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Show APPENDIX TO PART II. [ No.9. ] SIH, Cantonment, llfissom·i, August 6, I 806 IN conscCJucnce of the receint of the enclosed letters. I have thought proper to srnd you an express, to enable you to announce to the Osag-e the designs of thcit· enemies, that they may take seasonable measures to circumvent them. You will not fail, in aclditio11 to the within tnlk, to enhance our putcmal regard for thi. nation, by every proper expression ; but arc to keep clear of any conflict in which they may be involved, though you arc to avoid the appearance of abandoning them. If it should be the l'otowatomics' intention to carry their threat into execution. It i!> probable they will not attempt to make the blow before the falling of the leaves, and in the mean time the Osages should establish a chain of li g-ht scouts, along the coast of the l\1issouri, to ascertain with certainty the approach of their encn1r. It is reduced to a certainty that --- and a society of which. he is the ostcn!lible leader, have determined on a project to open some commercial iutercomsc with Sanl'\ Fe, and as this may lead to a connection injurious to the United States, :.ll1d \vill, I understand, be attempted without the sanction of Jaw or the pcrmi~sion of the executive: you must do what, consistently, you can to defeat the plan. N"o good can be derived to the United States from ~uch a project, because th~ prosecutiou of it will depend entirely on the Spaui,ml:), and they will not pern1it it, unless to serve their political, as well as thcit· personal interests. I am in formed that the cnsuiug autu111n aHCl winter will be employed in reconnoitring and opcuing- a connection with the Tetaus, Panis, &c. th at this filii, o1· the uext "iuter, a g rand magazine is to be cstalJlishcd at the Osage towns, where these operations will con1mence; that i~ ~0 be the active "gLnt, having fot·mccl a comtection with the Tctaus. This will c~1ITY forward their merchandise within three or four days travel of the Spanish settlements, where they will deposit it, undct· a ~uard of :wo Tetaus. --will theu go fo t·ward v.nh Jotu· ot· five attendant::;, tak\llg' with hirn some jewelry and fine t;oods. \ ViLh those he will '' ~ sit the governor, to whom he will make prchents, aud implore his ptty by a fine talc of sufferings which h<tve been cndm(·d by tltc c hange of govcmment: that they arc left here with p·oods to be t •) sur 'but not a dollar's wonh of bullion, anclthet·c fore thty have ad- ' cntmcd to sec him, for the purpose of pray.iu~ his leave for the in- APPENDIX TO PART II. troductiou of their propcny into the province. If he assents, then the whole of the goods will IJe canicd forward; if he refuses, then --will invite some of his countrymen to accompany him to hi~ deposit, and having there exposecllo them his merc handise, he will endeavor to open a forced or c landestine trade; for he obs ·rvcs, the ~paniards will not dare to attack his camp. Here you have the plan, and you lllust take all prudent and bwful means to blow it up. In regard to yom approximation lo the Spanish settlements, should your route lead you neat· them, or should you fall in with any of their parties, your conduct must be marked hy such circumspection and discretion, as may prevent ulnrm or conflict, as you ,.,ill be held responsible for consequences. On this subject I refer you to my orders. \tV e have nothing new respecting the pen d in ~ negotiations in Europe; !.Jut from colone l Cushing I understand the Spaniards below arc behaving now with great comtesy. By the return of the bcarct· you may open your correspond nee with the secretary of war; but I would caution you a~;-~in5t anticip• ning; a step ucfore you, for· roar of deception und disappoint! l\.!llt. To me you may, and must, write tully und freely, not ou ly givinl~ a minmc detail of every thing past worthy of not<', hut also of )'0\11' prospects and the conduct of the Indians. If you discover th~tt any tt·icks have been pby..:d from S t. Louis, you will give them to me with na111cs, aud must not fail to g ive particuhrs to the secretary or vrar, with names, to warn him against improper confidenc(' 111d deception. Enc lose your dispatch for me to coloucl Hunt, and it wj!l follow me by a party wltich I leave for the purpose. It is interesting to you to reach N achitochcs in seasou to be at tltc scat of govcmment peHding th , session of congt·ess ; yet you must not sncri .. ficc any el:lsential object to this point. Should fol'tunc favor yon on your present cxcnn;ion, yom importance to our country ' viii, I think, muke your future life comfortable. To shew you how to correct your watch by the CJUadrant, after it has been carcrully ndjustr<l, preparatory to yout· observing on the eclipses of the satellites of Jupiter, I send you a very simple plan, which you will readily understand: a hason of watet·, in some place protected from the mO{ion of the air, will g ive you a fairer artifi cial horizon than .Mercury. I think a tent, with a suitaulc apcrtul'c in the sitlc of it would do vct·y well. I have ~cncrally umoofcd a cabin. Mit·anda has botcherl his business. He has lost his two schuoncrs captured, and himself in the Leander retume<.l to J~\maica. The Ft·cnch have a squadron of four frigates at Porto Rico, and of five .14 |