I mentioned in my last, that by the first good opportunity, I would communicate to yr Excy some thoughts respecting the present political state of affairs—such as they appear to me1—perhaps my opinions may differ, from the generallity of your correspondents, as I know many are but too apt to keep their eyes constantly fixed on the pleasing side of the picture, & feel an aversion to take a View of the reverse, or if they do, endeavour by the most specious colourings to extenuate it’s deformities, & if possible cast a veil over the whole. The lines I now address to your Excy will convince you, I am not one of those botchers, I represent things as they really are—Your station sir, entitles you to the most unreserved communications—The friendship you have done me the honor sir to entertain for me, demands it of me. Yet it is with reluctance I enter on the task, well knowing your Patriotic bosom is already, sufficintly torn with the embarrassments you daily encounter, and pants for some friendly hand to pour balsam into the wound, but still is incapable of shrinking from increased pain. Accept this apology most worthy sir for the unpleasant theme, which justice to your conspicuous station bids me discuss in the most p[l]ain and unequivocal language.

I have for some time past contemplated the state of our affairs with extreme anxiety, which was not a little increased by the contents of your last letter to Congress: the information it contained astonished me as we had been repeatedly told, that the battalions eastward of Hudsons river were nearly compleated.2 What must the friends of America think of their cause when they see so small a body as twelve hundred men3 collected for a particular purpose, & the United states cannot command as much money, as will enable them to march? another body of men ordered to march4 & such a disposition manifested by them, that there was not time to wait your orders, but the interposition of a collateral power became immediately necessary to stop them, to prevent further evils? When our creditors are daily clamouring around us, for their just dues, & those excuses so long held out to them for with-holding payment, can no longer be made use of with the least degree of propriety? Our army—God knows how long—in arrear for their pay, & I much fear will, in a very little time, be in want of bread? as this state informed us, they could purchase no flour, unless we would lend them the money5—The army not only in want of pay, but almost every necessary? the southern army, literally in want of every necessary? No manner of preperations going forward for military stores for the insuing campaign which is coming fast upon us, nay, which may be said to be arrived—Although we daily expect the arrival of a large reinforcement from our Ally, which we solemnly engaged to be in respectable condition to Cooperate with, on their arrival?6 Were I to enter into minutia, I should tire your patience in perusing the black catalogue—enough has been said—This sir is the true picture of our affairs, and I do boldly assert that Congress have not a single means in their power, to remedy either the one or the other of these accumulated evils, and what is above all, worse, there does not appear to me a disposition to endeavour at it—for Whenever the subject is brought forward, men seem to shrink from it as if the case was desperate.

It is true, Congress have called on the States for 6,000,000 of dollars—they calculate upon 4,000000 out of the new money7—as well as upon 5,000,000 from the Court of France—these sums, together with the specific supplies, are the funds on which we depend for the support of the present campaign.8 Now let us examine for a moment what prospect there is of their productiveness. As to the first, little or no relyance is to be placed on it, because, they are now in arrear 6,400,000 dollars specie & I know of no measures that have been taken to procure it. To the second: 1,000,000 is already spent, the three southern states can emit no part of theirs, New York can do very little, & this State has damn’d the plan, & adopted one of their own, for emitting literally state money, which will not begin to operate before the first of June.9 So that make the best of it, we cannot calculate upon more than 2,000,000 out of this fund, & that comes in so very slow that it is of little use. To the third, we are now pretty well satisfyid, nothing is to be expected from that quarter in money I mean—As to the last, you know very well sir it is a plan, that never can regularly feed the army.

When will all this end? In an unsuccessful campaign, I have no manner of doubt: But will this be the least evil to be apprehended? I fear not—Indeed my Dearest sir, I begin almost to despond. Were I to consider my private interest, or that of my state only, I should altogether despair. And clear I am, in my opinion, that unless some effectual, vigorous, & decisive measures are speedily taken, to extricate us, from the labyrinth of difficulty, & distress, into which we are at present plunged, all the generous blood that has been spilt in this glorious contest, will have been spilt in vain. & the spirits of those who have so nobly fallen, will stalk terrific through our land, seeking vengeance on those who have so infamously suffered their children to become slaves.

As a citizen of america, as one who has more at stake than any man in it, as one who from our mistaken policy, is debarred an intimate knowl⟨ed⟩ge of our affairs, but who, from his station, ought to be acquainted with every thing. By these considerations I say sir, I have been led to make you these free communications. I know they must give pain to your generous nature, yet I supposed, you would rather wish to be made acquainted with them, than not. Whatever changes take place either for the better, or worse, with yr Excys permission, I will inform you of.10

Please to make my respectful compliments to Mrs Washington, and believe me to be, My Dr sir with every sentiment of the sincerest friendship, & highest respect Yr Excys most Obedt servt