Alexander McDougall to John Jay, 9 March 1777

Head Quarters Peeks Kill 9 th March 1777

Sir

General Sullivan arrived here to To-day from Head Quarters in Jersey. He had it in charge from General Washington to communicate to me, a matter of the utmost importance in Condfidence. 1 It is of Such a Nature and of Such moment that it must not be commited to Paper. I cannot Posibly Quit this post, or I would have mounted my Horse the moment he left me, (in his way to Connecticut) to converse with you on the Subject, in order that the Convention might be made acquainted with it, ^ in ^ a way the most advansive of the Public Security. Colonel Livingston 2 informed me this evening, that you intended to Set off tomorrow morning for Kingston, induced me to Send you this by express. I have therefore to beg of you to come down to this post, as soon as Posible. You must not think of goeing up before I see you; more depends upon it, than you have can conceive. It cannot be let off to convention without previous deliberation; nor will it be Safe to risque it on Paper; and the Subject requires dispatch. 3 I flatter my Self You have so much Condfidence in my Judgment, that I would not urge you to this Journey without necessity Called for it. Adieu

Alex r M c Dougall