expedite your descent, which I hope will be speedy, as I flatter myself with the prospect of much satisfaction in forming your acquaintance. I have the honour to be, &c. P. S. POPE, Esq. MANUEL GAYOSO DE LEMOS. No. XIII. From the Same to the Same. Natchez, May 1, 1797. SIR, I have the honour to acquaint you that the commander general of this province desires me to inform you that his majesty's envoy in the United States has given him the intelligence of an attack proposed against our part of the Illinois by the British from Canada; and as such an expedition cannot take place without passing through the territory of the United States, said envoy did officially communicate what was necessary to the Secretary of State of the United States, requiring that convenient orders should be issued to have their territory respected and provided for their own safety; which we doubt not but the United States will acquiesce to in consequence of the treaty and the good harmony that subsist between the United States of America and his majesty. The said commander general of this province in consequence of the foregoing information finds himself under the necessity of putting in a state of defence several points of this river, and particularly Nogalls, to cover Lower Louisiana, and in case the British should succeed in their projects against Illinois; for which purpose a convenient force shall be sent to Nogalls to repair and defend that post, which far from being against the interest of the United States of America, will, in case of being agreed to, leave the military post in that state which it may be found. As this is a powerful reason in addition to those that offered before, to suspend the evacuation of these posts, and of running the line, as our attention is entirely drawn towards the defence of the province, the said commander general orders me to pass you this official communication, and in consequence of the unavoidable delay to repeat to you in his name the proposal of remaining here, to go down to Lower Louisiana, or as he thinks might be preferable to remove to Villa Gayoso, where there are sufficient buildings to accommodate both you and your troops; this insinuation being an effect of the desire we have to show every degree of consideration, as a proof of our disposition to improve the friendship between our nations, assuring you that in any part that you should determine to remove or stay, the commander general of this province will facilitate every conveniency in his power for your satisfaction. I have the honour to be, &c. Capt. P. S. Pope. MANUEL GAYOSO DE LEMOS. Lieutenant Piercy S. Lemos. No. XIV. Pope, to Don Manuel Gayoso de SIR,-Your letter of yesterday was delivered me by your adjutant captain Stephen Minor. The governour general has, as appears from your letter to me, requested that I should be informed of a proposed attack on your part of the Illinois county by the British force of Canada, and that such an expedition cannot take place without passing through the territory of the United States. I have not a doubt but that the United States have made such arrangements as will secure to them the respect due the nation, and that at the same time every preparation has been made to carry into effect with firmness the late treaty between his most catholick majesty and the United States. The second part of your letter more particularly concerns me, as a longer delay of the evacuation of the Walnut-hills and Natchez, I cannot possibly consider in any other light than an indirect violation of the late treaty. The landing of any troops for the purpose of fortifying or reinforcing Nogalls, or any other post above a due east and west line to be drawn 33′ and 46" south from Mr. Ellicott's present encampment, will be highly improper, and no doubt considered as a direct attack upon the honour of the United States, as well as the liberties of the citi zens, and an invasion of a part of our territory; there being no war between the United States and Great Britain, the latter power would have every reason of complaint should such a measure be suffered. I now proceed to the third and last part of your letter, and cannot suppose the reasons offered for a longer detention of the posts within the United States, and running the line, sufficient. The fortifying or remaining in force against your enemies within the territory of the United States when holding the opposite side of the Mississippi, where you may with equal ease oppose your enemies, may be productive of disagreeable consequences to both our nations. I have the honour to return you my sincere thanks, for your friendship and polite attention to myself and troops, and at the same time to inform you, that my present eligible situation supersedes the necessity of a removal. I am, with due respect, &c. PIERCY'S. POPE, Lieut. Artill'y. No. XV. From Don Manuel Gayoso de Lemos to Lieutenant Piercy Pope, dated Natchez, May 3, 1797. SIR,-Yesterday, by lieutenant John M'Clary, I received your answer to my communication of the day before. I am sorry to find the construction you