“My letter of yesterday will inform you of the arrival and departure of Tecumseh from this place, and of the route which he has taken.  There can be no doubt his object is to excite the southern Indians to war against us.  His mother was of the Creek nation, and he builds much upon that circumstance towards forwarding his views.  I do not think there is any danger of further hostility until he returns:  and his absence affords a most favorable opportunity for breaking up his confederacy, and I have some expectations of being able to accomplish it without a recourse to actual hostility.  Tecumseh assigned the next spring as the period of his return.  I am informed, however, that he will be back in three months.  There is a Potawatamie chief here, who says he was present when the message from the British agent was delivered to the Prophet, telling him that the time had arrived for taking up arms, and inviting him to send a party to Malden, to receive the necessary supplies.  This man is one of the few who preserve their independence.

“The implicit obedience and respect which the followers of Tecumseh pay to him, is really astonishing, and more than any other circumstance bespeaks him one of those uncommon geniuses which spring up occasionally to produce revolutions, and overturn the established order of things.  If it were not for the vicinity of the United States, he would, perhaps, be the founder of an empire that would rival in glory Mexico or Peru.  No difficulties deter him.  For four years he has been in constant motion.  You see him to-day on the Wabash, and in a short time hear of him on the shores of lake Erie or Michigan, or on the banks of the Mississippi; and wherever he goes he makes an impression favorable to his purposes.  He is now upon the last round to put a finishing stroke to his work.  I hope, however, before his return that that part of the fabric which he considered complete, will be demolished, and even its foundations rooted up.  Although the greater part of his followers are attached to him from principle and affection, there are many others who follow him through fear; and he was scarcely a mile from town, before they indulged in the most virulent invectives against him.  The Prophet is impudent and audacious, but is deficient in judgment, talents and firmness.”

The following anecdote illustrates the coolness and self-possession of Tecumseh, not less than the implicit obedience that was paid to his commands by his followers.

A Potawatamie, called the Deaf Chief, was present at the late council.  After it was closed, he stated to the governor, that had he been called upon during the conference he would have confronted Tecumseh, when he denied that his intentions towards the United States were hostile.  This declaration having been repeated to Tecumseh, he calmly intimated to the Prophet, that upon their return to Tippecanoe, the Deaf Chief must be disposed of.  A friend of the latter informed him of his danger, but the