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The last recorded frame on eech microfiche shall contain the '* > V C ■•!; a^ ..i -jJ &is^sH$3 J;^fi b ^*Hm^0. MiJ»«<(U»w'» m v\ i .*" ■, '.w ' i ' s; ■■'fH¥ .-.tn.irri'-'."'} MESSAGE. Tb the Senate and House qf Representatives of the United States, KJ' ^' I transmit, for the information of congress, copies of letters which have passed hetwpn the secretary of state and the envoy eztraor* dinary and minister plenipotentiary of Great Britain. . ,^i :^ ■-'^■'ilf, s, ^■' ' ' lune 1 1, 1812. j*>-. '' . ' iJ^^.ft^vifc ^^i: X \h< rr H ki- '•% . 'fW ' ■-•■X '^ ' ' +,- ' ■■■■■- t , JAMES MADISON. // /. ,<^ 7 .2- ; f ^,g«#!*!*' I 4 % -s*-. « '^ .Y f-..,«;iie>' •f ■4 i ,ii ;V.iV' '-'', ' ^-* \ 1 •i ^M.Orii(iAu amAAi:^,^ m M& ,i*.- K»;^*^!3S^IW3*' s >^; %'>i: " ^**, *? ,{»*3Ml H. ^i^'*- '« r^ r ■3^ 'j.»i-, ."• i^j-,' ~ ia'. /■', '^. •" . ; « ,4, 'r 4 'it. ■ ^^h'-4>' -'- ^'1 ^^ V?' < i ■* A r \ ;/'v'-" ./•> .'il^. 1' CORRESPONDENCE iBTWIBW MR. MONROE AND MR. FOSTER, ■ELATIVS TO IJfBMJ^ SOaTIUTIES, t «. ii' -:t( J)t, Mr, Foster to Mr, Mont;oe. WASHINGTON. June 7, 1812. ^^ SIR, ^ IT is extremely painful to me to find that, not- iivithstanding the assurances which I had the honoi; to make to you on the authority of commuoicationa from his majesty's captain general in Canada, that his majesty's omcet's had not only had ho hand in urging the Indian tribes to the late atrocities commit- ted on the frontiers of the United States, bu^ had even <:ndeavored, in the true spirit of friendly neigh- bourhood, to restrain them as far as lay in their pow- er ; such reports still continue to be circulated with revived industry, and have, in a grr ^ degree, even been countenanced by statements whici w^re recei|t« ly made in an address from a governor o^ohe of tfie l/oited States, to the citizens'of that state. ■ To set th)9 question at rest, I beg leave, sir, tQ transmit to yiQii the inclosed copies of a fetter froni the late governor of Canada to his majesty's secreta- ry of Ktate for tl^ war department, and the answer of lord Liverpool, which have been recently received by me, through lord Castlereagh's office, and frpia which * you will perceive that his majesty's ministers had not only expressed their, decided approbation of the con- duct of th^ governihent of Canada, in using w&a^t- ever influence they might possess over the It^dUa^, to dissuade them from committing hoslitities on the ci- MPIfMP / tizcns of the United States, but also had especially cKreeted'that thosfc eif^rticini^ shoul^ b^ continued. While I assure you, sir, very frankly, that I do not believe such evidence was necessary to convince the AvmH^^ goyerninient(#r the ;errpfK;oinj|iati|fq,ror the abovementioned reports, I yet beg leave to request that thif letter and its mcfdsures may as early as pos- sible be laid before; t|)C pnpw^lf rt^ .1 ,1 .,kV'. . I also beg leave to add, that it is really a serious in- convenience thus to find it necessary continually to furnish fresh evidence, in order to oppose rumours which, though unsupported by the shadow of a do* cument or any other authority \\h9tever than mere hearsay, do yet derive a consequence from the circu- lation given to them under the official sanction of a state government. ,, ,;, . 'ti, I have thought it necessary to be thys explicit on this subject, on account of the odious nature of the reports in question : dreadfuj and horrible as they are, they would at any time suffice to excite the most vi- t)lent irritation through a country, but they surely ought not to be made use of without the most clear afid convincing proofs to constitute their veracity. ^^ ittiw Jtei*l«!t I have the honor, &c. &c. rfoM* .^«? 1 (Signed) 3 -r c m ^^f AUG. J. FOSTER. ^at The hon. James Monroe, 8tc. &c. 8cc. '^ »^^f *'^i**'^-*^ ^^ fij> -s-b'Of ,0t?*&iif! b^imll r Cefy of a letter from J, H. Qraig to the earl ^iji«¥*?r ? •;?tf"^psi .: tf Liverpool* > .