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require much time & labor, of the extent of which some idea may be formed, when it is recollected that the books & papers are the result of near three years' labor of three Commissioners, that there are many thousand cases involved, say from 12, to 15,000, and that these, and each paper relative to each, will have to be particularly examined. The charges also imply gross partiality and corruption on the part of the Commissioners. If correct to any thing like the extent to which they are made, corruption in no limited degree must have existed, and in these cases the Commissioners would take good care to keep back all evidence of it, where they sent on their books & papers to Washington ; and persons interested in claims have asserted that, in examining some of the cases, they have discovered that important papers were missing. Should this be true, an examination of the papers here would lead to a comparatively very unsatisfactory result, either in the discovery of unjust claims allowed, or just ones rejected ; or in the detection of favoritism or corruption on the part of the Commissioners. It is not for me to intimate how far an investigation should extend, or in what manner it should be made ; but should Mr Bell (as has been intimated to me) think of my undertaking it, there are one or two considerations which it may be well for him to consider before he comes to such a determination. Such an investigation may involve the character and standing of individuals of consequence, and the interests of the Indians to a large amount. It would be regarded as a subject of great importance in Mr Bell's own state, and, it may be, that confident expectations are entertained that