War Office, April 19^th 1790 Sir, By some recent informations from the Ohio it appears that the Indians still continue their depredations on the frontiers. A General arrangement relative to the frontiers has been contemplated, but not having been finally concluded upon by Congress, and the season of activity approaching, the President of the United States was induced from the particular situation of the Counties lying along the Ohio to direct on the 3^d of last March that the Governor of the Western Territory or in his absence Brigadier General Harmar should be invested with a conditional authority of which the enclosed is a copy — These orders were transmitted by Colonel [strikethrough: Burnet] Lieutenant of Harrison County who undoubtedly as he was much interested in the business convey expeditiously the same to the Commanding Officer. But as it is possible notwithstanding that some delays may have taken place, and as the President of the United States is exceedingly desirous that the inhabitants of the frontier Counties should experience the benefits of the provision contained in the said orders to the Commanding Officer, he has directed me to make this communication to you — And he has further directed me to empower you in case that any of the Counties of Kentucky should not have already availed themselves of said provision, and should in your judgement stand in need thereof, that you should under your hand and seal authorise the Lieutenants of such Counties to call forth the scouts precisely as to the numbers and under the regulations directed in the instructions to the Governor of the Western Territory or in his absence the Commanding Officer of the Troops. The information of the wages paid to the Scouts was given by Colonel Burnet — It exceeds greatly all calculation of pay to be given persons for performing military service, and were it carried to a considerable extent no Government on earth could support it — But as this measure is regarded merely as a temporary expedient, until further measures are taken, the President of the United States consents to the usual sums being given which hitherto have been given by Virginia for the same services — At the same time he reposes entire confidence in your character that you will, (if arrangements should not have been previously made by the Commanding Officer,) guard in this respect the interests of the United States. It is the opinion of some Gentlemen well acquainted [strikethrough: with] [strikethrough: represented] with Kentucky that four Scouts or men to each County would be satisfactory — if this should also be your judgement you will limit the arrangement to that number or at least to the usual number heretofore