l remedies, which every friend to his country
ought to wish. That more power ought to be given to Congress is
evident now to many, and will, probably, become soon very apparent to
all. The disobedience of many States, and the partial obedience of
others, discontents every one of them, and that will, in itself, be a
reason for enabling the sovereign representative to exact a compliance
with its requisitions; but, as you justly observe, all these things
are in the womb of time, which can alone disclose the events we plague
ourselves with guessing at.

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 the