Sir,(1) Office of Secretary of Congress, July 23. 1787
I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency herewith enclosed an Act of the United States in Congress Assembled passed the 21 in consequence of a report on the incursions and depredations on the frontiers of your State by the Wabash Indians, the Shawanese & other hostile tribes.(2)
While this matter was under consideration Congress received information of a general Confederacy formed by the five Nations and the other tribes within the territory of the United States North West of the Ohio and an Offer of the said Confederacy to treat of peace. On this Congress are now deliberating, As soon as they have come to a determination thereon, the result will be communicated to your Excellency.(3)
With great respect, I have the honor to be, Your Excellency's Most Obedt & Most humble Servt, Cha Thomson

RC (PHi: Dreer Members of Congress Collection). Addressed: "His Excellency The Governor of Virginia."
1 That is, Beverley Randolph, the lieutenant governor of Virginia, who exercised the executive power of the state while Gov. Edmund Randolph attended the Philadelphia Convention from May to September.
2 See JCC, 33:385--;87. For the background and adoption of the enclosed "Act," see William Grayson to Beverley Randolph, June 25, note 1. See also William Irvine to Josiah Harmar, July 22, note 3.
3 For the July 20 report of the secretary at war, Henry Knox, on the prospects for a general confederacy of the Indians of the northwest, see JCC, 33:388--;91. For Congress' October 5 "determination thereon," see James Madison to Randolph, October 7.
For the warning received by Congress from Joseph Brant that the Indians had pledged their "United force" against continued encroachments on their lands if surveying was not suspended until a general treaty could be held, see William Blount to Richard Caswell, July 19, note 6.