I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 9th of April last, by the hand of Mr Woods, who arrived here about ten days time. You are pleased to ask my Advice respecting the Affairs of your Government. I am very sensible of the Honour your Excellency & your Council thereby do me. But being in Europe when your State was formed, I am too little acquainted with the Circumstances, to be able to offer you any that may be of Importance, since every thing material that regards your Welfare, will doubtless have occurred to yourselves. There are only two Things that Humanity induces me to wish you may succeed in: The Accommodating your Misunderstanding with the Government of North Carolina by amicable Means; and the Avoiding an Indian War by preventing Encroachments on their Lands. Such Encroachments are the more unjustifiable, as these People in the fair Way of Purchase usually give very good Bargains; and in one Year’s war with them you may suffer a Loss of Property, and be put to an Expense, vastly exceeding in Value what would have contented them perfectly in fairly buying the Lands they can spare. Here is one of their People, who was going to Congress with a Complaint from the Chiefs of the Cherokees, that the North Carolinians on one Side, and the People of your State on the other, encroach upon them daily. The Congress not being now Sitting, he is going back, apparently dissatisfied, that our General Government is not just now in a Situation to render them Justice, which may tend to increase ill Humour in that Nation. I have no doubt of the good Disposition of your Government to prevent their receiving such Injuries: but I know the strongest Governments are hardly able to restrain the disorderly People who are generally on the Frontiers, from Excesses of various kinds; and possibly yours has not yet acquired sufficient Strength for this purpose. It may be well however to acquaint those Encroachers that the Congress will not justifie them in the Breach of a solemn Treaty, and that if they bring upon themselves an Indian War they will not be supported in it.

I am sorry my Letter in answer to a former one from your State, miscarried. I cannot at present lay my hand on the Copy of it; but will look for it and send it by the next Opportunity. I will also endeavour to inform myself more perfectly of your Affairs, by Enquiring & searching the Records of Congress; and if any thing should occur to me that I think may be useful to you, you shall hear from me thereupon. I conclude with repeating my Wish that you may amicably settle your Difference with North Carolina. The Inconvenience to your People attending so remote a seat of Government, and the Difficulty to that Government in ruling well so remote a People, would I think be powerful Inducements with it, to accede to any fair & reasonable Propositions it may receive from you towards an Accommodation.

My best Wishes attend your Settlement, and I have the Honour to be, with great Regard Sir Your Excellency’s most obedient & most humble Servant