Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, March 5, 1783

[Philadelphia, March 5, 1783] 1

Sir

I had the honor of writing to your Excellency lately on a very confidential subjec⟨t⟩ 2 and shall be anxious to know as soon as c⟨on⟩venient whether the letter got safe to han⟨d⟩. 3 The bearer Shattuck 4 thinks he can poin⟨t⟩ out the means of apprehending Wells & Knowle⟨ton⟩ the two persons whom Your Excellency was authorised to have taken into custody. 5 I hav⟨e⟩ desired him to call upon you to disclose th⟨e⟩ plan. I will not trouble Your Excellency w⟨ith⟩ any observation on the importance of getting hold of those persons. The surmise that Mr. Arnold a member of Congress gave intellige⟨nce⟩ to them of the design to take them mak⟨es⟩ it peculiarly important. I have the hon⟨or⟩ to be

Your Excellency’s most ob’t serv’t

A. Hamilton.

To His Excellency General Washington⟩