As I cannot enjoy the pleasure of seeing you at Monticello I take the liberty of laying before you the papers accompanying this—I have no doubt they will interest your exellency as they relate to a Mission which has already obtained your patronage—

I have now 80 of the Cherokee children under my care and well attended in their Nation whose progress in literature and advances in civilization are very flattering as you will see by the few specimens of their writing I am able to give you—I had nearly 50 different specimens when I left home but the curiosity of so many was excited that I retain only a few and those much sullied—those I leave for you were wrote by the children in less than two years from the time I took them under my care—Your excellency will see the State of the institution by the letter of Col. James Scott a Member of the legeslature of the State of Tennessee & by a certificate of the Standing Committee of Missions of the Presbyterian church—

Should My Means be sufeciently encreased to take a Much Larger proportion of the children it is not only My own opinion but also the opinion of some of the Most respectable characters in our State that in a few years the nation Must become a valuable part of the Union—The opinion of his Excellny Govr. Sevire and Col. Meigs on this subject you will see by the letter to your address and two to me one from the Govr. and one from Colo. Meigs

The intercourse we have with the nation while attending to this business appears to be one of the first Means to assist the views of the Genl. Govt. in promoting civilization—Many are leaving their towns and setling on separate farms and substituting the agricultural for the wandering and hunting life—And I have it much at heart that the Indians Might be taken on the present tide of this feeling and that a full experiment shoud be made what could be done under a republican government toward the civilization of a nation of savages—

Would it not be good policy to give this institution national support so as not to leave it to the precarious support obtained by solicitation by a solitary indevedual? In this service I have suffered Much and been at great expence without remuneration—and on the salerry of 66 Dollars per Annum—

When Sir, you have taken the trouble to peruse the papers and made such use of them as you may judge best I would thank you put under cover the four marked No. 1 2 3 4 & return them to my address Maryville Tennessee And should you enjoy sufficient leisure and feel disposed I should be very much obliged by your Opinion and avice as to the Mode of proceeding in the case—

With sentiments of the highest esteem for your person and cordial approbation of your administration I am your obedient & Hbe Svt