From George Washington to Colonel Elias Dayton, 3 April 1780
To Colonel Elias Dayton
Head Quarters Morris Town 3d April 1780.
Sir
The Assembly of this State, at their last sitting, passed a law for the payment of the provision which the Army were under the necessity of taking from the inhabitants during the scarcity in Camp and between the 15th Decemr and 15th January1—The law directs that no provision seized as aforesaid shall be paid for, unless upon a Certificate signed by the Commander in Chief, or by some person authorised by him—That justice may be done to the public and to individuals I have appointed you to meet two Magistrates at this place on Wednesday Morning next2 to affix the Value of the several Articles taken—You will therefore be pleased to attend accordingly. I am &.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. GW is referring to “A supplemental ACT to the Act, intitled, An Act for procuring Provisions for the Use of the Army, and other Supplies for carrying on the War; and for settling the publick Accounts of this State,” which passed the New Jersey legislature on 18 March (, 69–73; see also circulars to the New Jersey magistrates dated 7 Jan. and 2 Feb., and GW to William De Hart, 8 Jan.).
2. The following Wednesday was 5 April.