If the revenue were equal to the demands upon it, nothing can be more
simple and clear, than that all those demands should be speedily and
punctually paid. Unfortunately this is far from being the case. I
believe much further than many are aware of. When I say, that I cannot
command more than one twentieth of the sum necessary for the current
service of the year, I am within the strictest bounds of truth. It is
with equal truth that I assure you, that I have not since my
appointment received one shilling from any State in the Union,
Pennsylvania excepted. And from Pennsylvania I have received paper
money to the amount of the four tenths due to the United States, the
appropriation whereof Congress must be thoroughly acquainted with, and
seven thousand five hundred pounds in specie, which is applied to the
payment of contracts within the State, and still leaves a balance
against them for articles of their specific supplies which I have
furnished.

The moneys drawn for by permission of the Minister Plenipotentiary of
his Most Christian Majesty have been already applied to the public
service, and the engagements I have entered into amount to a very
considerable sum.

I enclose a few out of many articles, which immediately suggest
themselves to me. Had I sought for the smaller instances they would
have been numerous, and of course weighty. Instead of this, I have
omitted many considerable articles, such for instance, as expense of
stores for the hospitals, much of which is now due, and more to be
immediately provided for. You will perceive, that I have not even
mentioned the expense of transporting military stores, such as shot,
shells, &c. to the camp before York, which the Board of War assure me
will be very great, and indeed it must be so. Neither have I mentioned
the expense of transporting money, clothing, medicines, arms, &c. from
Boston to this place, and hence to the southward. Besides all this, I
am told it will be necessary to procure ten thousand suits of clothes
for the ensuing winter. If this be so, that article alone will amount
to at least two hundred thousand dollars.

I might go much further, but I shall only observe, that exclusive of
all these things the enclosed estimate amounts to above two hundred
thousand dollars. Yet attention must be paid to the wants of three
large armies. Congress know the extent of my means.

In this situation of things, it is proper to ask on every occasion,
before private