[Endorsed: Secretary at War / 24 Apr^l 1793 / Dep[artment] [undecipherable]] (Copy) War department April 24 1793 Sir I had the honor to receive your letter of the 12 instant and to submit it to the President of the United States. While it is acknowledged that the frontier Citizens ought to be effectually protected against actual danger it is to be observed that it is difficult and perhaps impracticable to guard against all possible dangers of straggling Indians. The measures therefore adopted on the part of the Executive of directing general [undecipherable] to the scene of apprehended danger is highly judicious in order to judge of the real state of things. It had been hoped that the proposed treaty with the Indians North of the Ohio would have entirely restrained their depredations until the results should have been known. And although this will probably be the case as it may respect any invasion by considerable bodies of Indians yet the principles of Government among the Savage tribes are too little understood & their manners of living too dispersed to expect that every individual Indian will obey what is understood to have been the injunction of their towns — inhabiting any wanton form attacking on our frontier. The President of the United States has particularly directed me to inform your Excellency that the proposed treaty will be held at this town [undecipherable] to commence about the first of June next. That among the continuance of the Treaty it is of the highest importance to the success thereof as well as the safety of the Commissioners that all hostile incursions of the White Inhabitants into or near to the Indian Country North of the Ohio should be absolutely prohibited until after the Treaty be closed. The Commanding General of the Troops has been directed to issue a proclamation to this effect and the President requests that you would be pleased to take such measures on the part of your frontier [undecipherable] as shall in your Judgment be most effectual to prevent a measure which might be attended with highly pernicious consequences. I have the honor to be & Signed H Knox His Excellency The Governor of Virginia