secures in our territory, which he well knows must tend to strengthen our influence with the Indians, and [undecipherable] rob the force of the frontier, and oblige or so to conduct himself as to [undecipherable] fear not to violate the treaty, or at last shew his king that the American government felt the propriety of his Measures. Our object is to avoid being imposed upon by pretexts, and false information and to pursue steadily those means best likely to defeat the views of the Spanish officers, and [undecipherable] us in possessing your rights. Considering then, that by our treaties with the Chicasaw [undecipherable] we have a right to establish in that Country, rendering it [undecipherable] the duty of the President [undecipherable] to be very sure that [undecipherable] does not involve [undecipherable] to become a [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] Treaty with [undecipherable] in and to [undecipherable] have [undecipherable] with the Indians, considering the delicate situation in which Lt Pope with his command would be [undecipherable], and considering that under a wise, sensible and vigilant officer such detachments as yours could [undecipherable] when united to Lt Pope's, be injured by the Spanish force in that quarter, were its commanders even to contemplate hostility, there could arise no hesitation in the mind of the President respecting the propriety of the orders I transmitted to Brigadier Gen. Wilkinson and you for your government. I have thought it incumbent on me to be thus explicit with you, that you may on all future occasions endeavour to discover the true meaning of and strictly pursue the orders you may receive. At the same time I request to be assured that I cannot suffer myself to entertain any opinion in the least derogatory to your honor as a soldier [undecipherable] attachment to your Country. I see also with pleasure that the acts employed by the Commandant of New Madrid could not withdraw you from your duty or induce you to commit an act which would have been highly [undecipherable] that of landing your detachment on Spanish territory. The Baron de Carondelet you will observe by his letter to Gen^l Wilkinson requires indemnimento to [undecipherable] evacuating the territory of the United States, first, permission to raze or demolish the forts and buildings, second to be assured that the English shall not be permitted to violate our territory to attack Louisiana, and 3^d, that a respectable detachment should be ordered to the Natchez sufficient to restrain our robberies, vexations & plunderings expeditions [undecipherable] the Indian nations and enable [undecipherable]. As you have [undecipherable] fully [undecipherable] to accede to the demolition of the forts and buildings; to satisfy the Baron, that the President has formally notified the English Minister that it was his determination that neither Spain nor Great Britain would be permitted to violate the territory of the United States in making war upon each other; that the British Minister has assured the President that no violation of the territory of the United States had been contemplated, or would be attempted; and that your orders are to restrain the Indians within due bounds conformable to treaty, there can be no longer any obstruction raised to your passage to the Natchez on these grounds. It is to be hoped moreover, that no new ones will be started, or if they are, that they will not be of such a nature as ought to prevent your pursuing the object of your instructions. Should any request be opposed to your progress by the Garrison at Walnut Hill, you will furnish the officer commanding there with a copy of the letter from the Baron de Carondelet to Gen^l Wilkinson and the Generals answer as a justification for proceeding. If however your approach be not noticed by the Garrison there will be no necessity for your having any communication with it. In the case this should find you at Chicasaw Bluff, I think it proper that you should leave a guard there to keep possession till it can be occupied with a garrison. I have written to Contractor O'Hara [undecipherable] you a supply of salt provisions [undecipherable]; but [undecipherable] how long since anticipated the demand? With great respect I am Sir Your most ob^d humb^le Serv^t James McHenry [Capt J. Guion] [undecipherable postal notations on verso]