KNIGHT'S FERRY, May 29, 1851.
Sir: The undersigned, John C. Dent, James Vantine, and Lewis Dent, hitherto trading at their ferry on the river Stanislaus, called Knight's ferry, under the name and style of Dent, Vantine & Co., have the honor to make application to you for license to trade with those Indian tribes about to assemble in the reservation lying between the rivers Stanislaus and Tuolumne, in accordance with the stipulations of the treaty exchanged at the said ferry on the 20th instant.
The places proposed to be selected for the purposes of trade by the undersigned, in case your answer should be favorable to their application, at present cannot be definitely indicated, owing to the absence of the Indians; but such points within the reservation on either or both the rivers constituting part of the boundary thereof would be agreeable, being most convenient and proper for said purpose of trade. The undersigned further propose to furnish a capital of $10,000 stock in trade, and Henry Colter we are desirous to employ as clerk. Should the demands of business warrant an alteration of the amount of capital
and number of clerks, the undersigned will promptly inform you of the facts and be prepared with additional capital. All which we beg leave most respectfully to submit.
Very respectfully,
DENT, VANTINE & CO.
Col. A. JOHNSTON,
United States Indian Agent.
