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of a few d^ys ago. If you continue, I shall let you know that tho government has authority over women. Your negress is accused of a crime which must be tried according to the laws. These will condemn her, if guilty, or absolve her, if proved innocent. I advise you that I shall accept no other letter from you, and if you have anything to communicate to me, you may do so by means of a petition. May God preserve your life many years.
New Orleans, September 13,1783.
Madam Margaret Pollock.
[Draft by Miro]
Mur. Pollock to Miro
September 13,1783 62
Sih: So you threaten me. I think you Sir, as to your Credentials agaenst Ladies very possible but my own opinion is natural & obvious that the greateste Difficulty does not Lay in making one feel their influance for the moment, Sir I doubt not but you will order my Servant out of Confinement not that I so much feel the Loss of hir, but humanity obliges me to speak in the behalf of the feeble & the Innocent, it is well known that she has been ill treated by those People that dreads not the Laws of God or man I am told that sometime ago, that there have been a band Published for their Ito-fermation Sir as to Present you with a Petition be assured were 1 to attempt it, it would only Inflame, me to the highest degree, & would of Course parish in the Exertion, it makes no difference what Part of the King of .Spains Dominions that Mr. Pollock resides in, he is equally Indebted to render him Justice I hope you will not answer this Letter?
New Orleans 13th Septr. 1783 Yor Mo*. Obe?.
His Excellency Stephen Miro.
Caijello to Governor of Louisiana
September 20,1783 03
Mr Dear Sir: My commandant general, the very excellent Senor Caballei?o de Croix, desiring to encourage the Indians of the nations of the north to maintain the friendship that they have had with the province of the Texas, which is under my jurisdiction, and in
*?AGI, PC, left. 2370 (English). ?BL.
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order that mutual understanding shall be permanently rooted, has been pleased to accede to tho reiterated petitions which I have made to attain this end. I have proposed that annually there shall be assigned a present for each nation as a whole and a special present for tho respective chiefs. With this object in view, Don Nicolas de la Mathe, a resident of Fointe Coupee, which belongs to that province, went to the city of Arispe and offered a plan. While including other matters, this has as its principal point his oiler to be the commissioner who should convey to each nation its allotted present and induce the tribes to remain in our constant friendship. My commandant general has directed me to put into effect the aforesaid project, using the quantity of presents which Don Nicolas de la Mathe has assigned to each nation. lie has left the approval of the presents to my selection and judgment, relying upon my opinion and desiring to proceed according to the terms I deem best.
Taking into consideration the honor accorded me by this confidence, and since it is so serious an obligation, I have applied myself to studying the aforesaid project. Since I have noted some irregularities, I have found myself under the obligation of making note of them. I do not find it advisable that the presents be taken to the Indian villages.
It wrould be preferable that the Indians come to tho town of Nacogdoches, as it is the center of this province. A warehouse should be established in it where the goods which are to serve for this purpose should be stored.
I have likewise noted that the quantities designated for each nation and for its captain are very small, as Your Lordship will perceive from the report herewith included. A comparison with the number stated as composing each one of these nations with the report which my commandant general forwards to Your Lordship will enable you to make the computation as to whether that amount, detailed by La Mathe will be sufficient or not.
The opinion of my commandant general that there should be in the post of Natchitoches stores of goods belonging to His Majesty is of no less importance. Knowing that they exist only in that capital, and that transportation to the town of Nacogdoches becomes necessary, I am advising Your Lordship of the possible total cost of goods delivered at this place. I expect that Your Lordship will be good enough to place the corresponding prices in tho margin opposite each item as it is necessary to know the relative value of each. I have added some lines in addition to those contained in the statement of La Matho because the experience of the dealings I have had with the Indians has made me realize how necessary are the goods which I have added.
For comparison of all herein mentioned, I include for Your Lord-