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.

FART II.] THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 187
to Congress, whether it will not be right and reasonable, that all expenses, incurred on their account for
provisions, should be paid and satisfied previously to
their embarkation and departure; I mean by an actual
deposit of the money. Unless this is done, there will
be little reason to suppose, that it will ever be paid.
They have failed (that is, the nation) in other instances,
as I have been told, after liquidating their accounts and
giving the fullest certificates, and we cannot expect
they will keep better faith with us than with others.
The payment too, I should apprehend, ought to be in
coin, as it will enable us to administer some relief to
our unfortunate officers and men who are in captivity.
December 15th. — Congress seem to have taken for
granted a fact, that is really not so. All the forage for
the army has been constantly drawn from Bucks and
Philadelphia counties, and those parts most contiguous
to the city; insomuch that it was nearly exhausted, and
entirely so in the country below our camp. From
these, too, were obtained all the supplies of flour, that
circumstances would admit of. The millers in most
instances were unwilling to grind, either from their
disaffection or from motives of fear. This made the
supplies less than they otherwise might have been, and
the quantity, which was drawn from thence was little,
besides what the guards, placed at the mills, compelled
them to manufacture. As to stock, I do not know that
much was had from thence, nor do I know that any
considerable supply could have been had.
I confess I have felt myself greatly embarrassed with
respect to a vigorous exercise of military power. An
ill-placed humanity, perhaps, and a reluctance to give
distress, may have restrained me too far; but these
were not all. I have been well aware of the prevalent
jealousy of military power, and that this has been con