From George Washington to James Milligan, 1 April 1784
To James Milligan
Mount Vernon 1st April 1784
Sir,
Your favor of the 9th of March came to hand last week. I am perfectly satisfied (from the circumstances you have related) that the charge of £133.16.0 is just—The manner in which you have accounted for it, makes the matter appear quite clear—It was the only channel thro’ which I could have received the money unremembered, & it was from that consideration, I suggested the enquiry.1
I am obliged by the readiness with wch you adopt the alterations pointed out in my last 2—& altho’ I am unwilling to add to the troubles of your office, I must pray you to examine the warrant on which the charge of 580 80/90 Dollars is placed to my debit. I drew no Warrt while I was in Philada for my own use, except for the balance of the Accot rendered Decr 13th, to wit £217. 16.8.—which amounting to 726 10/90 Dollars was credited in the subsequent Account of the 28th of the same month. It’s true I drew a Warrant, (and I believe, for I cannot readily come at my Warrt Book, for the identical sum of 580 80/90 Dolrs)—but this, if I recollect right was to give two or three months to each of my aids, & to a small party of Dragoons who were then with me. It was done with the consent, & (the mode) by the direction of the Financier: No charge of it was made by me, as will appear by a reference to my Accots—for I presumed the Paymaster General, would debit the persons for whose benefit the warrant was drawn with the respective sums annexed to their names. If however it is necessary that it should appear as an article of charge against me, in your Office, My Accot ought to have credit by these people, & they debited to the amount; as I only follow’d Mr Morris’s direction in the business, without deriving any other benefit from the draft than the satisfaction of Servg those whom I knew stood much in need of the money.3
You will be so good as to excuse the trouble this alteration will make in your Accots—probably it is the last trouble I shall ever have occasion to give—You will receive at the same time, my thanks for your attention to my business, & the assurances of my being Sir, Your Most obt &c.
G: Washington
LB, DLC:GW.
3. See Milligan to GW, 9 Mar., n.3. There is in GW’s papers a document, headed “Pay Office Philadelphia Feby 5th 1784” and signed by Philip Audebert, certifying “that His Excellency General Washington drew the following warrants on the Paymaster General:
“One dated 9th December 1783. for Contingent Expences | 751.60 |
" " 15th ditto 1783 for his Own use | 580.80 |
Dollars | 1332.50” |
The certificate has this endorsement: “By a letter from the Paymaster Genl to the Comptroller dated Decemr 24th 1783, it appears that his Excellency had transmitted him Vouchers for the Amount of the above warrant for 751 60/90 Dollars having been paid as follows Vizt to Colo. David Cobb 225, Colo. David Humphreys 180, Colo. Edwd Walker 180, Van Hier’s Corp 166.60–751 60/90.
“These parties being respectively charged by Mr Pierce, The General is not now chargeable with the Amount of that warrant on the settlement now to be made with him—Comptrollers Office Febry: 5th 1784” (DLC:GW). See GW to Robert Morris, 4 Jan. 1784, n.1.