I do myself the Honor to enclose to your Excellency a State of the Public Accounts ballanced on the last Day of June 1783. A View of these Accounts will render it unnecessary to make many Observations.

On the States I am to rely for Payment of the Anticipations amounting as you will see to more than a Million: and you will observe that this great Anticipation has been made for that Service which all affect to have so much at Heart—A Payment to the American Army—If they had received no pay during the Year 1783 I might perhaps have been spared the Necessity of this Application because it is probable that the Taxes even as they are now collected might have absorbed such anticipations as I should then have been obliged to make.

Much Pains have been taken to inculcate the Idea that we have Funds in Europe—Those Funds which we had there are exhausted, and the general Apprehension that no proper Funds here will be provided has cut off all Hopes from that quarter.

The question has frequently and industriously been asked what becomes of the Monies which are paid in Taxes—I have furnished the Means of judging, as to those which reach the Public Treasury, to every Man employed in the Administration of Government in the several States. for my Accounts have been regularly transmitted and I would not have mentioned the Insinuation had it not been for Purpose of observing that it is incumbent on all those who are desirous of forwarding a Collection of taxes, to shew a fair appropriation and not suffer groundless Clamors to disturb the public Mind.

It has been said that there is no necessity of urging the Collection of Taxes now be cause the Notes given to the Army are not payable in less than Six Months—This again is an Assertion whose mischievous operation is levelled at the very Vitals of our Credit. One month of that Time is already expired with Respect to all those Notes which have been already issued—They are not the only Notes in Circulation—Notes are not the only Modes of anticipation which have been adopted—And it is a Serious Fact, that unless more Vigorous Measures take Place the Credit of all Notes and of every Thing else must be destroyed—But this is not all—Supposing for a Moment that the Notes given to our Army were the only Object whose Credit was to be attended to. Can any reasonable Man imagine that they could be of any Use if the Payment were to depend on Taxes which are not to be collected untill the Notes are due.

I have not been wanting on my Part in pointing out from Time to Time the Mischiefs which must ensue from Neglect—The applications have met with Inattention which personally I have disregarded but which I could not but feel from the Consequences involved in it—Again in Compliance with the Duty I owe to the United States. I call for that Aid which they are entitled to And on this Occasion I take Leave to observe that the Moment is very fast approaching which is to determine whether America is entitled to the appellation of just or whether those who have constantly aspersed her Character are to be believed. With perfect Respect I have the Honor to be Sir Your Excellency’s most obediant & humble Servant.