George Washington to Charles Pettit, 1 June 1781
To Charles Pettit
Head Quarters New Windsor 1st June 1781
Sir
I some time ago had a number of Blank Books made for transcribing the General Orders and other public records. A few have been used for these purposes but the package containing the remainder has been by some means lost. I have sent to every place at which my Baggage has been deposited but can hear nothing of it, and except it should be at Colo. Biddles, in whose care part of my things were left when we marched from Middle Brook Camp, I must give it up.1 You will be pleased to make enquiry there and should the Box not be found you will oblige me by having 24 Books made of good Record paper—5 Quire in each—bound in rough Leather—the Backs Vellum—size 14½ by 10 Inches. This will make them uniform with those already transcribed. I shall be glad to have them as soon as possible as Business is at a stand for want of them. Should you find a difficulty in procuring them on account of the low state of public credit, I will become answerable for the Amount.2 I am &.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
For a related inquiry, see Tilghman to Timothy Pickering, 31 May, found at GW to Bartholomew von Heer, 1 June, n.5.
1. During the army’s winter encampment at Middlebrook, N.J., in 1778–79, a box containing orderly books and other documents—long missing—was located and forwarded to camp (see Pickering to GW, 16 Jan. 1779, and GW’s second letter to Richard Peters, 17 Feb. 1779). For the army’s departure from Middlebrook, see GW to Stirling, 2 and 3 June 1779.
2. Pettit replied to GW from Philadelphia on 8 June: “Colonel Biddle assures me he has made diligent search for the box of books, but without success; indeed he says there was scarcely a chance of it’s being found amongst his effects, as the articles left by your Excellency in his care, on marching from Middle Brook, were afterwards delivered by invoice & carefully examined. I have therefore set about procuring a set of new books according to the directions, and shall get them ready as soon as possible, though it will take longer time than might be wished, as I believe the paper is yet to be made, there being none of a suitable size and quality to be found in the Stores or Shops.
“Your Excellency’s precaution respecting the state of the public credit was not unnecessary. I have engaged in my private capacity for the payment & have a promise that the business shall be done; but even private confidence is enfeebled where laws afford shelter to frauds, and the scarcity of money in circulation (much being concealed) occasions every one, especially Tradesmen, to be unusually urgent for speedy payment. As soon as I can with accuracy estimate the expence of these books I shall make a special application for the money to avoid if possible any farther trouble to your Excellency on that score. … I had the honor to write to your Excellency the 22d of May ⅌ favor of Col. Hay, which I hope has proved a safe conveyance” (ALS, DLC:GW; Pettit addressed the cover to GW at New Windsor; GW’s secretary Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., docketed the letter: “rcd 11th June”).
GW again wrote Pettit from New Windsor on 24 June: “since writing you last, I have very luckily found the Books I had supposed to be lost—I shall not therefore want those which I desired you to procure as the Work however may possibly be begun, you will be pleased to receive & forward to me so many as may be already finished—& stop the Execution of the Remainder as soon as may be” (Df, in Jonathan Trumbull, Jr.’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).