cost the
States a very large sum of money, and that the circumstances of
affairs would not permit any benefit to be drawn from them here.

It was necessary, previous to the opening of the campaign, that the
affairs of the army should be arranged, officers appointed, and every
thing systematically made ready for the serious business that was
approaching. At this time, it was not known by Congress or the
Commander in Chief, that such a character as Mons. Coudray (under such
agreements as he brought over with him) was to visit us. The best that
could be done was therefore undertaken, and General Knox, the father
of the American artillery, was appointed to that command, and all the
other divisions of the army were filled with Major Generals. In this
state of things arrived General Du Coudray, with an agreement by which
he was to command the artillery, and the greatest part of the Major
Generals of the army, by being of older commission. A plentiful crop
of resignations began presently to sprout up, and the whole army must
have been deranged and thrown into confusion, just in the opening of a
campaign, or this agreement not accorded to in the whole.

But Mons. Du Coudray would have every thing or nothing. An inflexible
ambition, that paid no regard to the situation and circumstances of
the army, would be gratified. This produced a scene of contention,
which was not ended when the unfortunate General was drowned in the
Schuylkill, going to join the army. Immediately on his death, the rest
of his corps would return to France, and in this disposition Congress
endeavored to render things as agreeable to them as possible, having
some regard to the interest of the public which they serve. It is very
true, that a concurrence of causes, such as the removal from
Philadelphia, the time that elapsed before business was gone regularly
into again, and the multiplicity of public affairs, did occasion some
delay in settling with these gentlemen; but this was a loss to the
community more than to them, because their pay was continued to the
last. And you will see by the papers enclosed, that ample allowances
have been made for their expenses to the shipping port, for passage to
France, and travel to Paris.

It has been already observed, that Mons. Du Coudray's desire could not
be complied with, without producing very injurious consequences. All
the other officers were offered admittance into the army, according to
the ranks stipulated fo