GEORGE WASHINGTON TO ROBERT MORRIS.

Mount Vernon, November 19th, 1781.

Dear Sir,

I have to inform you, that a very considerable debt has been incurred on you as Financier of the United States, by an order for the relief of the officers of the army from the goods found in Yorktown; each officer, military and staff, having been authorised to take up on public account, the sum of twenty pounds Virginia currency; for which Mr Ross, commercial agent of this State, is answerable to the merchants, payable in tobacco; Mr Ross receiving the amount in bills upon you to be paid in six months from the time of the goods being taken. The returns not being handed in, I am unable to give you the amount with any precision; your own calculations will afford you the sum with a degree of certainty.

A quantity of goods found on board a cartel in York river, and which have been judged to be forfeit, were part suitable for the army, and part for the country; the latter, which will amount to a considerable sum, are to be sold at public vendue, and accounted for.

Knowing the state of your finances, I have studied to keep this debt within its most moderate bounds, but in spite of all my endeavors, I fear you will find it but too large. I hoped to have given you some assistance from the military chest found with the enemy, but unavoidable contingencies of the army, and furnishing the Quarter Master General for the southern army, have swallowed up near one half of its contents. A number of iron cannon, being unnecessary for our use, I have appropriated as a fund for the discharge of the debt incurred, and they are sent to the head of the Elk; this with the other funds may possibly amount to a full discharge of the debt.

I am, &c.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

P. S. Since writing the above, I am informed by General Lincoln, who is come up since I left Yorktown, that the whole amount of the goods taken by the officers and on public account, will arise to about thirteen thousand pounds sterling, and that the articles sold in Yorktown, at public vendue, will be near six thousand pounds.