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 II.] TIlHE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 349
have him employed as an inspector; in which I readily
acquiesced, as Congress had given him the rank and
pay of lieutenant-colonel. There may be other foreign
officers in Continental pay, idle for want of being attached to some corps, of whose services we might avail
ourselves in this way, which is the only method of disposing of them, unless they could be formed into a
distinct corps. From the extraordinary fatigue and
close attention of the officers employed in the inspectorship, I did not think it amiss to let them entertain hopes, that Congress would allow some addition
to the pay, which they derive from their rank, and
I take the liberty of recommending the measure. I
would propose twenty dollars a month for the brigadeinspectors, and thirty for the inspectors, in addition' to
their pay in the line.
I should do injustice if I were to be longer silent
with regard to the merits of Baron Steuben. His
knowledge of his profession, added to the zeal which
he has discovered since he began upon the functions
of his office, leads me to consider him as an acquisition
to the service, and to recommend him to the attention
of Congress. His expectations with respect to rank
extend to that of major-general. His finances, he ingenuously confesses, will not admit of his serving without the incidental emoluments; and Congress, I presume, from his character, and their own knowledge of
him, will without difficulty gratify him in these particul'ars,
The Baron is sensible, that our situation requires a
few variations in the duties of his office from the general practice in Europe, and particularly that they must
necessarily be more comprehensive; in which, as well
as in his instructions, he has skilfully yielded to circumstances. The success, which has hitherto attended
VOL. V. D D