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                                                                                                                                                                         Washington June 18th 1832

Mr. Elizur Butler,

    My Dr. Sir, Yours 11th Ult. was duly recd. after its date; and I have waited this long to see Col. Nelson, who is absent on business: but as it is altogether uncertain when he will return to Town, I have determined to answer yours without seeing him. The clause, in my letter to the Editor of the Christian Index, which you noticed with surprise, was based intirely on the declarations I received of the Col. As he was my unknown, and a gentleman on whose word I could confide (I having heard much about the cruelty inflicted on the prisoners, and disapproving it_ when he return'd to Washington, I asked him if those reports ill treatment were true? To which he gave me his utter disavowal of those casualties complained of. What I stated in my publication was on the assurance of this. The conducting officer, and not on my own knowledge. 
    I am willing to give all the credit to your declarations, which the simple naritive of your personal distress merits, especially as you alone "that Col Nelson the commander of the detachment, gave no orders for you to be thus chained" &C. As the abuse you speak of was inflicted in his absence (except the obscene and profane language, which Col N. said to me he could not be accountable for) and without his orders, it might not have occurred to him at the time of his conversation with me, as a matter for which he should account; and might have limited his declarations to his own acts. But this is altogether with him, and not me. I shall therefore leave it where it belongs.
    Be it far from me Sir, to add affliction to your Sorrow, or the least pain to your misery. I have no wish to misjudge your Sincerity. Though I think you have taken a very mistaken) and to your