It will be recollected that on the tenth of May, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs wrote an order, directed to General Jessup, to deliver up near one hundred of these Exiles to Collins, the Agent of Watson, and two days later--that is, on the twelfth of May--he wrote Thomas Slidell, District Attorney of the United States at New Orleans, saying, "It is represented to this Department, that the emigration of the Seminoles, now near New Orleans, has been impeded by claims set up to some of their negroes. I am directed by the Secretary of War to request that you will give the Indians your advice and assistance, and by all proper and legal means protect them from injustice and from harrassing and improper interferences with their property and persons. It is of the highest importance that, if possible, no impediments should be suffered to be thrown in the way of their speedy conveyance to their country, west of Arkansas." It is a historical curiosity, that the Secretary of War should so often change his policy. He had, as the reader is aware, exerted his influence to prevent those Exiles, who had been captured by the Creeks, from going West. On the fifth of May, Commissioner Harris declared--"_it is the opinion of the Department that it will be impolitic to take these negroes West_;" and on the ninth, acting under the direction of the Secretary of War, he furnished Mr. Collins with authority to demand and receive these people, and instructions were also issued "to the officer commanding at Fort Pike; to Major Isaac Clark at New Orleans; to the commanding officer at Florida, and to any other officer who may have the negroes in charge," to deliver them to Mr. Collins; while three days afterwards he assures Mr. Slidell, as before stated, "It is of the _highest importance that, if possible, no impediments should be suffered to be thrown in the way of their speedy conveyance to their country, west of Arkansas_." This letter to Mr. Slidell was inclosed in another of the same date, addressed to Major Clark, as follows: "SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt to-day of your letter of the third instant. "The enclosed copy of a letter of this date to the United States District Attorney will show you what measures have been adopted in relation to the claims set up to the Seminole negroes. This is all that this Department can do in this matter. "_It is very much to be regretted, that anything has occurred to prevent the speedy emigration of these Indians._ I will be greatly obliged to you, should no emigrating agent be at New Orleans, to give all the aid in your power in removing the difficulties which are thrown in their way."