.MTQzMw.OTk4MA

Calais Dec 1856

To the Honorable Hannible Hamlin

Respected Sir in the month of Sept I was called upon by a council man of the Passamaquoddy Indians and asked me if I would let him receipt for me & let him keep an account of what I payed to them, if they would all sign for me to be Agent for the ensuing year 1857.

I made answer to him that I would rather have him witness the receipts then anyone else & keep an account of all I payed them,

I asked him why he put me such a question, he said we think we have been cheated by the Agents, then I asked him how; he said the widows & poor old Sqaws did not get what they Should have, that some very destitute ones received only Two Dollars a year when they Should get Twelve & even Twenty Five; should be given some of them.

And he & one other Indian went over to see my neighbor to put the same questions to him & he to the Indians [Ses?] made answer to them that he would have who he was a mind to receipt for him, & that he would do as he was a mind to. And then another council man came down, & wished me to go down to Mr George Downe's & get a petition wrote that they might Sign it for me to be agent. They say they would like to have me put in for ten years.