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ask forgiveness, they shall not be injured, yet but few will do this. Soon after the death of the above unfortunate men, the principal chief of the old settlers, viz John Brown, met the treaty party at fort Gibson, where, it is supposed, arrangements were made with him to defend the treaty party, with the assurance of all the assistance from the United States he might need. On the 22nd July Mr. Brown convened a council of the old settlers at the mouth of Illinois, which was attended also by the treaty party. This council rejected all that had been done by the convention, above mentioned, as illegal, and determined to pay no attention to the acts of that body.

    Mr. Brown, and such of the old settlers as adhere to him, and the treaty party, can doubtless, if they please, by the assistance of the United States, effectually put down their opponents, and render the Cherokee nation, hereafter, unable to resist any measures they may see fit to propose. 
                                                                                                                                              Very Respectfully yours
                                                                                                                                                                        D. S. Butrick

P. S. I have forwarded to you, as I suppose, by Mr. Meigs, son in law of W. J. Ross, a packet which I find you can scarcely have patience to read. I can only excuse myself by saying that I can seldom find persons like minded, who will naturally care for those poor Indians. And as you have kindly undertaken this cause, and an investigation into their true character. That the whole tribe of popular feeling should turn against you, yet it would not move your steady purpose, nor prevent your completing a work so calculated to wipe the falling tears from the dear children of the forest. Do forgive me, if I take liberties which I might not, in burdening your mind with the cares and distresses of the afflicted Indians.

    We wish you to be currently? informed relative to the Cherokees yet you will be kind enough to suffer nothing to go out in the common newspapers in my name. The treaty party according to the letter of the law have a plea for their lives. & we do hope & pray that no more may be killed. 
                                                                                                                                                                                      Yours etc, D.S.B.