Letter from Patrick Henry to commissioners he appointed to treat with the Cherokee, including William Preston

To the Commissioners appointed on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia to Treat with the Cherokee Indians the 26th ins'. June

Gentlemen : I received your letter dated at Fort Patrick Henry and since that time Col. Christian has had before the Board of Council the proceedings of the Treaty held with the overhill Cherokee Indians. In transacting of which the Board are of opinion that you have acted with propriety. I have sent by Express to the Govr. of North Carolina notifying him of the time proposed for the next meeting and desiring him to send Com missioners to act on behalf of that State. I have had several conferences with these Indians and have generally thrown out the same Ideas that you did, and moreover endeavored to lead them into the light of our situation with Great Britain, and also that of our commercial connec tions. I have referred them to you and the Commissioners who I hope will attend to represent North Carolina in order to have a boundary line between them and the white people established, and told them that if such Commissioners do not or when met will not join in that busi ness, you are then to agree with the Indians upon a line betwixt them and Virginia in the best manner you can for the Interest of the frontier Inhabitants, so that you at the same time do strict justice to the Indians. It is a verry desirable object to obtain an alteration of our Boundary line run by Donelson. We cannot communicate with the Kentuckie with tolerable convenience but through Cumberland Gap. If the Indians therefore will agree to an extension so as to take in that place it may be very useful. But at all events it seems necessary to stipulate a right for our people to travel through that Gap unmolested. You are in all your transactions to keep in view as much as possible the Interest of the United States as well as that of this particular one. I have sent orders for Mr. Maddison and Mr. Shelby to supply you with what provisions you may want for the Indians which you are to supply them with as you think their necessity may require in order that they or their wives and children may not suffer for want of Bread. The goods, ammunition, Salt, whiskey and Tobacco which I expect will be laid in you are to distribute as you may think best to give the Indians satisfaction. You may promise them a further supply of goods as soon as our commerce will enable us to fernish them. As a proper person residing amongst those people might render great service to this country. You may employ one for that purpose and inform this Board who you may appoint and on what terms. And if a proper person cannot be engaged for the above purpose you may employ two Traders in whom you can confide to give the earliest Inteligence of any occurrence that  may be of Importance. As a Black Smith may be of great service in dressing their Guns and other suitable work for them you may employ one to reside among them if to be had on reasonable Terms. Several things may happen in which you are not particularly Instructed, in all such cases you are impowered to Act for the good of the United States  in the best manner you can. Should the Treaty terminate in the manner this Board expects it will be necessary to continue many Troops in Washington County, You are therefore impowered and desired to discharge all the men on those stations except such as you may think necessary to continue.

 I am gentlemen

 Your most Humble Serv1.

 To Col. William Christian

 Col. William Preston and

 Col. Evan Shelby or any two of them