give to such an official information, which leaves no room of doubt. The project of an attack from the British in Canada, is positive, and in consequence thereof, it is the duty of the commander general of this province to oppose it by every means in his power, though the probability is, that they will not be able to carry their plan into execution, as we rely on the friendship of the United States, who certainly will not voluntarily permit such an armed force to pass through their territory, to attack the dominions of his majesty; but, as when such an expedition was proposed, the British knew very well that to accomplish it they must necessarily pass through the territory of the United States, they certainly have had it in view either to pass the posts by surprise, or some other combination that secured to them the means of reaching Illinois: it is to prevent the effects of such an event that the said commander general takes every measure to obstruct their success at their first approach, or a continuation of it, if fortune should favour them in Upper Louisiana. We are far from acting in a manner so as to alter the good understanding that happily subsists between our nations. Political reasons have caused a suspension of the evacuation of these posts; reasons that are to be settled ministerially, and that are out of my line to controvert, my duty is to comply with the superior orders of my general in chief, which are positively to keep the best harmony with you, and attend to every other object concerning the safety of this province. There is no reason to apprehend that the treaty between the United States of America and his majesty will not take place in every point; the delay experienced with regard to one part of it, is not a violation of the treaty, and is only referred to the regular ministerial procedure, which, when settled, will be exactly complied with; in the mean while, no alteration can take place, nor can any part of his majesty's dominions be considered alienated, delivered in a solemn and regular manner, and until that period the dominion of his majesty does not cease. The communication that the commander general of this province has ordered me to impart to you, is a striking proof of the good understanding that he is desirous to cultivate, by informing you of an important circumstance that concerns both our nations, without expecting that you would offer any objections to the indispensable dispositions that he finds necessary for the safety of the province. As your answer is of a nature that requires the imme diate communication of it to my general in chief, I request you to inform me further, if you have positive orders to make the objections that you have signified to me, as it must necessarily influence the conduct of the king my master towards the United States of America; and as like wise this is a necessary step to justify that I have not been negligent in requiring this important intelligence. I have the honour to be, &c. MANUEL GAYOSO DE LEMOS, Brigadier General, and Governour of Natchez. Lieutenant Piercy Smith Pope, commander of the troops of the United States of America on the Mississippi. No. XVI. From Lieutenant Piercy Pope to Don Manuel Gayoso de Lemos, dated Camp, May 5, 1797. SIR, I received your letter by captain Minor, requesting of me to be informed whether I had positive orders for the objections I made in reply to your letter of the first instant; I have no official information from the United States of any pending negotiations that respects the late treaty, and consequently have every reason to suppose that the United States consider the treaty carried into effect as far as respects the evacuation of the posts on the east side of the Mississippi, above the 31st degree, north latitude, and therefore conclude that any reinforcements or additional works will have a tendency to disturb that harmony which at present happily prevails between the two nations, and which I am directed to cultivate. You told me yesterday that you had received information from a gentleman, that I intended to attack the garrison at this place. I now request that you will discover the author, that he may have it in his power to acquit himself of this assertion, or be brought to that just tribunal, a crime of so heinous a nature merits, as the informer has been guilty of. I am, &c. PIERCY S. POPE, Lieut. Artillery, comdg. U. S. Troops Mississippi. No. XVII. From Don Manuel Gayoso de Lemos to Lieutenant Piercy Pope, dated Natchez, May 6, 1797. SIR,-I received your letter dated the 5th instant, delivered me by lieutenant John M'Clary, in 'reply to mine of the 3d, by which, and by our conferences, I am persuaded of your disposition to cultivate that good harmony that is justly due to our nations. On my part I pledge my honour to you that I shall invariably continue considering you not only as I do every individual of your nation, but yet more particularly under the sacred view of its representatives, as likewise every person under your command, and under the direction of the honourable Andrew Ellicott. |