I have just received your Excellencys Letter of the 10th instant respecting your having established the Post at Dobb’s Ferry as the only one in this State for flags to pass from, & be received at. Of the necessity of this measure I am so fully convinced, that I shall immediately notify it to the officers of our Militia, & use every mean in my power to carry it into execution. your Excellency may also depend on the concurrence of the civil power of this State in preventing all other Intercourse with the Enemy, as far as possibly can be done.

I am also honoured with your Excellencys Letter of the 4th instant, which I shall not fail to lay before our Legislature, which meets next Wednesday, & earnestly hope that the reasons therein assigned for the most vigorous executions, with several other papers on the same subject may have their proper weight in their Deliberations.

My Suspicions that the Enemy mean again to lull us into Security by fallacious professions of their inclination for peace, are greatly confirmed by your Excellencys entertaining the like jealousies; & as far as possible to prevent any such effect upon the minds of the people from the publication of the English papers in our Gazette, I thought it proper to have them introduced to the public, with a caution to the people against being deluded by their artifices.

Your Excellency’s Letter on the subject of the caption & detention of Hetfield & Badgely, I cannot at present answer, but hourly expect the solution of those Questions from the Chief Justice, & when I receive it, shall lose no Time in doing myself the honour to transmit it. With great respect, I have the honour to be your Excellency’s most humble Servant