I have the Honor of transmitting your Excellency a Copy of a Letter which I received yesterday from John Hanson Esqr. of St Croix, how far the Intelligence it communicates may be depended upon your Excellency by comparing it with that you have received through other Channels, will be better able to determine than I am. I had accounts in the course of last Winter from New York informing that Arnolds intentions were to solicit such a command and for the purposes mentioned in this Letter and that if he failed he would quit the Service and engage in Trade.

Mr Hanson resided in the City of New York at the commencement of the present War where I was personally acquainted with him, and I cannot entertain a Doubt of his warm attachment to the cause of America. He has a turn for acquiring Intelligence and by his Address at the Court of France, where he attended about the close of last War for the settlement of some Business arising on a Contract in which he was concerned, he discovered some important Secrets of the french Cabinet and disclosed them to the british Court for which a Pension of £ 4 or 500 Sterling per annum was granted him. I conceived it my Duty to give your Excellency this short Sketch of his Character. I am with the highest Respect and Esteem Your Excellency’s most Obedient Servant