[June —, 1824.]

I call you brothers because the chiefs of your nation who came to the Colorado about 3 Moons ago told the Americans who live there that the Wecos and Tawakanes were friends and wished to be at peace with them—

The Americans and Wecos have always been friends and met and parted like brothers and so they ought always to be—and so the Americans always wish to be—but some bad men of the Wecos or some of their friends last year spilt blood in the path which had before then been always clean, J. T. one of our people was murdered on the Guadalupe by Indians who said they were Wecos—he was much beloved by the Americans and they all cried out for revenge—and I intended to have made a campain against your towns to revenge the murder for the Americans will never suffer any of their people to be killed or robbed without punishing the murderers or the robbers but I heard of the words of your chiefs on the Colorado, that they wished to be at peace with the Americans and would punish the murderers of Tumlinson—I informed the Americans of these words and they all said that the Wecos had always been their friends and that they did not wish for war with them, but that the murderers of Tumlinson must be punished and then they would be satisfied. I have therefore sent up some young men to talk with you and to deliver you these words from the Americans—

The Americans will be at peace with the Wecos and Tawakanes and trade with them as friends and brothers provided the chiefs of that nation will agree to punish the murderers of Tumlinson. The path between us shall then be clean and both parties can travel in safety. The Wecos and Tawakanes must not disturb the settlers on the Brazos or Colorado and if any of those settlers misuse any of your nation I will punish them for it if the chief will inform me and if any of your nation steal from or misuse any of the Americans the chief must deliver them to the Americans to be killed or whipped according to the crime they have committed—in this way we may keep a peace between us as long as the sun shall shine, All bad men will then be punished and all the good ones can live in their houses and villages with their women and children and plant their corn in peace and safety. My friends the Americans are a great people they are like the leaves on the trees—they are all good warriors—and well armed—they are true friends and dangerous enemies they never beg peace of any nation, they are always ready for war or peace, but they prefer peace for they wish to be friends and brothers with all the Indians of this province, the Wecos and Tawakanes can therefore chose and send me word by the young men what they intend, and whether they are willing to punish the murders of Tumlinson and be at peace with the Americans or whether they wish for war—

[Endorsed:] Talk sent to the Weco Indians by Duke and Selkirk