our operations. There still remains this method.

1st. That at present those certificates should neither be receivable
in taxes nor transferable.

2dly. That they should be taken up and examined in the course of
settling the public accounts.

3dly. That they should be brought to the amount in specie, which the
article procured, or service performed, was reasonably worth.

4thly. That where the sum due to any person on certificates is small,
a bill for the amount should be given, payable at the distance of a
year.

5thly. That where the sum is large it should be divided into five
different parts, and bills given payable in one, two, three, four, and
five years, calculating on each part an interest of six per cent, and
adding it to the amount. As if for instance, the sum were one hundred
pounds, then the bills would be for twentyone pounds four shillings,
twentytwo pounds eight shillings, twentythree pounds twelve shillings,
twentyfour pounds sixteen shillings, and twentyfive pounds.

6thly. That these bills should be drawn payable to the bearer, and in
such form as not to be counterfeited without great difficulty.

7thly. That they should be receivable in continental taxes, within any
of the States, as cash, at the times when they are respectively due,
or if not so received, payable by the continental treasurer, or any
receiver of the continental taxes, on demand, after collecting the
taxes, in which they were respectively receivable.

In this way a credit would be obtained not only without injury, but
probably with advantage to the individual. The anticipation of the
public revenue would not be very great, and, as a list of these notes
would be kept, the amount of every year's anticipation would be
accurately known. Exceptions may probably be found even to this mode,
but unfortunately for us, we have only an alternative of difficulties.
All which human prudence can do in such cases is to choose the least.

I have the honor to be, Sir, &c.

ROBERT MORRIS.

* * * * *

TO THE GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND.

Office of Finance, Philadelphia, }
August 28th, 1781. }

Sir,

Whilst I was at Head Quarters, near Dobbs's Ferry, the determination
was taken by his Excellency the Commander in Chief, to send a very
considerable force