I enclose you the Copy of a Letter from His Excellency Governor Livingston to me, informg that two Persons coming from N.York in a private manner to Elizabeth Town have been suffered to pass from thence by Captain Dayton—this (whatever the particular circumstances might be) is so diametrically opposite to the spirit of my directions expressed in my Letter of the 10th of May to you, that I must confess I was not a little surprised to hear of it. When I prohibited all intercourse at that Post by Flags, it was impossible for me to conceive that a door of private communication would be opened, by the knowledge of our Officers, & therefore could not think it necessary to take particular precaution against it—but Sir, you will now consider it. as my most positive Order, that none of our Prisoners or any other characters of any discription whatever shall be permitted to pass in any way whatever to or from the Enemy with the privity of any Officers commandg under you—And if you should find Captain Dayton or any other Officers not disposed to carry this Order zealously into execution, you will have them relieved by others who will pay the strictest attention to it, & to put a total period to all kind of intercourse whatever with the Enemy. I am Sir &c.