I have been honored by your Favor of 23d ulto—Upon your Representation of the Danger of Water Transportation, I have written to Mr Morris the Financier Genl, & desired him to dispose of the 311 Barrels of salted Beef lying in Portsmouth—& to vest the Amount of Sales in the like kind of Provisions in Philadelphia—which I trust may be done to Advantage of the Public—The 40 Barrels or whatever Quantity may be in the Western parts of the State, may remain to be forwarded to Albany for the Use of the Troops in that Quarter, if it shall be tho’t fresh.

We begin to feel the happy Effect of the Exertion of the States in the Supply of Fresh Beef and hope this may prove an Earnest of their punctual Comtinuance of that most necessary Support.

No Rum from your State, has at this Time reached us—& but very little from any other State—there is not now in Camp, I believe, so much as One Cask—this Article is so necessary for the Health as well as Comfort of the Soldiery at this Season, that I wish it might be particularly attended to, especially as at this Moment, I fancy, it is uncommonly plenty in almost every State.

I am sensible of & sincerely lament our Embarrassments arising from the State of our paper Currency—I hope we are beginning to emerge from this Difficulty—& were we to divest ourselves as much as possible of all paper—we should perhaps find the Hard Money in much greater plenty than is at present imagined. I have the Honor to be sir Your most Obedient humble Servant