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.

118 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [AET. 23.
the Carolina beeves are dead, through absolute poverty,
and the chief part of them too poor to slaughter.
We are at a loss how to act, for want of the mutiny
bill; and I should be obliged to your Honor, if you will
have fifty or a hundred printed, and sent by the bearer.
There is a clause in that bill, which, if you are not kind
enough to obviate it, will prevent entirely the good intentiqni of it, that is, delaying the execution of sentences,
until your Honor shall be made acquainted with the
proceedings of the court. This, at times when there is
the greatest occasion for examples, will be morally impossible; I mean, while we are on our march, perhaps
near the Ohio, when none but strong parties can pass
with safety. At all times it must be attended with
great expense, trouble, and inconvenience. I represented this to Colonel Corbin, and some other gentlemen
of the Council, when I was down, who said that the
objection would be removed, by your giving blank warrants, to be filled up as occasion should require. This
would effectually remedy all those evils, and put things
in their proper channel.'We suffer greatly for want of kettles; those sent
from below, being tin, are of short duration. We shall,
also, in a little time, suffer as much for the want of clothing; none can be got in these parts. Shoes and stockings we have, and can get more if wanted, but nothing
else. I wish your Honor would direct what is to be
done in these cases; and that you would be kind
enough to desire the treasurer to send some part of the
money in gold and silver. Were this done, we might
often get necessaries for the regiment in Maryland, or
Pennsylvania, when they cannot be had here~ But with
our money it is impossible; our paper not passing there.
The recruiting service goes on extremely slow. Yesterday being a day appointed for the rendezvous at this