[The Honorable James M^cHenry Esq^r Secretary of War] Philadelphia January 8^th 1799 Sir, Whilst on my late tour thro' Louisiana and West Florida I acquired so general a knowledge of the Choctaws, their influential characters &c as to give me the means of being more useful to the United States in that station than else where particularly on the event of a war with France? and you have suggested to me your intention of appointing me to that trust, I feel it therefore a duty to inform you the terms and the only terms on which I can accept it — My sallary must be equal to that of the Agent to the Cherokees there ought to be two additional rations added — there ought to be an assistant Agent— and an Interpreter appointed in addition to John Pitchlyn — I would beg leave to recommend Turner