For 12 years Pierz has been in the mission of the Ottawa Nation at Little Traverse in the state of Michigan. He is doing everything possible for the instruction and the welfare of the savages and he regards the savages as his own children and is interested in their spiritual and temporal welfare. The merchants in this part of the country are trying with all their evil forces to persuade the savages to sign a petition to the government to pay their debts with government funds. Many chiefs signed the petition but the most important ones at Little Traverse, Lacroix, and Middletown, did not. Pierz was told that the chief of the merchants have elected 3 men of low condition to examine the different debts. These 3 men are not able to do such a joy correctly. He believes, with many savages, that there is no reason why the government should pay these debts of the savages. Indeed, Pierz expresses his belief that the savages are in a position to pay their own debts with the government payment for the land and the product of their lands, particularly from sugar. On the contrary if the government pays the individual debts with their common funds the lazy savages will go farther into debt to the detriment of the more industrius ones who would suffer from this payment. Naturally the merchants are hoping for such a situation. In the case the government decided upon the payment of the debts, Pierz hopes that the government will also call a commission to examine the accounts so that justice be done to the savages. :: III-2-h copy A.L.S. French 2pp. 8vo.