In answer to your letter of Dec. 18. I have to inform you that no land office being as yet opened in upper Louisiana, no one is permitted to settle on the public lands there, and that the military is specially charged with preventing it. but the country of Kaskaskian on the opposite side of the river is open to acquisition, yields to the other side in no single circumstance, and is far superior in point of safety. Accept my salutations & best wishes.