«f»^ii^*vAti>/ffi| '-tb ?D'-T^/i'-v.r * f: .QUEBEC, March 29, 181,1, 1. Upder the present circumstances existing between his majesty's government and that of the Anicrican states, I feel it to be necessary }q forward to your lord^ip, the information that is contairied in the in. closed letter and papers irotti tieutenant governor Gore, to which I add a copy of my antwer to him on die subject. This » the nrst direct coimnunies* tion that I liave hod either from lieutehant gbvernof Gore, or from any officer 6f the Indian.dcpartmeilt» relative to the intentions of the Indians. M^ private accountsf however, which, though not official^ were equally to be relied on, gave me assurances of their determinauon to have recourse to arikis, so iMg Ago OS ki November; and in my wish to assist in saving the American frontier from the horrors tisuaUy at^ tending the first burst of an Indian war, by enabling them to take precuutions against it, I conimunicAtel my accounts to Mr. Mori^r, and though I thought that on ofilcial communication might be extremely objectionable* I gave him, however, permidbiori, if be did not think it improper from any circumstance of situation in which he might find himself with thenSy verbally to convey the information to the American govemmcTit. And I have since heaid ftV>m Mr. Moricr that he did so. In January, I repeated to Mr. Moriier that 1 continued to receive a confirma* tion of the intelligence I had before sent him, bilc 1 do not Vnow whether he made any farther communi- cation to the American government. rrfCi*ii!iru 1 ii^? i have the honor to be, &c. 8cc. -^s y- 'fSigped) \*»^^«f^^^^ v^^ J. H. CRAIG. ■ ,.r-_..,.*^..I^VY!:;f'..„r.,-,.:-#;..:'^>. ••_ ^ Capy tf" a letter from Lord Liverpool i|9 /A< officer auministering the government V* ?«m Lower Canada. 4 - ^' DOWNING STREET, July88,18il. In reference to the despatches Nos. 37 and 39, of lieutenant governor air lames €raig« witii their A^v: vMpectivtt incloturet, on the tubjcct of the hotUte intentions which have been manifeited by the Indians s|;ain>t the Americans, and of the measures which had' been taken by that officer to dissuade them from a recourse to arms, I am commanded by hb royal hii^hness the prince resent, to acquaint you that the conduct of sir James Craig, in this respect, has re- teivipd IMS royal highness* entire spprobation, and I •m to desire that you will persevere in the attempt made by him to restrain the Indians from the com- mission of iany act of hostility on the American fron- 'HCTi <«; tu .'Ui I have the honor to be. See. 8cc. 4ti (Signed) LIVERPOOL. .tn Mi'. At' '. I . Mr. Foster to the Secretary tf State, WASHINGTON, June 8, 1813. SIR. "wu Since I had the honor of writing to you yester* day I have received some additional papers reliting to the subject mentioned in my letter, which I transmit to 9)9u inc^ose^. • They consist of a letter from sir James Craig to lord Liverpool, inclosing the extract of a letter from lieutenant |[;overnor Gore, and of the instructions which he had given to the deputy supei^ iotendept of Indii^n affair^ to exert him^lf in restrain- itifg the Indians from comihitting any ik:t Of hostility ligaiAfit the citis^ens of the United States. a ' " Allow me, sir, to request that these papels may without loss of time be cQmniqnicated to the presi- dent. * • 1 have the honor, &c. (Signed) AUG. J. FOSTER. The honorable Jtmes Monroe} kc. fcc. fcc. \i . 4^;. .. . ^ 'm ^t^;i /-v, r: " * QUEBEC, 9l8t Mty, 181L^ llTLORD, In ■ despatch, No. 37, 1 thought it ri^ht to apprize your lordship of the appearance of hostile in- tentions towards the Americans, which had shewn it- self among the Indians in the upper country, as well ai of the steps I had taken on the occasion. In pursuing the same subject, | have now the honor to inclose copies of the letter I have received from lieutenant governor Gore, and of the instructions* which, in consequence of mine to him, he had given to the deputy superintendent of Indian aQairs. I have the honor to be, &cc. f. H. CRAIQ, (Signed) •wjwl^ The Earl of Liverpool, See. ^•^^' i, j ^^- .•)(■.; Extract of a letter from Lieutenant Governor Gore to his Excellency Sir James ^ Craig^ dated ^^^^ ^ : "YORK. (Upper cinada,)} >-v>t''vv.^ '»~.'«;''.«-*-tr. March 2, 1811. '* I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency's letter of the 2d of February, which reached me on the 24th. "I lost no time in directing the deputy super- intendent general of Indian affairs to instruct the officers of the Indian department to caution and re- strain the Indians from committhig any act of hostile ity on the white inhabitants in the neighbourhood. A copy of my letter to colonel Claus is herewith trans- __*^V_J , J.' .'