In this state of things, in such dispositions towards Spain and towards the Indians, in such a course of proceedings with respect to them, and while negotiations were instituted at Madrid for arranging these and all other matters which might affect our friendship and good understanding, we received from Messrs. de Viar and Jaudenes their letter of May the 25th, which was the subject of mine of May the 31st, to you; and now again we have received that of the 18th instant, a copy of which is enclosed.  This letter charges us, and in the most disrespectful style, with: 

1.  Exciting the Chickasaws to war on the Creeks.

2.  Furnishing them with provisions and arms.

3.  Aiming at the occupation of a post at the Ecores Amargas.

4.  Giving medals and marks of distinction to several Indians.

5.  Meddling with the affairs of such as are allies of Spain.

6.  Not using efficacious means to prevent these proceedings.  I shall make short observations on these charges.

1.  Were the first true, it would not be unjustifiable.  The Creeks have now a second time commenced against us a wanton and unprovoked war, and the present one in the face of a recent treaty, and of the most friendly and charitable offices on our part.  There would be nothing out of the common course of proceeding, then, for us to engage allies, if we needed any for their punishment.  But we neither need, nor have sought them.  The fact itself is utterly false, and we defy the world to produce a single proof of it.  The declaration of war by the Chickasaws, as we are informed was a very sudden thing, produced by the murder of some of their people by a party of Creeks, and produced so instantaneously as to give no body time to interfere, either to promote or prevent a rupture.  We had, on the contrary, most particularly exhorted that nation to preserve peace, because in truth we have a most particular friendship for them.  This will be evident from a copy of the message of the President to them, among the papers now enclosed.

2.  The gift of provisions was but an act of that friendship to them, when in the same distress, which had induced us to give five times as much to the less friendly nation of the Creeks.  But we have given arms to them.  We believe it is the practice of every white nation to give arms to the neighboring Indians.  The agents of Spain have done it abundantly, and we suppose not out of their own pockets, and this for purposes of avowed hostility on us; and they have been liberal in promises of further supplies.  We have given a few arms to a very friendly tribe, not to make war on Spain, but to defend themselves from the atrocities of a vastly more numerous and powerful people, and one which by a series of unprovoked and even unrepelled attacks on us, is obliging us to look towards war as the only means left of curbing their insolence.