my endeavours to procure them relief are incessant. There is more difficulty, however, in satisfying their wishes than perhaps they' are aware of. Our resources have been hitherto very limited. The situation of our money is no small embarrassment, for which, though there are remedies, they cannot be the work of a moment. Government is not insensible of the merits and sacrifices of the officers, nor unwilling to make a compensation, but is very much straitened in the means. Great allowances ought to be made on this account for any delay and seeming backwardness which may appear. Some of the states, indeed, have done as generously as it is in their power; and if others have been less expeditious, it ought to be ascribed to some peculiar cause, which a little time, aided by example, will remove. The patience and perseverance of the army have been under every disadvantage, such as do them the highest honour both at home and abroad, and have inspired me with an unlimited confidence in their virtue, which has consoled me amidst every perplexity and reverse of fortune to which our affairs in a struggle of this nature were necessarily exposed. Now that we have made so great a progress to the attainment of the end we have in view, so that we canK

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not fail, without a most shameful desertion of our own interests, any thing like a change of conduct would imply a very unhappy change of principles, and a forgetfulness as well of what we owe to ourselves as to our country. Did I suppose it possible this could be the case even in a single regiment of the army, I ́ should be mortified and chagrined beyond expression. I should feel it as a wound given to my own honour, which I consider as embarked with that of the army at large. But this I believe to be impossible. Any corps that was about to set an example of the kind, should weigh well the consequences, and no officer, of common discernment and sensibility, would hazard them. If they should stand alone, what would be their feelings, on reflecting that they had held themselves out to the world in a point of light inferior to the rest of the army. Or if their example should be followed and become general, how could they console themselves for having been the foremost in bringing ruin and disgrace upon their country. They would remember that the army would share a double portion of the general infamy and distress, and that the character of an American officer would be come as despicable as it is now glorious.

"I confess the appearances in the present instance

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instance are disagreeable; but I am convinced they seem to mean more than they really do. The Jersey officers have not been outdone by any others, in the qualities either of citizens or soldiers; and I am confident no part of them would seriously intend any thing that would be a stain on their former reputation. The gentlemen cannot be in earnest; they have only reasoned wrong about the means of obtaining a good end; and, on consideration, I hope and flatter myself they will renounce what must appear proper. At the opening of a campaign, when under marching orders for an important service, their own honour, their duty to the public and to themselves, and a regard of military propriety, will not suffer them to persist in a 'measure which would be a violation of them all. It will even wound their delicacy, coolly to reflect that they have hazarded a step which has an air of dictating terms to their country, by taking advantage of the necessity of the moment.

"The declaration they have made to the state at so critical a time, that unless they obtain relief in the short period of three days they must be considered out of the service, has very much that aspect; and the seeming relaxation of continuing, until the state can have

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have a reasonable time to provide other officers, will be thought only a superficial veil. I am now to request that you will convey my sentiments to the gentlemen concerned, and endeavour to make them sensible that they are in an error. The service for which the regiment was intended, will not admit of delay. It must at all events march on Monday morning, in the first place to this camp, and further directions will be given when it arrives. I am sure I shall not be mistaken in expecting a prompt and cheerful obedience."

The officers did not explicitly recede from their claims, but were brought round so far as to continue in service. In an address to general Washington, they declared, their unhappiness, that any step of theirs should give him pain, but alleged in justification of themselves," that repeated memorials had been presented to their legislature, which had been neglected;" and added, "we have lost all confidence in that body. Reason and experience forbid that we should have any. Few of us have private fortunes, many have families, who already are suffering every thing that can be conceived from an ungrateful country. Are we then to suffer all the inconveniencies, fatigues, and dangers of a military

military life, while our wives and our children are perishing for want of common necessaries at home, and that without the most distant prospect of reward? for our pay is now only nominal. We are sensible that your excellency cannot wish nor desire this from us.

We are sorry that you should imagine we meant to disobey orders. It was, and still is, our determination to march with our regiment, and to do the duty of officers, until the legislature should have a reasonable time to appoint others, but no longer.

"We beg leave to assure your excellency, that we have the highest sense of your ability and virtues—that executing your orders has ever given us pleasure--that we love the service, and we love our country; but when that country is so lost to virtue and justice as to forget to support its servants, it then becomes their duty to retire from its service:"

The ground adopted by the officers for their justification was such as interdicted a resort to stern measures; at the same time, a compliance with their mands was impossible. In this embarrassing situation, Washington took no other notice of their letter, than to declare to the officers, through general Maxwell,

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