To the Chiefs of the Potawatomies and Chipeways, and Ottawas. My Sons I send you this by Nangy, who has been here to pay me a visit. It gave me great pleasure to see him, but it was little that we could say to each other, because there was not any body to be found here that could well speak your language. I was able to learn from him, my Sons, that you have been and still are anxious to see me. It was my design to have met you when your Goods were delivered, but they were so late in coming, that it is now out of my power, as our annual Council is now sitting and I cannot leave it. But I will send some person in my place on whom you may depend. Believe me, my Sons, I wish well, as they do themselves to all our red Children, and the President of the united States will continue to love them and do them good. But there are people that make you uneasy. They love no body but themselves, and, because some of them have prevailed upon individuals amongst you to make grants of land to them, contrary to our Laws, and to all your former practice, that are not approved of, they give you no rest, but are always saying some disagreeable thing or other to you. I tell you, and I tell you truth, that it is for your interest the united States do not approve those grants of land. Only consider a little. If any one of you, of yourselves, without the consent of the nation may give away the Lands that belong to you all, and at times when perhaps they have been made drunk on purpose, what will become of your Wives and Children. Do you not see that it is to prevent your being cheated by bad men, who, they can get your lands do not care of you were all to perish with hunger, that the united States will not allow any of their people to buy them but at a public treaty with the nation, when you are all sober, and know that you are not wronged, nor wronging yourselves. If those private Sales were to be maintained, must not War be the certain consequence. When you found your lands gone, and that you had got nothing ^{a would} value for them, you kill some of the people who lived upon them, who had perhaps no hand in cheating you. Some of you would be killed in return, and all the mischiefs of War would follow. As to the Canadians, my Sons who are living on lands which you have given to them, you need not be uneasy about them, neither need they be uneasy about the Lands. The united States will not take their Farms from them. But they will not allow any of their people to be buying from you, in a private manner, the Lands which are to support you and your Families and your Children after you, by thousands of years, and cheating you in the price at the same time. I find it to be your wish that some person may be appointed at Detroit to whom you may speak occasionally. Such Agents can be appointed by the President only, and when he knows how much you wish for one, I do not doubt that one, on whom you may depend will be appointed. It is a great satisfaction to me, my Children, that there is peace between you and Us. I am sure that it is best for both that it should continue forever. On our parts nothing will be done to weaken it. But, I know there have been people amongst you stirring you to take up the hatchet on account of the French. I do not believe that you will listen to them because you will see the consequences; and if they should succeed in misleading you the whole burden then must fall upon yourselves, for they cannot help you. The English will not and the Spaniards are too far off to help you, and too weak to do it, if they were willing. Drive then those persons away. They are your worst enemies whatever they may say. On the pendship of your American brothers, who sprung out of the same Stock with yourselves you may safely depend. This is from your friend & Father [undecipherable] Cincinnati 3^d October 1799