From the latter part of your letter, I perceive that you greatly misunderstood me. When I requested you to draw on me, I meant to extend those drafts so far as might be necessary for secret service money, and the like small, but indispensable occasions. I well knew that you could not, by bills of exchange, supply the wants of your army, and, if I had thought it practicable, I should have been more explicit, for I could not then have paid the bills you would have drawn.
To give you an idea of my situation as to money, I think I need only inform you, that since I have been in office, I have only received the sum of seven thousand five hundred pounds, Pennsylvania money, from the Treasury of this State, and that was in part payment of advances made for them. This is all I have received from the funds of America. It is true, that Colonel Laurens has lately arrived, and brought with him a sum of money from France. And it is also true, that I have made use of a very limited credit given me on France, by drawing bills of exchange; but both of these resources, taken together, are vastly short of what is necessary, though they have contributed to the present operations.
I have lost no occasion of showing to the several States their situation, but hitherto without success; and, unless some unforeseen event turns up very speedily, it is impossible to say what may be the consequences. However, it is our business to hope all things, and that Providence, who has hitherto carried us through our difficulties, will, I trust, continue his bountiful protection.
Your circumstances have long been arduous, but you have hitherto risen so superior to them, that we should be almost as much surprised now, if you should be unsuccessful, as we formerly were at your successes. I wish I could contribute to render you more easy. As far as my abilities extend, I shall do it most cheerfully; but they unfortunately are very limited. Accept, I pray you, my good wishes, which are almost all I have to give, and believe me to be, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
TO THE COMMISSARY GENERAL OF PURCHASES.
Office of Finance, October 4th, 1781.
Sir,
I have received your letters, dated at Alexandria the 19th, and Williamsburgh the 23d of September last.
I am very glad that you push hard upon the States for supplies. It is, I find, necessary that you and I should understand each other on the subject. The General will, I dare say, take care to have as few unnecessary mouths as possible; but, after all, a certain quantity of provisions is indispensably necessary. Now this quantity must be furnished by the States of Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. If you rely on my exertions, you will, probably, be disappointed. Should the operations against Cornwallis fail for want of supplies, the States must thank their own negligence. If they will not exert themselves on the present occasion, they never will. As to all that can be said about the failure of the one or of another kind of money, it is left to themselves. Let them tax in money which will not fail. It is their business to provide supplies and money too. If they neglect or omit this necessary duty, I again repeat, they must answer for the consequences.