View notes

Transcription

[checkmark]

Fort Wilkinson 2 August 1799 ~


Sir

I have deemed it advisable to [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] my Ideas in such party of the duties enjoined on you by your Appointment of [undecipherable] for the United States here, as we have Converged on, to the end that you may possess all the Information I am give in Relations thereto --

1st. On credit to Indians or Indian Traders -- In my letter as early as the 29th of may 1790. to your predecessor I gave him my opinion of it in these words -- "I find Credit is unquestionably prejudicial to this Country No man here Red or White is benefited, it is a loss to both; as they consume all they get, it increases their extravagance while it lessens the Means of Supporting it. -- If they were taught to be provident they would know the Value of labour which they are totally unacquainted with. If they were taught to provide the Means before hand for their support they would be vigilant careful and Econimical. But the [undecipherable] of this is Manifest. If a Man wants a keg of Laffia he will give a horse for it; If he wants a hunting [undecipherable] if he parts he [undecipherable] on a piece of fine calico. If he wants a whore he cloaths her in fine Calicoe with rich silver ware. ^ if he wants a [undecipherable] he gives 10 chalk a [undecipherable] for it - If he wants [undecipherable] fowls or eggs he gives chalks for them. 30.40.50.100.200.400 - Chalks are nothing for a horse. - he must have his hireling and they must all have sugar coffee every day. the last want is the Means, these are Credits, they are goods. The Merchant will [undecipherable] furnish them, The traders trust them out to the [undecipherable] or Confirms them & the Indians [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] their [undecipherable] in the squares & [undecipherable] down on the frontiers to beg. there they steel a horse & [undecipherable] to their Credit with their Leader or to Sell the horse for