The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

PART I.] THE FRENCH WAR. 165
Your Honor never gave me a decisive answer to a
question I asked, about assigning companies to the fieldofficers. For this reason I have presumed to repeat it
again, because there are two companies now vacant, by
the death of Captain John Mercer, and the resignation
of Captain Savage, and they should either be given to
field-officers, or to the oldest lieutenants. No advantage can possibly arise to the field-officers from having
companies, since they are allowed, I suppose, the same
pay now, as they would receive in such a case.
Two hundred and forty-six drafts are the total
number brought in. Of theSe' several have deserted.
Three were discharged, being quite unfit for service,
(and indeed several more ought to be discharged, if men
were not so scarce,) and there remain now in confinement six Quakers, who will neither bear arms, work,
receive provisions or pay, nor do any thing that tends, in
any respect, to self-defence. I should be glad of your
directions how to proceed with them. I cannot yet return to you the names of the volunteers, that will be appointed to the vacancies, but as soon as I arrive at Fort
Cumberland I shall acquaint you according to request.
Governor Sharpe is building a fort on Potomac River,
about fifteen miles above Conococheague, which may be
of great service towards the protection of our people on
that side. It is thought the fort will cost the province
of Maryland near thirty thousand pounds, before it is
finished. I am, &c.
* The Governor and Assembly of Maryland had come at last to a temporary reconciliation of their differences, so far as to agree in a bill for
raising forty thousand pounds for his Majesty's service. Of this sum
eleven thousand pounds were to be appropriated to building a fort on the
frontiers, near but not beyond-the North Mountain; and twenty-five thousand for carrying on any expedition for the public service, in which the
other colonies might join. By the same act the Governor was authorized
to raise two hundred men, to be employed in constructing the fort.-.dcts