?••' v-T-, ...•■.,,■. Ti>- ♦:- .--•-.,.,■' -■ ■ I t ■•'\\ li txJritt of a liHeir'from Liet^tenanf Governor .^ Gore to Colonel Claus^ deputy superirUendcvi ,^ general of Indian of airs, dated ^^ !: *« YORK PLACE, February 26, 1811. m ■«v. ^_ "In further notice of Mr. Elliott's letters to you, it is desirable that you sliould desire him to be more than usually circumspect in his communications with the Indians, so as to leave no possible suspicion of favoring their projected hostilities against the United States of America. You will therefore direct him, as occasion may offer, to impress upon the Indians the certainty of eventual misfortune to themselves from any attack on the whites ; to point out to them that the Americans are become so strong that any ef- fort on their part to prevail 'by arms must be vain, and that it is from such an assurance and out of regard to their safety, comfort and happiness, that their Great Father expressly forbids that any encouragement ""♦■** ■ ^^'*'*^' "*■" '♦'i >4v^ * . ■''^^: ^'**f*^5<•■^ ,i> <*-■»:,■(»' . Mr. Monroe to Mr. Foster. Mi;-^^^ V DEPARTMENT OF STATE,^ ^ '^ '- . June 10, 1812. K SIR, In answer to the letters of the 7th and 8th in- i^tant, which I have had the honor to rjBceivc from you, disclaiming any agency of your government in promoting the hostility of the Indians, it is my duty to communicate to you such information as has beei^ ifansmltted to ihis government on the subject, at dif- ferent periods, s'.ice the year 1807. From these docu- ■]'■■/ 11 Ay 0.' ments it tijspears that whatever may have been the dii- position of your government, the conduct of itsr sii* bordinate a^nta has tended to excite the hostility df those tribes towards the United States. ^ ^ In estimating the comparative evidence on this sub* ject, it is impossible not to recollect the communica* tion lately made to this government respecting the conduct of sir James Craig in another important trans- action, which it appears was approved by lord Liver- pool. I have the honor to be, 8cc. (Signed) J AM£S MONROE. Augustus J. Foster, fcc. Sec. ./ |B W Ki ■i^f' -'1 Bxtram of letters to the Secretary (f War. I rom Captain Dunham of the United States^ r^v^vv i,j .K r. ,,.> .. ^ -^r i : Army. .J ,-.,,. \ y ;-. : ; ^ • . , > f ^^*^*^^ ^-^^^^^ ■•^MICHILIM^ " "' ""' May 24, 1807. '* There appears to be a very general and exten- sive movement among the savages* in this quarter. Belts of wampum are rapidly circulating from one tribe to another, and a spirit is prevailing by no means pacific. The inclosed talk which has been industri- ously spread among them ne^ds no comment. ** There is certainly mischief at the bottom^ and there can be no doubt in my mind that the object and inten- tion of this great Maniton, or second Adam, under the pretence of restoring to the aborigines their for- mer independence, and to the savage character its ancient energies, is in reality to induce a general eflfort to raiiy^ and to strike, somewhere, a desperate blow. ''■':) ISi ** Extract from a talk delivered at Le Maiouiti* nong, ; entrance of Lake Michigan, by the Indian chief Le Maigouis, or the Trout, May 4, 1807: **I am the &ther of the English, of the French, of the Spaniards and of the Indians* I created the first man, who was the common father of all these people as well as yourselves ; and it is through him, whom I have awaked from his long sleep, that I now address you. But the Americans I did not make ; t1iey are not my children, but the children oftheEnil Spirk* They grew from the scum of the great waters when It was troubled by the Evil Spirit, and the froth was driven imo the woods by a strong east wind. They are numerous, but I hate them. My children, you must not speak of this talk to the whites ; it must be hidden from them. lam now on the earth, sent by the Great Spirit to instruct you. Each village must send me two or more principal chiefs to represent you, that Vou may be taught. The bearer of this talk will point out to you the path to my wigwam. I could not come myself to Abre Crocte, because the world is changed from what it was. It is broken and leans down, and as it declines, the Chippewas and all be- yond will fall off and die ; therefore you must come to see me and be instructed. Those villages which do not listen to this talk and send me two deputies, will be cut off from the face of the earth.'' . ^%» »^fh:f 'l^fiSif %^^f ;'r^^Ti^l^|pli;^^#^*;^ .f^- "t^" ^ ^^. From Captain iktnham^ of the United StateSi* ,^^^,w.