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1839. July 20. continued. the meeting which is at hand. They ask whether they may hope for better times or not? Whether this looks like civil war? They do not think so. They send the General the copy he desires.

July 20. Gen: Arbuckle at Fort Gibson as-dress John Ross Esq, Principal Chief of the Eastern Cherokee & others, in Council at Illinois Camp Ground. The General received their commu-nication of the 19th instant, and was much gratified to learn that the reports of an intended attack on the Council of old settlers, which is to assemble on the 22d, are destitute of truth. The General says they are already informed how and when the report in question was received at the Grand Sabine: he adds that young Mr Dillard was about the same time at Webber's falls, where he heard several in-dividuals (Cherokees as the Gene-ral understood him say, that information had been received then of its being their convention's object to send an armed force to the Coun-cil of the old settlers, with the object of seizing their Chiefs and taking them before that body. The names of the individuals making those statements can be ascertained on proper enquiry. The General has no doubt of their desire to preserve peace with the United States & which their own people; yet, as he believes, the course they are pursuing will result very differently, if not spee-dily changed; and as they have not permitted him to suppose there will be any change, he yesterday