Brothers 1 I am the Commissioner of the United States appointed by the President [strikethrough: of the United States] for the purpose of holding a Treaty with You. In his Name I bid You Welcome 2. Brothers for the safety & Welfare of all the Indian Nations in Friendship with the United States: Congress have passed a Law regulating our intercourse with You. among other things it is enacted. "That no purchase, grant lease or conveyance of Lands [strikethrough: I recite this 12^th Section of the Act at Large that you may be on your guard against all and not listen to any proposals they may be made you by men whose mistaking [undecipherable] and regardless of yours [undecipherable] to mislead you. and which without any possible advantage to them can avail them nothing. but they will be their [undecipherable] to the penallies of the Law which the United States will cause to be fully inflicted in case they are incured.] B Brothers this Treaty is held agreeably to the Law I have mentioned On the [Petition] of [R Morris Esq] its object is to effect a purchase if agreeable to You. of a parcel of Your Land. and Brothers This is General Shepard who is — appointed by the Governor of the State of Massachusetts [undecipherable] any purchase that may be I recite then 12^th Section of the Act at Large that You may be on Your guard and not listen to any proposals that may be made You by Men who mistaking their own interests & regardless of Yours may mislead You without any possible advantage to them but may expose them to the penalties of the Law which will be fully inflicted if incurred made of you by M^r Morris at this Treaty and to approve thereof. Brothers: M^r Morris & Col Williamson. the Son [the] friend of M^r Morris. You All know they are M^r Morris's representatives and have full power to act for him in treating with you for the purchase of the Land in question. I have entire confidence in their Candor & fairness. but it is my duty to regard with attention all the negotiations with You and to see that they are so conducted as to [strikethrough: our own] preclede all reasonable ground of complaint [strikethrough: hereafter] on Your part [strikethrough: in future] hereafter Brothers. I rejoice with You [that] the great Spirit has brought us together [strikethrough: we have] let us so conduct as not to offend him lest he Withdraws [undecipherable] [undecipherable]