Timothy Pickering letter to George Washington, 29 May 1782

Philadelphia, 29 May, 1782.

Sir,

I have been favored with your Excellency's letter of the 15th instant, which would have been acknowledged by the subsequent post, had I not been made to expect a small supply of money the same week, by the bearer of which I meant to write to your Excellency. But in this expectation also I was disappointed. My long continuance here has distressed me exceedingly, but it appeared to me that the service would be promoted by it. I had, from time to time, sent orders to Colonel Hughes to prepare every thing that was to be provided in his department for the ensuing campaign, and to the Commissary of Forage to procure his supplies, assuring them, agreeably to the encouragement I had myself received, that I would furnish them with money to fulfil their engagements, every necessary estimate for these purposes having been laid before the Superintendent of Finance, and the necessity of the supplies admitted.

These services being undertaken in full confidence that I should bring with me the requisite sums of money, I did not dare to return without them. While the Financier held up to my view the prospect of supplies, I presented the same to Colonel Hughes and at my own office, and thereby kept alive the hopes of the public creditors, who, had I returned moneyless, would have been reduced to absolute despair, and all business and supplies have ceased. But I am now more unhappy than ever ; for I cannot continue to mention even a prospect of fulfilling my engagements. Until I was led to expect supplies of money to carry on the business of the department, I cautiously avoided making any positive engagements, thinking the public creditors had been too long abused by faithless promises to admit of any further deception to the public advantage; and the making of promises, without a well-grounded prospect of fulfilling them, being totally opposed to my disposition.

I have at last reduced my immediate demand of money "not to the articles necessary and lest to be provided now, but to those, for which unless money can be furnished, the credit of the department will be irretrievably lost." But I can obtain nothing at present. The principal causes of this disappointment your Excellency is probably informed of The same causes prevent the completing the purchases of oxteams. The sum I received for those purchases was in Mr. Morris's notes, and amounted only to about three fifths of the sum requisite for that service -, and whether any purchases could be made with them at the eastward, was a matter of uncertainty, from which no information from my deputies there has relieved me. But, if they have succeeded, it is in such a way as forbids the Financier giving me any more of them ; for these notes are not received there as cash, but only as pledges, which are bought up by speculators, who make a run upon the funds assigned for their redemption.

My stay here goads me with perpetual anxiety. To return empty, would be mortifying in the highest degree, and expose me to infinite vexation. To ask a credit of anybody, after The deceptions with which I shall be charged, and before the engagements already made are fulfilled, would be deemed a piece of effrontery, and nothing could be obtained without recurring to the odious and expensive mode of impress. Thus embarrassed and distressed, I have represented my situation to the Secretary at War, who will thereon have some communications with the Superintendent of Finance; and by their opinion or your Excellency's orders I shall be governed. I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect.

Your Excellency's most obedient servant,

Timothy Pickering.