Head Quarters, Passaic Falls, November 10, 1780.

    Sir: The Covers of Most of the dispatches that have lately come from the Count de Rochambeau to me, by the Chain of Expresses, have been so broken, that it would have been an easy matter to have taken out the inclosures and discovered the contents. Had this been the case once or twice only, I should have attributed it to accident, but from the frequency of the thing, and no other Packets being broken but those of the Counts; I am led to suspect foul play at some of the Stages. It may perhaps be impossible to discover it, if it is so, but to prevent its going on, the safest way is to relieve all your present stationary Dragoons by a like number, and do the same every three or four Weeks. I would wish you to endeavour to find out whether there is really any thing in what I suspect. I am etc.