^.M^.A>4.5>. ..^-v« MICHILIMACKINAC, ^ ^' Ausust 30, 1807« *1>The cause of the hostile feelings on the part of uiw AllUiaus, 13 ynuMg^tnuy lU UC itllllUUiCU lU UlC Ut* flvience of foreigners trading in the country." '/A i^i^^.^i. . i,';V ,.j.*Ai;,v -■. i,; > . ■. .. (A u From Governor fnUiam ff. Harris6n. ,^^|.« JEFFERSON VILLE, (Falls of Ohio.) , > '■/ 14tli April, 1808. "A youDg man from the Delaware towns came to in- form me that a Pottawattimie Indian had arrived at the toM'ns with a speech from the British, in which they were informed that they (the British) were upon the point of commencing hostilitie"^ against the United States, and requesting the Delawares to join them*'' * .■•lf■r^■■ ;,«-■ ■*dl>. From General William Clark. " St. LOUIS, April 30, 1809, '* I have the honor to inclose you a copy of a letter which confirms my suspicions of the British interfer- ence with our Indian affairs in this country.** [Extract referred to above.] ■••:4- *' I am at present in the fire, receiving Indian news every day. A chief of the Puant nation appears to be employed by the British to get all the nations of Indians to Detroit, to see their fathers, the British, who tell them that they pity them in their situation with the Americans, because the Americans had taken their lands and their game, that they must join and send them off from their lands. They told the savages that the Americans could not give them a blanket nor any thing good for their families. '* They said they had but one father that helped them in their misfortunes, and that they would as- semble, defend their father, and keep their lands. It appears that four English subjects have been at Riviere a la Roche this winter, in disguise ; they have been there to get the nations together and send them on the 'l^r«*» Inrliimc aria n«ie A .AW Aiiva.uiiftj •«• \rf h«<1 Kv 'XAMaVVk «#■■ ■#! our enemies to take the fort of Belle- vuc."„ ^^ -:»="3Rr: r^ -i.^ frwn Samuel Tapper^ Indian faet6r* " SANDUSKY, 7th June. 1809. <* The conduct of British traders in introducing spirituous liquors among the Indians in this part of the country, iind their determined hostility to the measures of our government, have long been subjects of complaint.'* * \ Fttm Governor William Hull* >«^. "DETROIT, June 16, 1809. '* The influence of the prophet has been great, and his advice to the Indians injurious to them and the United States. The powerful influence of the Bri- tish has been exerted in a viray alluring to the savage character." I 4 '■'■■•" . ) ™=^ . ..,>*, , t' ,^; . . Prom Governor Harrison, -^s^^^ -* ' ■■ y." • -t h " VINCENNES. 14th June, 1810. ^ *^ An Iowa Indian informs me, that two years ago this summer, an agent from the British arrived at the prophet's town, and in his presence delivered the message with which he was charged: the substance of which was to urge the prophet to unite as many tribes as he could against the United States, but not to commence hostilities until they gave the signal. From this man and others of his nation, I learn that the prophet has been constantly soliciting their owii and other tribes of the Mississippi to join him against ihoUoit^ States.** '"^^ r:li=£al:ciV^JifjfA':i.»ii'.; 15 From Gwisrnor Harrison. •T ' " VINCENNES, July iS, 18IO. ** A considerable number of Sacs went some time since to see the British superintendent, and on the Ist instant fifty more passed Chicago for the lame desti- nation. A Miami chief who has ju^t returned from his an- nual visit to Maiden, after having received the ac- customed donation of goods, was thus addressed by the British agent : " My son, keep your eyes fixed on me ; my tomahawk is now up ; be you ready, but do not strike until I give the signal.'' iVi: y^ '■^> i^.»