Passy, August 28th, 1778.

Sir,

There are several subjects which we find it necessary to lay before
your Excellency, and to which we have the honor to request your
attention.

At a time when the circumstances of the war may demand the attention
of government, and, without doubt, call for so great expense, we are
sorry to be obliged to request your Excellency's advice respecting the
subject of money; but the nature of the war in America, the vast
extent of country to defend, and this defence having been made chiefly
by militia engaged for short periods, which often obliged us to pay
more men than could be brought into actual service; and above all,
this war having been conducted in the midst of thirteen revolutions of
civil government, against a nation very powerful both by sea and land,
has occasioned a very great expense to a country so young, and to a
government so unsettled. This has made emissions of paper money
indispensable, in much larger sums than in the ordinary course of
business is necessary, or than in any other circumstances would have
been politic. In order to avoid the necessity of further emissions as
much as possible, the Congress have borrowed large sums of this paper
money of the possessors upon interest, and have promised the lenders
payment of that interest in Europe, and we therefore expect, that
vessels from America will bring bills of exchange upon us for that
interest, a large sum of which is now due.

It is very, true that our country is already under obligations to his
Majesty's goodness, for considerable sums of money; the necessities of
the United States have been such, that the sums, heretofore generously
furnished, are nearly if not quite expended, and when your Excellency
considers, that the American trade has been almost entirely
interrupted by the British power at sea, they having taken as many of
our vessels as to render this trade more advantageous to our enemy
than to ourselves; that our frigates and other vessels, which have
arrived in this Kingdom, have cost us a great sum; that the provision
of clothing and all the necessaries of war for our army, except such
as we could make in that country, have been shipped from hence at our
expense; that the expense we have been obliged to incur for our
unfortunate countrymen, who have been prisoners in England, as well as
the maintenance of those taken from the enemy has been very
considerable; your Excellency will not be