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Head Quarters Etowah 
Feby [February]  5th 1832 
Dear Sir; 
Since I have had the pleasure of seeing Doctor Rees, and the valueing [valuing]  agents, I have decided to rent the recently abandoned places at public [illegible text], to the highest bidder. This plan is indispensible [indispensable]  from the number of places to rent, and the number of applicants for each place of much value. It would be impossible for me to accomplish the business in a reasonable time, and utterly impossible to give any thing like satisfaction to the mass of applicants, if I was to persue [pursue]  a different plan. The few places I have rented at private contract will give me much trouble, for in no instance whare [where]  I have rented privately but a difficulty has arisen. I have nothing to communicate in relation to the guard --  
 
 
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The Indians notwithstanding the severe cold make some efferts [efforts]  at diging [digging]  gold, but it is in quite the small way, just enough to annoy us. during the coming week I shall station a detachment at the upper mines, this I hope will effectually prevent any further attempts to violate the law.  
 
I have the honor to be most respectfully your Obdt Servt. [Obedient Servant]  
[Signed] Jno [John]  Coffee . 
To his Exelency [Excellency]  Governor Lumpkin Milledgeville 
 
 
 
 
 
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Hightower C.N. [Cherokee Nation]   
Feb [February]  6th [deleted text:  [illegible text]  ]  18 3/4 
To his Exelency [Excellency]  Wilson Lumpkin Governor of Georgia Milledgeville  
 
Letter 
John Coffee 
 
5th. Feby. [February]  1832. 
Cherokee Gold mines