- .■k<^ 1.^ From Qener(il William Clark, • ^ ^% "^-^i |V^ % i v.f . St. LOUIS, July 20, 1810. <* One hundred and fifty Sacs are on a visit to the British agent, by invitation, and a smaller party on a visit to the island of St, Joseph, in Lake Huron.*' ■ 4 {^# From Governor W, H, Harrison. *«a( \M.. %i «t « VINCENNES, July 25, 1810. ' There can be no doubt of the designs of the pro- phet und the British agent of Indian afiairs, to do 119 mjury. This agent is a refugee from the neighbor- hood of , and his implacable hatred to his native country prompted him to take part with the In- dians in the buttle between themand General Wayne's amy. He has, ever since. his appointment to the«^> principal agency, used his utmost endeavors to excito liastilities, and Uie lavish manner in which he is al- 16 i.v lowed to scatter presents amoiigst them, shews that his government participates in hb enmity, and authp- rizes his measures." From Governor Wtlliam Hull, •* DETROIT, July 27, IBIO. . '* Large bodies of Indians from the westward and southward continue to visit the' British pbst at Am- herstburg, and are supplied with provisions, arms, ammunition, &c. Much more attention is paid to them than usual." t Extractfrom the speech of Red Jacket^ in be" hcUf of himself and the other deputies of the .^^six nations, February, 1810. ^^^^^^.r- ■"BROTHER, •• ■,-■•", ;'f:|^-"'^:#W^^^^ ** Since you hav& had some disputes with the British government, their agents in Canada have not only endeavored to make the Indians at the westward your enemies, but they ;l\^ve sent « v^ar t^lt amongst our warriors to poison their minds, and make them ; break their faith with you. At the same time we had information that the British had circulated war belts among th^ western Indians, and within your terri- torv.*' ' > ■ • - ' * -u rom John yohnson, Indian agentl w^ .. FORT WAYNg, Aug. 7. isiaj ^:;'* Since writing you onthe 25th ultimo, about onb hundred men of the Saukies have returned from the i h 17 vs that authpo British 9g;ei\t, whp supplied them liberally with every thing thf y stood in want of. The parly received 47 rifles, and a number of fusils, with plenty of powder and lead. This is sending firebrands into the Mis* sissippi coontry, inasmuch as it will draw numbers of our Indians to the British side, in the hope of be- ing treated with the same liberality »» 810. ird and It Am- arms, paid tp in bC" \ of the bvith the lave not estward imongst ke them : we had ^ar belts ir terri- ^'' /? n U A) 18107. lout one from the From gwernor W. Hn Harrison, ■ VINCENNES, Feb. 6, 1811. " If the intentions of the British government arig pacific, the Indian department of Upper Canada have not been made acquainted with them, for they We very lately said every thing to the Indians who have visited them, to excite them against us." '^^X^ From John Johnston, FORT WAYNE, Feb. 8, 1811. ^ « « 4|» 4K 4» i» has been at this place. The infor* mation derived from him is the same I have been in possession of for several years, to wit : the intrigues of the British agents and partizans in creating an in- fluence hostile to our people and government within our territory." r From M, Irwin, Indian Factor. CHICAGO, May 13, 1811. - " An assemblage of the Indians is to t^e place on a branch of the Illinois, by the influence of the Prophet: the result will be hostile in t|e event of a war with Great Britain." . \ '.I r.^_ \'y-:-, "i'v. 1 ^ 1 18 '■'' From Governor W. H, Harrison* '^ ' nfl V|NCENNES,Siep.,17.18^l/, ! I»t5« u^^% ^ ^ State? that almost every Indian from the country above this had been, or were then' gone to Maiden on a visit to the British agent. We shall probably gain our destined point at the moment of their return. If then the British agents are really endeavouring to instigate the Indians to mal^e war up. on us, we shall be in their neighbourhood at the very mo^nem when the impressions which have been made against us are most active in the minds of the S3^ yagea. ******* succeeded in getting the chiefs together at Fort Wayne^. though he found them all preparing to go to Maiden. The result of the council discDvercd that the whole tribes (including the Weas and Eel ri- vers, for they are all Miamies) were