.MTA2NA.NzIyNTY

The grounds upon which the allowances were made are not set forth in either of the books, and if this information were defined a resort would be necessary to the original papers; and as these, of all descriptions, as already remarked, are, with a few exceptions, mixed up together, they might all have to be waded through before it could be procured. The claims disallowed are not entered at all, and their character and the reasons of their rejection, could therefore be obtained only by a similar process. The same would be necessary to ascertain the whole amount of claims against the Indians presented by one individual, or the proportion allowed and rejected. These difficulties cannot be surmounted with the original papers are properly classified and arranged, the proper references made in the books to where the papers in any particular case will be found, and to the same case in the other book in which it is entered , and till all these books are properly indexed. These things done, the following information, or such part of it as might be deemed useful, could readily be obtained, viz: 1st.- The number & amount of claims for improvements presented, the number allowed, the number rejected and the grounds of action in each case, where there is a reason to doubt their propriety. 2nd.- The same in regard to claims for spoliations. 3rd.- The same with respect to claims to reservations. 4th.- The same concerning the debts against the nation held by individual Indians, and by citizens of the United States, with the addition of their character. 5th