Note 41 — THE CORRESPONDENCE OF ROBERT MORRIS. (continued 2)

August 21st. During my stay it camp, I had constant applications for money from almost everybody, as all had claims on the public. I took with me only one hundred and fifty guineas; and, finding so many demands, I thought it best to satisfy none, therefore brought the money back. I had conferences with the Quarter Master General, Paymaster General, Clothier General, Commissary General of Issues, Director General of the Hospitals, and with many other persons; but as these chiefly ran on the wants of themselves and others employed in their departments, I could only recommend the strictest economy in their expenditures, that I might thereby be the better warranted in making reasonable requisitions from the several States; always promising what I mean most punctually to perform, that is, to use my utmost endeavors to establish such revenues, as will enable the regular payment of their salaries and other just demands; but always concluded with assuring them, that this ultimately depended on the several Legislatures, which could only be induced to grant such revenues from a conviction, that their grants would be faithfully and frugally used. I made the same observations to the general officers and others, who spoke to me on money matters. Diary.