War Office 3^d April 1799 Sir You will be pleased to inform the inhabitants of the Natchez that the Bill for establishing a Government in the Missisippi Territory including the district of Natchez as far as Congress have acted the President will immediately proceed to appoint the Officers so as to give effect to the Government. Brigadier General Wilkinson has been written to as follows. "I am in no doubt that the Spaniards may have evacuated the Walnut Hills and Natchez the magazines we have been originally mentioned to evacuate, or may probably have received orders so if they have evacuated, to occupy those places To guard against encroachments as the latter or against their remaining of the Spaniards in any manner or their in=troducing any men, cannon, or stores which they may have in Natchez &c &c. be advised [undecipherable] that you send [undecipherable] instruct=ors immediately to the officer commanding at [undecipherable] that the said Spaniards if they have not already done so are [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the territory of the United States [undecipherable] from the [undecipherable] of troops, guns or military stores or the carrying back of [undecipherable] that may have been removed [undecipherable] the Spanish Governors, [undecipherable] in their place or who the [undecipherable] may be informed the establishment of a Government for the United States in the territory, are required forthwith to withdraw: and should they persist in remaining, that no settler whatever of men or guns will be permitted before the Commandants can be instructed touching the same by the President." Should this letter reach you before orders to this effect from Brigadier General Wilkinson; You will consider the said instructions as addressed to you and will govern yourself by them. The same instructions are to apply to the French troops, or troops which may be so denominated, should such attempt to occupy the Posts or invade the territory— with great respect I am Sir Your Obedient Servant James McHenry The Officer Commanding the troops of the United States at Natchez— [Letter to the Officer Comm^g the Troops at Natchez (8)] [of his instructions [undecipherable] General Wilkinson's [undecipherable] concerning of French or [undecipherable] Spanish forces [undecipherable] the disputed Post — [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]]