about equally divided in favor of the Prophet and the United States. Lapoussier, the Wea ohiel, whom I before mentioned to you as being seduced by the Prophet, was repeat- edly asked by * * * * * what land it was that he was determined to defend with his blood ; whether it was that which was ceded by the late treaty or not, but he would give no answer. '-^ ,««**** ^% reports that all the Indians of the Wa. bash have been, or now are, on a visit to the British agents at Mald?n. He has never known one fourth as many goods given to the Indians as they are now distributing. He examined the share of one man (not a chief) and found that he had received an ele- gant rifle, 25 pounds of powder, 50 pounds of lead, 3 blankets, 3 strouds of cloth, 10 shirts and several pther articles. He says every Indian is furnished with a gun (either rifle or fusil) and an abundance of am- .munition. A trader of this country was lately in the king's storei, at Maiden, and wus told that the quan* tity of goods for the Indian department, which had hl\ ^ 18U. J m from ;n' gone Ve shall ment of e really war up- the very in made the sa- together reparing iCDvercd li Eel ri- i equally 1 States, entioned s repeat- It he was er it was t, but he '.. .-*■ ,* the Wa- e British le fourth are now one man :d an ele- \ of lead, d several ihed with ;e of am- ely in the the quan- /hich had been sent out this year, exceeded that of common years by 520»OOO pounds sterling. It is impossible to ascribe this profusion to any other motive than that of instigating the Indians to take up the tomahawk. It cannot be to secure their trade ; for all the peltries collected on the waters of the Wabash in one year, if sold ih the London market, would not pay the freight of the goods which have been given to the Indians. ** I am decidedly of opinion that the tendency of th<; British measures is hostility to us." * From Governor Willie Blqunt, 1*1 NASHVILLE, Sep. 11, 1811. ** There is in this place a very noted chief of th^ Ghickasaws, a man of truths who wishes the presi- dent should be informed that there is a combination of the northern Indians, promoted by |he English, to unite in falling on the frontier settlements, and are in- viting the southern tribes to join them. ^'%: /k' From Gofoernor Ninian Edwards, p>:'; '/:*t '.^iiut Cahokia, St* Clair county, h v)r t > ILLINOIS TERRITORY, r , ;^^^ April 24, 1812. " The opinion of the celebrated British trader, Dixon, is, that in the event of a British war, all the Indians will be opposed to us, and he hopes to engage them in hostility by making peace between the Sioux and Chipewas, two very large nations, and getting them to declare war against us.?* ^ * 20 Extraci of aUiiet ffwn his exeeilency Niniati' Edwards^ governor rf the Illinois territory y ' to the Secretary of Jvar, dated ,^^ ^ ILLINOIS TERRITORY, J^ . January 25, 1812. f; ** Many of those Indians certainly contemplate joining the British* They are in the h^bit of visiting fort Mulden annually ; and as soon as they are pre- pared for iheir departure thither, they wHl (as I be- lieve they have already declared) make inroads upon our settlements, as well to take scalps as to steal horses." .. . . * , rt Extract qf a letter from gen, Wm. Clark to the /jp Secretary of War^ dated «»;» t«y .^^ f St. LOUIS, Feb. 13, 1812. .-is *' If possession was taken of a point about the mouth of Fox River, where it enters into Green Bay, communications would be cut off between the traders and Indians on the Mississippi below Prairie du Chien, and the British trading houses on the Lakes. Smugglifig might be prevented through that channel. Mr. Dickson j and (hose British traders, who are also agentSt who have smuggled an immense quantity of goods thi^ough that channel this year, and now in the Mississippi, could be caught on their return as they go out in the spring. This description of people grasp at every means in their power to wean the af» fections of the Indians from any thing that is Ameri- can ; having it in their power to make large presents to the Indians, the most of whom are to b^ bouglit; and by this m^ans create great difficulty wherever they have an influence." Tinian ritoryy 1812.1 mplate ^siting re pre- s