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. 173
not take any of the forces out of the colony, the disadvantages, which the country may labor under, are not to
be described; for the enemy, in that case, may commit
the most unheard-of cruelties, and, by stepping across
the Potomac, evade pursuit, and mock our best endeavours to scourge them.
The inconveniences that arise from paying the soldiers in large bills, are not to be conceived. We are
obliged to give the pay of two or three soldiers to one
man. He, ten to one, drinks, games, or pays it away;
by which means the parties are all dissatisfied, and perpetually complaining for want of their pay. It also
prevents them from laying out their pay for absolute
necessaries, and obliges them many times to drink it
out; for they put it into the tavern-keeper's hands, who
will give no change, unless they will consent to receive
the greatest part in liquor. In short, for five shillings
cash you may at any time purchase a month's pay from
the soldiers; in such contempt do they hold the currency. Besides small bills, if the thing is practicable, I
should be extremely glad to receive some part of the
money in Spanish and Portugal gold and silver. Many
things are wanted for the use of the regiment, which
cannot be had here, and may be obtained at Philadelphia; but the depreciation of our money, out of the
colony, has prevented my sending thither.
At the repeated instances of the soldiers, I must pay
so much regard to their representations, as to transmit
their complaints. They think it extremely hard, as it is
indeed, Sir, that they, who perhaps do more duty, and
undergo more fatigue and hardship, from the nature of
the service and situation of the country, than any other
troops on the continent, should be allowed the least pay,
and smallest encouragements in other respects. The
Carolinians receive British pay; the Marylanders, I be0*