[Letter] 1786 May 22, Chick[a]saw Nation [to] the Governor of Georgia / W[illiam] Davenport

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Chickesaw Nation
Yr 22 May 1786
Sir
This is the third attempt I have made to send to your Honours [honors] since the first inteligence [intelligence] I got of the Creeks intentions for war, tho [though] the other Two after getting a Conciderable [Considerable] distance through the Creek Nation was Obliged to Retreat. Ever since the letter I had the Honour [honor] to write to you by Capt [unclear text: Cristmas ] in December my Time has been imployd [employed] in Cultivating Amity and friendship with Those Two Nations and have the Pleasure to inform You I have Affected my design as yet and have not Mutch [Much] to fear but I shall Continue to do so, for finding things in the Criticall [Critical] situation as they were thought I Could be no ways so [unclear text: Servisable ] to my Country as Remaining hear [here], when the talk of war first began to buz [buzz] about, I have my doubts Respecting then Two Nations For the Spaniards Gave Orders for no Americans to be Allowed to Stay in the Nations and McGilvery [deleted text: [illegible text] ] Sent his talks Pressing them hard to Join in the war whitch [which] talks I always maid [made] it my business to [unclear text: Indeavor [Endeavor] ] to spoil at last they [unclear text: sent ] the [unclear text: Pointed Arrow ] with a Threat witch [which] was Treated with Contempt, as their talks had been before McGilvery has last Recd [received] from Pensecola Eighty have loads of Amonition [Ammunition] forty of whitch [which] he has sent to the Alabamer River to a Place Called [unclear text: Dunbares Blufs ] About Sixty Miles from Pencicola and Seaventy [Seventy] from Mobeall he has Mooved [Moved] best Part of his Property [deleted text: this ] and is making his Crop there. It is a Place he Says he intends to Retreat to in Case the Americans Should Prove two [too] hard for them, he indeavoured [endeavoured] in his talks to thear [their] Nations to make them [unclear text: beleve [believe] ] he was


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Backed by Britton and Spain whitch [which] Once I feard [feared] would of [unclear text: Got Root ] but I used arguments Ashorring [Assuring] them to the Contrary and [unclear text: urged he [added text: him ] ] Involved himself in a war and now wishd [wished] to bring them in to his Assitance [Assitance] which might Prove of fatale Concequences [fatal Consequences] to them if they Lisned [Listened] to his talks, but Recomended [Recommended] Peace to them in the Strongest terms It is neadless [needless] to Repeat what I sayd [said] to them as I used Every Argument I thought best to given them to our faver [favor] McGilvery has sent his Talks on the Norward Nations informing them he had [unclear text: Gown ] to war with [illegible text] and neaver [never] intended to Make Peace with them unless Compeld [Compelled] and then for no longer a time than he Could fix himself a gain. Grate [Great] disputes Arose in this Nation Respecting the Treaty Maid [Made] by Our Commesiners [commissioners] And Proving one of the Chiefs of the Nation I Refer you to the [illegible text] for the Reasons, But I have brought it to an End as youll find by the talk I send your Honour [Honor] form them. The Choctaws had no Objections to [unclear text: theirs ] only in the Article where they request Lands for their Publick [Public] Stores whitch [which] they are detirmined [determined] not to give up Sayes [Says] the Land Giving by this Nation in a Place Conveniant a nough [Convenient enough] for their Traders to go far their Goods and the towns in the Plains to Retail them in, as I had no Orders, I sayed [said] nothing to them on theat [that] head, Only ashored [assured] them Agreable [Agreeable] to Request the [unclear text: Comss [Commissioners] ] should be informed of it. I sent to the King of the Choctaws to inform him of my instruction to send to America, and if he had anything further to Say there he has told me I would [illegible text], he wrote me a letter whitch [which] I have [unclear text: Inclosed [Enclosed] ] to your Honour [Honor], the latter Part of it I suppose he Ment [Meant] for


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the Comms [Commissioners] as a [unclear text: word man there ] I have writen neaver [written never] passed between him and my Self -- About Land I make My Reasidance [Residence] mostly with the King of this Nation because his Talks Stands Good in the Choctaw and best part of this nation -- I have thought Proper to Transmit Your Honour [Honor] the Belts and Beads I Recd [Received] from the Indians (the last Talk I had with them) To send as to the Commss [Commissioners] that they Treated with as a [unclear text: Securaty [Security] ] that they Intended to hold them fast, Your Honour [Honor] will direct them as you think Proper The [unclear text: Delewarys ] Indians are Mooving [Moving] fast a Cross the Missippian and setling [settling] in and Round this town Say they intend to follow the Steps of this Nation the Chief that has arived [arrived] Came to me and Requested I would take him by the hand as his Good wishes was for us the white People and Indians Both Press very hard that I may not leave the Nation Say they have neaver [never] had any body sent to guide them and Settle their disputes which I am Applyd [Applied] to for to Settle daylay [daily] through their Request and have always Giving Satisfaction, I have Promisd [Promised] to Remain Untill [Until] the [illegible text] Returns it so long As the People appear to be so well Satisfyd [Satisfied] I Should be with them If the Appointments have not taken Place would wish to be a Candidate for the Superintendents Place of thease [these] two Nations But if a Person thought More disirving [deserving] I will Accept the [unclear text: Comissarys ] Place of this Nation I shall look on Your Honour [Honor] In trust as a [illegible text] and be ashored [assured] I faver [favor] time to time I will Indeaver [Endeavour] to Comply with Sutch [Such] instruction as shall be Committed to my Charge -- The [illegible text] of this is one of the Persons I Imployd [Employed] before who attemptd [attempted] to [unclear text: Come ] Through the Creaks, tho [though] was Oblgd [Obliged] to Return I have maid no bargain with him what he is to have for handing your honour [honor] this, he finds him


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Self Everything, he is a Person may be very servisable [serviceable] to you as there is no Person better be aquainted [acquainted] with the Three Nations than he is, and am convinced grate [great] Confidence may be Placed in him, the [illegible text] Came but few days ago from the Natchez [added text: [unclear text: letters ] ] Requesting me to [unclear text: hurry ] them an answer as Soon as I Could to the Petition they had before desired me to Send to Your Honours [Honors] as their Situation Grew worse and worse whitch [which] Letter I hope now will be handed to you tho Twise [though Twice] before has fallen through -- I will trouble your Honour [Honor] no further but Refer you to the [unclear text: B ] who Can Answer you any question Respecting this Country I hope by the [unclear text: B ] Receive Some instructions from your Honour [Honor] in what Manner I in future Shall Act, untill [until] which time I shall take Sutch [Such] Steps as I think Most Benefitiall [Beneficial] for Government and should anything of Consequence happen In this Quarter I shall recover [illegible text] to let you know it

I have the Pleasure to Subscribe my Self you Honours [Honors] Obdt Servt [Obedient Servant]
[Signed] W. Davenport P.S. Excuse the letter as it is all the Paper I have
His Honour [Honor] the Governor Georgia