[Cover: The honorable James McHenry / Secretary of War / Philadelphia] [Left margin of cover, written vertically: [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] the Cherokee / [undecipherable]] Sir [undecipherable] I rec'd yesterday your letter the 18^th of April, enclosing [undecipherable] of the same to Governor Sevier. The reason of my being [undecipherable] at the date of [undecipherable] letter, [undecipherable] you acknowledge, was not [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] of being in a more interior position, for however doubtful the Indians may be represented to be, allowing the representation [undecipherable] be true, I shall still consider myself more safe in the interior of the Indian country than on the frontiers of our own in the time of disturbance. I was at that time making arrangements for effecting the President's [undecipherable] of civilization, notwithstanding the [undecipherable] aspect of affairs, by procuring looms, wheels, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] men [undecipherable] women [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] country to show the Indians [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] their [undecipherable], I have [undecipherable]. I have [undecipherable] that the wishes of government will, eventually [undecipherable], [undecipherable] it shall be my own [undecipherable]. I see by your enclosure what you expect from Governor Sevier. I most sincerely [undecipherable] [undecipherable] your expectations may be realized [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] may be happily disappointed. [undecipherable] early [undecipherable] [undecipherable] conduct of the [undecipherable] for running the [undecipherable: Cherokee] line has afforded an anxious subject of speculation [undecipherable] the half-wise politicians of this country in which they have [undecipherable] the usual [undecipherable] of [undecipherable]. Being, ex officio, attendant on the [undecipherable] running [the] [undecipherable] line it is out of my [undecipherable] to give you recent advice of the state of the Cherokees or of the frontiers of [undecipherable]. The [undecipherable] of the Southern department [undecipherable] develop. An [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] reach you. [undecipherable] do go by a friend in the [undecipherable] will give you also a specimen of the Spanish policy [undecipherable] interference. The best account I can [undecipherable] [undecipherable] present disposition of the Cherokees will be to refer you to the conference with the commissioner at [undecipherable: Tashega]. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant [undecipherable: Silas Dinsmore] [The honorable The Secretary of War]