[Knox lc. Litt. abwar. 24. Apr 1793 XXX] War department April 24. 1793. Sir I have the honor to receive your letter of the 12 in^st 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 dangers it is to be observed that it is difficult and perhaps impracticable to guard against all possible dangers of straggling Indians. The measure therefore adopted on the part of the Executive of directing General Wood 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 restrained entirely their depredations until the result 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, and their manner of living too dispersed, to expect that every individual Indian will obey what is understood to have been the injunction of their Councils forbiding any Warriors from acting on our frontiers — The President of the United States has particularly directed me to inform your Excellency that the proposed Treaty will be held at lower Sandusky to commence about the first of June next. That during the continuance of the Treaty it is of the highest importance to the success thereof, as well as to 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 in the premises with your frontier Citizens 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 with great esteem Your Excellencys humble Servant H Knox His Excellency Governor Lee