I be- s upon o steal H \tathe 1812. )out the ?n Bay, traders lirie du Lakes, channel, are also ntity of V in the as they people L the af- Ameri- presents nought ; herever Exiracts of a letter from John Shaw, esq. In- dian agent, to the Secretary of War, dated ^K FORT WAYNE, 3d month lOih, 1812. ** It appears that the hostile disposition of the Indians confederated under the Shawance Prophet, that so recently ini)ni(ested itself in the conflict on the Wabash, is net yet changed. By every thing that I am able t6 learn, they are secretly plotting to strike an tfTective blow on our frontier; and it is said that they have beep t^iis winter invited by the British agent, at fort Maiden, to pay him a visit ; and I be- lieve it is a fact that a considerable number of them ' have recently gone to that place with a view of pro- curing ammunition." '^ A si)eech is also said to have been recently sent to Winnemac, a Pottawattamie chief, from KliiQlr*} the British agent ; but to what purpose I have not yet been able to learn." i^ "' it passed nt to the ammU' las will- from the rovisions He has \' (t '..♦ --« H. Hat- A ''"^^ J. 1812. , nty.four ;e in the ; ammu- »r them, uch eon rrv." 23 DOCUMENTS RKLATIVB TO A SKAMAN CLAIMED THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT » Mr, Monroe to Mr. Foster, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, June 10, 1812. SIR, I have the honor to transmit to you for the in- formation of your government, the inclosed papers (No. 1 and 2) in relation to William Helby, alias Wil. Jiam Bowman, a sailor belonging to the United States' sloop of war the Hornet, for whom lore' Castlereagh, on the 2Dth of February, when his lordship supposed that vessel was in a British port, informed Mr. Russell that a writ of habeas corpus would be issued and en- forced by the legal authorities of Great B-itain. I have the honor, &c. &c. JAMES MONROE. A|i|pu8tU8 J. Foster, Esq. 8cc. fcc. 8cc. i. •.JvnJ' ■ ■■■■ [COPY.] NAVY DEPARTMENT, 8th June, 18 12. SIR, Having seen the deposition of Elizabeth £. Bowman, in the case of William Bowman, alias WiU Ham Helby, alias William Elby, said to have been compelled by force to enter on board the Hornet, I wrote to captain Lawrence, commander of the Hor- netf'for information on the subject, and have received from him the paper which I have the honor of trans- mitting herewith. w^. SWiHWH^SsS^^r' '/) .^ , yB^i- y "T/ >^ • It Gin be scarcely mcemtf ftfi me to remark that ^ neither the laws nor usa^a of our country would sanction any compulsory meipiii^to induce persbns to enter the navy of the' United States. lam, with gceat respect, suTp , Your obedient servant, (Signed) PAUL HAMILTON. The hoQOrftble the Secretary of State. [COPY.] Umted States' ship Hornet^ ' NEW YORK, June 2d, 18ll. : I ^o Ji$RE9Y cERTti^Y, that in consequence of 'hot being able to |et a birth on board a merchant ship, and being at>S(^titely in want of bread* I was induced to enter as a seamen on board the Hornet, and for that purpesci repaired to her rendezvous, then open in Phiiadelph^, and Voluntarily entered with lieutenant Cassin, on the Sd July, 1811, to aerve the United States of Amenca honestly and faithfully for the term of two years, unless soone^- dbcharged. At the time I shipped, I declare that I was perfectly sober, and that as soon as I had received my three ^nonths' advance I went on board the gun bpat then laying p^the navy yard, for the purpose of receiving the men shipp^ for the Hornet,' accompanied by the ofEcer commanding her and the landlord of the rendezvous ; and I so- lemnly de<^re chat no force whatever was used to compel me to ehter the service, or to get me on board the punllflif ^ /^^ Wm. HELBY. ••f WITNESSES. Joseph Smooy, midshipman United States' navy. • r Jacob M. Jacobs, captain's clerk. i- -■>-'=>^;..:..W>.«i»W|».,,Wy . i ,n , , , ^ ^ ^,, i. , l,l ^^ ,,y ^^y , , ., lark that rsbns to >N. ■ >• net, d, 18 quence of > hant ship, s induced It, and for m open in lieutenant tie United r the term the time I ; and that advance I *the navy lipp^ for imanding tnd I so- used to on board BY. Es' navy. < ■ -# The EDITH ^W LORNE PIERCE COLLECTION of CANADI ANA Recti's University at Kingston V. I. yJv ■' '■■-y