From M. Irwin, Indian Factor. Chicago, May 13, 1811.

"AN assemblage of the Indians is to take place on a branch of the Illinois, by the influence of the prophet: the result will be hostile in the event of a war with Great Britain."

From Governour W. H. Harrison. Vincennes, September

17, 1811.

" ***** states that almost every Indian from the country above this had been, or were then gone to Malden 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 make war upon us, we shall be in their neighbourhood at the very moment when the impressions which have been made against us are most active in the minds of the savages.

***** succeeded in getting the chiefs together at Fort Wayne, though he found them all preparing to go to Malden. The result of the council discovered that the whole tribes (including the Weas and Eel rivers, for they are all Miamies) were about equally divided in favour of the prophet and the United States. Lapoussier, the Wea chief, whom I before mentioned to you as being seduced by the prophet, was repeatedly 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.

66***** reports that all the Indians of the Wabash have been, or now are, on a visit to the British agents at Malden. 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 elegant rifle, twenty-five pounds of powder, fifty pounds of lead, three blankets, three strouds of cloth, ten shirts and several other articles. He says every Indian is furnished with a gun (either rifle or fusil) and an abundance of ammunition. A trader of this country was lately in the king's stores at Malden, and was told that the quantity of goods for the Indian department, which had been

sent out this year, exceeded that of common years by 20,000 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 in 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 the British measures is hostility to us."

From Governour Willie Blount. Nashville, September 11, 1811.

"THERE is in this place a very noted chief of the Chickasaws, a man of truth, who wishes the President should be informed that there is a combination of the northern Indians, promoted by the English, to unite in falling on the frontier settlements, and are inviting the southern tribes to join them."

From Governour Ninian Edwards. Cahokia, St. Clair County, Illinois Territory, 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."

Extract of a Letter from His Excellency Ninian Edwards, Governour of the Illinois Territory, to the Secretary of War. Illinois Territory, January 25, 1812.

"MANY of those Indians certainly contemplate joining the British. They are in the habit of visiting Fort Malden annually; and as soon as they are prepared for their departure thither, they will, (as I believe they have already declared) make inroads upon our settlements, as well to take scalps as to steal horses."

Extract of a Letter from General Wm. Clark, to the Secretary of War. St. Louis, Feb. 13, 1812.

"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. Smuggling might be prevented through that channel. Mr. Dickson, and those British traders, who are also agents, who have smuggled an immense quantity of goods through 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 affections of the Indians from any thing that is American; having it in their power to make large presents to the Indians, the most of whom are to be bought; and by this means create great difficulty wherever they have an influence."

Extracts of a Letter from John Shaw, Esquire, Indian Agent, to the Secretary of War. Fort Wayne, 3d Month 10th, 1812.

"IT appears that the hostile disposition of the Indians confederated under the Shawanee prophet, that so recently manifested itself in the conflict on the Wabash, is not yet changed. By every thing that I am able to learn, they are secretly plotting to strike an effective blow on our frontier; and it is said that they have been this winter invited by the British agent, at fort Malden, to pay him a visit; and I believe it is a fact, that a considerable number of them have recently gone to that place with a view of procuring ammunition."

A speech is also said to have been recently sent to Winnemac, a Pottawattamie chief, from Elliot, the British agent; but to what purpose I have not yet been able to learn."

Extracts of a Letter from John Shaw, Esq. Indian Agent, to the Secretary of War. Fort Wayne, 3d Month 1st,

1812.

"IT has been reported by a Miami Indian who was hunting a few miles from this, that twenty-four Indians of the Shawanee prophet's band, composed of Winabagoes, Kickapoos and Shawanees, passed his camp about six days ago, on their way to Sandusky, for a quantity of powder and lead, which they said was to be sent them from Canada."

"It also appears from the statements of a gentleman from Detroit, that the Morpock, (Pottawattamie chief) with a small party of Indians, has been for a considerable time past, encamped on the river Rasin, and constantly getting provisions from the British at fort Malden, and that it is firmly believed that he is waiting for a signal from Elliot, the British agent, to commence hostilities on our frontier."

Extracts of a Letter from Robert Forsyth, Esq. to Captain Rhea, commanding at Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne, March 10, 1812.

"I HAVE no doubt but those Indians that past this post some time ago, are a deputation sent to the British garrison for the purpose of procuring ammunition."

"The Manpock, a Pottawattamie chief, has wintered at river Huron, about twenty miles from the garrison of Amherstburg, and has drawn provisions and ammunition during the whole winter. He has about twenty men with him."

Extract of a Letter from B. F. Stickney, Esq. Indian Agent, to His Excellency W. H. Harrison. Fort Wayne, April 18, 1812.

"MR. SHAW has informed you that twenty-four of the prophet's band had passed this place in the last of February, for fort Malden, to receive ammunition which was promised to be ready for them. They returned on the fourth instant, with as much gun powder, lead, and new fusils, as they could carry."

DOCUMENTS RELATIVE TO A SEAMAN CLAIMED BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.

Mr. Monroe to Mr. Foster. Department of State, June 10, 1812.

SIR, I have the honour to transmit to you for the infor mation of your government, the enclosed papers, (No. 1 and 2) in relation to William Helby, alias William Bowman, a sailor belonging to the United States sloop of war the Hornet, for whom lord Castlereagh, on the 20th 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 enforced by the legal authori ties of Great Britain.

I have the honour, &c. &c.

JAMES MONROE.

Augustus J. Foster, Esq. &c. &c. &c.

Navy Department, June 8, 1812.

SIR,-Having seen the deposition of Elizabeth E. Bowman, in the case of William Bowman, alias William 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 Hornet, for information on the subject, and have received from him the paper which I have the honour of transmitting herewith.

It can be scarcely necessary for me to remark that neither the laws nor usages of our country would sanction any compulsory means to induce persons to enter the navy of the United States.

I am, with great respect, &c.

PAUL HAMILTON.

The Honourable the Secretary of State.

United States ship Hornet, New York, June 2, 1812.

Do hereby certify, that in consequence of not being able to get a birth on board a merchant ship, and being absolutely in want of bread, I was induced to enter as a seaman on board the Hornet, and for that purpose repair