neighbourhood of Pittsburgh,6 whose implacable enmity to his
native country, prompted him to take part with the Indians in the
battle between them & Genl [Anthony] Wayne's Army.7 He has ever
since his appointment to the principal agency,8 used his utmost
endeavours to encourage amongst the Indians, a spirit of
hostility to all our Vievps, & the lavish hand with which he is
allowed to scatter presents amongst them, shews that his
Government participates in his enmity & authorises his
measures.—
The principal part of these presents are given to the Miamis,
Delawares, Shawanoes, Potawatimies, Kickapoos, Chippiwas,
Ottawas, & Wiandots, & I calculate that they exceed in value all
the Peltries, collected by the British Traders from the country
inhabited by those Tribes. It can not, then, be for Commercial
views, that these goods are given. But from a desire to retain in
their influence the most warlike of the Tribes, as a kind of
barrier to Canada. So true is this, that the movements of the
British Agents amongst the Indians, is to me, a kind of Political
Thermometer, by which I can ascertain to a great degree of
certainty, the existence of any new cause of apprehension from or
visitation against us in the Cabinet of St: James's.9—
As the best & cheapest mode of controling the Tribes, who
were most exposed to the intrigues of the British, the late
President [Thomas Jefferson] adopted the plan of forming a strong
settlement on this side the Ohio [River]. It was for this
purpose, that the extinguishment of the Indian Title was pushed
to the extent it has been, having it also in view, so to curtail
Transcription neighbourhood of Pittsburgh,6 whose implacable enmity to his native country, prompted him to take part with the Indians in the battle between them & Genl [Anthony] Wayne's Army.7 He has ever since his appointment to the principal agency,8 used his utmost endeavours to encourage amongst the Indians, a spirit of hostility to all our Vievps, & the lavish hand with which he is allowed to scatter presents amongst them, shews that his Government participates in his enmity & authorises his measures.— The principal part of these presents are given to the Miamis, Delawares, Shawanoes, Potawatimies, Kickapoos, Chippiwas, Ottawas, & Wiandots, & I calculate that they exceed in value all the Peltries, collected by the British Traders from the country inhabited by those Tribes. It can not, then, be for Commercial views, that these goods are given. But from a desire to retain in their influence the most warlike of the Tribes, as a kind of barrier to Canada. So true is this, that the movements of the British Agents amongst the Indians, is to me, a kind of Political Thermometer, by which I can ascertain to a great degree of certainty, the existence of any new cause of apprehension from or visitation against us in the Cabinet of St: James's.9— As the best & cheapest mode of controling the Tribes, who were most exposed to the intrigues of the British, the late President [Thomas Jefferson] adopted the plan of forming a strong settlement on this side the Ohio [River]. It was for this purpose, that the extinguishment of the Indian Title was pushed to the extent it has been, having it also in view, so to curtail