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�Calais Dec 1856 To the Honorable Hannible Hamlin Respected Sir in the month of Sept I was called upon by @ 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 get what they Should have, that some very destitute ones received only Two Dollars @ 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 @ mind to receipt for him, & that he would do as he was @ 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?