Your two favors of the 24th & 25th have been duly received.1

Fully impressed with the idea of the Utility of early, regular & accurate communications of the kind in contemplation—I shall make no difficulty in acceding to the proposal contained in Your Private Letter from N. Port of the 25th—But at the same time, I am engaging in behalf of the United States, a liberal reward for the services of the C——s, (of whose fidelity & ability I entertain a high opinion) it is certainly but, reasonable, from patriotism and every other principle, that their exertions should be proportionably great, to subserve essentially the interest of the Public.2 All the interior & minute arrangements of the Correspondence, I request you will settle with them as expeditiously & as advantagiously as may be: and especially that you will urge, in very forcible terms, the necessity of having the communications as circumstantial frequent, & expeditious, as possible. The great objects of information you are very well acquainted with—such as, Arrivals, Embarkations, Preparations for Movements, alteration of Positions, situation of Posts, Fortifications, Garrisons, strength or weakness of each, di[s]tribution & strength of Corps, and in general every thing3 which can be interesting & important for us to know.4 Besides these you are also sensible, there are many things, upon a smaller scale, which are necessary to be reported: and that whatever intelligence is communicated, ought to be not in general terms, but in detail, and with the greatest precision.

At present I am a[n]xious to know (for the reports have been very numerous vague & uncertain) whether another embarkation is preparing, and if so, to what amount & where destined.5 What the present force of the Enemy is; particularly on Long Island, in New York & at Kings bridge: What Corps are at the latter place, how strong, & where posted exactly—And indeed what the situations, prospects, & designs of the enemy are so far, as they can be penetrated into. I am Dear Sir with very great regard.