[Typed transcript of letter of Aug. 10th 1839 (1-4(17).  Probably done by Cable Ball]


Logansport Cass Co. [County]
Inda. [Indiana] Augt. [August] 10th 1839


Major Hook

Commissary of Subsistence

Washington D.C.


Dr. [Dear] Sir: 

     Your nephew Col. Lewis H. Sands, has forwarded to me your letter
to him of acknowledging a water color sketch that I had made of him, 
at Kee-waw-kney village during Col. A. C. Pepper’s Councils with the
Pottawattamie Indians.


     To my friend your nephew, I was under very many obligations
while in the Indian camp in facilitating my purposes of sketching the
Aborigines, and in inspiring them with confidence in regard to myself.


    The letter that I wrote to Col. Sands recently in recalling the
many agreeable souvenirs of our camp days on the borders of Lake Kee-
waw-kney, was written under an impulse, and in remembrance of his
friendship, and with no intent beyond a private effusion – it seems
however that he has forwarded it to you.  I hardly know how to shape
my sentiments – to express how grateful I feel for the two-fold compliment
that you have been pleased to pay me in regard to my letter and the
painting of the “Council Scene,” which you are aware that I executed
for Col. Pepper.  I understood from Col. Sands, that you found the
painting still in the possession of the Indian Department.


     I endeavoured to portray truly the scene of the Councils, and
if there is any value in fidelity [fidelity] in depicting a rare combination of