War Department, August 15^th 1799. Sir, I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letters dated the 1^st 10^th and 24^th July ultimo. My letter of the 08^th April last advised you that I had required Major General Hamilton to cause you to be respected by the Stations in the character of Superintendant of Indian affairs, and to enable you to give orders upon the posts for provisions to such Indians to whom you may think it advisable they should be given. Previous to the receipt of your letter of the 1^st July, I had received a Memorial or remonstrance from the Judges of the Court, held at Detroit, to which I immediately wrote a reply, and referred both to General Hamilton, for his information, and to govern such ulterior respect to the Commandant as he may think the situation of things may require. The memorial was strong in professions of attachment to the Government of the United States, yet advanced, as I could perceive, principles respecting the Judiciary, and presented an idea that the soldier had a forfeited right to expend his pay as he pleased, into the disfavor to the benefit of the free circulation of stock this would occasion. To maintain a strict discipline in the Garrison Posts, with a proper respect to the rights of the Citizens, so as to conciliate the latter, demands mature reflection and full information on the subject. The Government is fully disposed to do justice to the Indians and expects from them a proper return, which if it is not doubted would be the case, were they not harrassed by the insinuations and practices of interested Indians who ought if possible strictly to be watched. Every means should be employed to prevent encroachments upon the lands or hunting grounds of the Indians, and to avoid just cause of complaint from them — And on the other hand, infractions or evasions of their stipulations by treaty, or otherwise, such as those practiced to prevent or destroy the running of the Boundary line ought rather to be repelled or remunerated. You observe that you are frequently called upon for small presents, to occasional visiting parties, and are not provided with a competent table for the purpose, or the means of procuring it, although such presents are given at the Military posts. — That General Wilkinson has promised to pay the Delaware for some horses the Whites had stolen from them; this has been demanded of you, that on the second demand you had promised payment, if the horses could not be found in two months and called them sharply on this demand, although you are not instructed what funds they are to be paid out of. The duties required from Indian Agents are of a nature, to occasion it, to be required upon them, to render within the Nations affairs and improvements they are appointed to superintend, and they can only be properly and well executed by diligent and resident Agents, and not by any means by persons residing elsewhere, it is not therefore, contemplated, to call of your attention, from the important affairs of your Government, or to require of you to make journies into the several Indian Nations, or mingle in any of the business, with which resident Agents are especially charged. As it will however happen, that Indians, particularly those nearest your settlements, will from time to time visit you, to require advice relative to their affairs, and inasmuch, it is proper that the expence you may incur in furnishing them with provisions, and the pay of an Interpreter during such visits, should be reimbursed, and should it be indispensible to make some trifling presents, to any of these upon particular and urgent occasions, that the amount of such presents is also reimbursed. You will therefore keep a regular account of all such expenditures, and transmit annually to the Accountant of the War Department all Bills, Receipts and Vouchers necessary to substantiate the same on a settlement. And towards the close of every year, you will transmit to me an Estimate of the sums that may be necessary for such purposes in the succeeding Year, in order that it may be provided for in the Appropriations. The Goods for the Ottawas, Chippewas, Wyandots and Delawares, have been sometime since forwarded to Detroit. Those for all the other nations entitled to stipends under the Greenville Treaty, have also been forwarded to Fort Wayne. My Instructions were that you should have notice as possible of the times they might be expected at their stations. I shall order one hundred and thirty six Strings of blue, and Strings of white Wampum to be sent to you. If General Wilkinson actually did promise Compensation or payment for Horses stolen from the Delawares, of which I do not recollect his having informed me, but which should be made known to you — I suppose to preserve a good understanding, they must be paid for. You will therefore draw on me for the Amount. I have the honor to be, with very great respect, Sir, Your most debt. Servant, James McHenry His Excellency Arthur St. Clair, Governor of the N. W. Territory.