Now I have all pages. Let me produce the transcription. [Docket: Fort Wayne 25. Jan.^y 1799. Lt Col: Hamtramck on acc.^t of his ill health had leave to resume his former Command. his progress from Natchez — political character of the people of Kentucky & Tennessee — S.^t Webster not in the line of his duty — &c — To be copied for Gen. Hamilton — Answered April 24. 99] [Page 1 illegible] General Wilkinson having been an eye witness to the decline of my health, has permitted me to return to my former command, where I arrived on the 12^th Instant, after a Journey of 70 days by land. — I have been frequently near my grave while on the Mississippi. but, I have recovered beyond my expectation on my travel. tho' I still sensibly feel some remains of that great debility which I had all but [undecipherable]. —— As you are no doubt well acquainted with the disposition of the People of the States of Kentucky and Tenesse, I shall only confine myself to one general observation. that is that they execrate the Federal Government and its Officers. [at] every company, I have been in, I have been more or less insulted — they think nothing of condemning measures of Congress, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I had [undecipherable] to command my [undecipherable] to do its duty [undecipherable], but was at last obliged to give up for [undecipherable]; and [undecipherable] me. The inhabitants are in general great friends to the French Republic, and do not hesitate one moment to, pass the most opprobious censure on those who are of a different opinion. There is however some exceptions — I have met with strong and substantial friends to our Government. — M^r Zachariah Cox who made his escape from the Natchez, and who went to New Orleans has returned to Nash. Villa. He came across from the Chocktaw Nations, where one M^r Mitchell was [undecipherable]. there one of our agents had directions to [undecipherable] that if M^r Cox should pass that [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] Mitchell to take him up and [send him?] to the Natchez — Now it has happened that Wilson did not comply with the Governors directions, how not. I am informed that Mitchell is concern'd with Cox in the speculation of the Muscle Shoals [undecipherable] M^r Mitchell's conduct can easily be accounted for. Lieut. Smith of the 3^d Regiment, who [arrived?] 15. Nov. [Nash.] Ville, [undecipherable] days before [I] did, on his way to take [undecipherable] Wilkinson down the Mississippi [undecipherable] been and had him taken up. Cox gave bail, and is to appear before the [undecipherable] at Nash. Villa, already [undecipherable] in March. M^r Cox made one day when at dinner an attack upon me charging me in [presence?] of twenty Gentlemen of having Kept him in confinement at the Natchez — wrongfully, tyran-nically, and without authority. The dialogue that passed between me and Cox is too long to trouble you with; I shall only observe that the affair terminated by Cox [undecipherable] my pardon. —— On my way to this place I have found that perhaps not less than one hundred families have settled on the Public land, near the boun- + dary line — it has extended as far as the [undecipherable] I asked the people by whose authority they had taken possession, but could not receive any satisfactory answer. I fear that if those people are permitted to remain in possession of the land it will not be long before them or some other persons will be in the Indian land. — The Potowatomies of the Wabash River have taken the [undecipherable], against the [undecipherable] on the same river; a number of the latter have been taken [undecipherable] and others killed. this affair [undecipherable] to agitate the minds of the neighbouring Indian much to both parties — I have sent for the [undecipherable] [who] is out hunting; and when he arrives I shall advise with him on the best mode to bring the two nations to a reconciliation. Indeed I think it is the interest of the Republic to have the Indians at peace with each other — for while at War the Navigation of the rivers are always more or less obstructed — and frequently travellers and traders pillaged by some of the parties. —— As the Staff Officers of the first Regiment are on their way from the Mississippi to this place: and as there is but two companies of the first with General Wilkinson — would it not be best for the Service to have those two Companies trans-ferred to the third, and have the first more [undecipherable] This is humbly Submitted for your consideration. . . General Wilkinson has ordered a house to be built for the [Turtle?] and [undecipherable] for [undecipherable], a Miami Chief; I find that the two carpenters at this place are not more than Sufficient to Keep the works and barracks in [repair?]. If those houses are to be built, more [undecipherable] will be wanted — Soldiers employed in that kind of [undecipherable] and will no doubt expect payment — I will [write?] to you to give me the necessary directions in [this?] [Lieut?] [Webster?] of the second Regiment was, last Summer; ordered into Kentucky by Gen. Wilkinson to recruit — and I think, if I recollect right, the General told me he was to be [stationed?] about Lexington; I am informed that he has long ago been at the Rapids of the Ohio, and is there still; I mention this circumstance to you because I think that place is no way calculated for recruiting, and that I have reason to believe that he has taken that position for personal accommodation — my not having any authority to the General command, has prevented me from writing to him and from making a number of arrangements at Fort Washington that appeared to me to be very necessary when I passed there. — I have the Honor to be Sir with my great Respect your Most Obedient and Very humble Servants [signature] the Honorable James. Mc Henry