To George Washington from Philip Schuyler, 7 March 1780
From Philip Schuyler
Philadelphia March 7th 1780
Dear Sir
I arrived on sunday1 but did not take my seat In Congress until this Morning as I deemed It prudent previously to adress them on the subject of their appointment of the 21st January which I did by letter Copy whereof I have the honor to Inclose for Your Excellency’s perusal.2 I believe there is a determination not to Accept of any Services I may be able to render them In the line In which I have offered them, many here affect not to see the propriety of the distinction I have drawn, but I shall be satisfyed If the Candid and Ingenous, who are not Always a majority In or out of doors, shall discover that It is not one, without a diffirence.
The measure I proposed to Gen: Greene the moment before I parted with him I learnt on my arrival had Already been decided upon as unnecessary, and I was Confidentially advised that It would be In vain to urge It, I must therefore forbear however Strongly Impressed with Its Importance.3
I do not advise you of the Intelligence from Carolina as Gen: Lincoln will probably be more full on the Subject than I can be. The Minister has a letter from an agent In which he Informs the former that part of the british were destined pour les Antille.4
I believe It will be necessary for Gen: Greene to adress Congress very pointedly on the Subject of the waggoners as I find a disposition In many to have them drawn from the Army the reasons why they should not, If Even the Army would after all be suff[i]ciently in force, will be Obvious to him, and I wish him to Adduce them fully, to Corroborate what I shall deliver on the subject before his letter arrives.
Our Finances are Compleatly deranged, a Committee of the whole have had them under Consideration for some time before my arrival, they have been on the business to day, without making any progress. It seems a paradox that the whole should be more Incompetent than a part but I am so perfectly persuaded of It, that I shall strive to get It referred to a few. I have thrown together my Ideas on the subject how they will be accepted I must leave to time tho I beli[e]ve some good would result If they were adopted.
Be so Good as to Intreat Your Lady to Accept of my best respects and to believe that I am most sincerely with those sentiments of Affection & Esteem which afford An Ingenous mind the most Sensible of all satisfactions Your Excellency’s Most Obedient Hu[mbl]e Servt
Ph: Schuyler
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. The previous Sunday was 5 March.
2. For Schuyler’s appointment to the commission for inquiring into and reducing the expenses of the staff departments, see Samuel Huntington to GW, 25 Jan., n.1; see also Huntington to Schuyler, 24 Jan., in 14:368–69.
The enclosed copy of Schuyler’s letter to Huntington, dated 6 March at Philadelphia, reads: “In the letter which I had the honor to adress Your Ex: on the 15th ult. from saratoga I proposed personally to have explained myself to Congress on the subject of the Appointment of the 21st of January last but reflecting that Notwithstanding the Entire Confidence I entertain In the honor and Candor of Every Individual member of Congress It is nevertheless possible that thro want of perpescuity In expressi[n]g myself or misapprehension In othrs what I may verbally deliver on the subject may be unintentionally Construed or repeated in a sense widely different from my Intentions this Consideration Induces me to Convey my determination In writing.
“Every reflection sir I have made since the receipt of Your Ex: Letter of the 24th January last on the appointment mentioned In It has Confirmed the Conclusion I very early drew that I Could not Consistently with my honor— and reputation Accept of any Employment under Congress In a Station eithr less honorable or less Important than that which I once had the honor to hold and when the Circumstances which led to my quitting the Army shall recur to Congress I trust they will Acquiese In the Justness and propriety of this determination on my part.
“I do not mean Sir to Convey the most distant Idea that I Sollicit a restoration to the rank & place I held In the Army for altho It is true that I quitted It with reluctance and that I have often Since lamented that I was drove to the necessity of doing It Yet the delicacy I entertain with respect to the feelings of othrs who might possibly Conceive themselves Injured by a perfect restoration of my rank added to other Considerations have Induced me to lay aside every wish for a reappointment; But Sir As I am Incapable of witholding any Services my Country may deem me Capable of rendering, As a reform in the Civil departments of the army is of the highest necessity and as Congress have thought proper to apply to me for my aid on the Occassion permit me to tender them an offer of my Services as a Member of their house on a Committee to Consult with the Commander In Chief and the heads of the Several Civil departments of the Army And to adopt such Measures as will have a probable tendency to Compleat the Great Object of the resolution of the 21st January; As a member of such a Committee I Should Esteem It my duty to Visit every part of the Continent for the purpose of Introducing Good order and a proper Oeconomy, and Should deem myself fully rewarded for every possible exertion In the Success of the business & in the approbation of Congress” (DLC:GW).
3. The “measure” that Schuyler discussed with Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene has not been identified.
4. Schuyler is referring to La Luzerne, French minister plenipotentiary to the United States. No troops on Gen. Henry Clinton’s expedition to South Carolina were sent to the islands in the Lesser Antilles.