all their hopes & expectations are narrowed down to what France may give or lend: but here, as in other cases, delusion takes place of reality; we flatter ourselves with ideal prospects and are convinced of our folly by the fatal crisis of national distress. In order that you may clearly understand the succor afforded by France, I enclose you an account lately extracted from a statement furnished to Congress, by the Minister Plenipotentiary of his most Christian Majesty. You will observe that his Majesty granted to the United States, a subsidy for the current Year of six Millions Livres, and on a representation of our distresses he was pleased to become security for a Loan to be opened on our account in Holland; and when it appeared that there was little probability of obtaining any money there in season, he further agreed that the sum to be borrowed, should be advanced for us in the first Instance from the Royal Treasury. Thus the gift, and the loan, together, amount to sixteen Millions of Livres, which would, if in this Country, be equal only to two Millions nine hundred and sixty two thousand nine hundred and sixty two Dollars; altho' at the rate of estimating Dollars in France it is there equal to three Millions five hundred and sixty thousand Dollars. I have been thus particular with respect to the amount of this sum because the difference of Currencies very often tends to deceive those to whom their real value is not a familiar subject of their Attention. The enclosed account is in Livres, and the two first Articles, contain the total of the grant and loan, amounting to sixteen millions Livres, the remainder contains the deductions to be made; the two first articles whereof amounting to two millions three hundred thousand Livres, is for the payment of the bills drawn on France, Spain and Holland, which I have already mentioned, the produce of the sales whereof had been applied to the public service long before my appointment; the next article, being two millions of Livres, is appropriated to the payment of Interest bills, wherefore no part of it can be applied to other purposes; the fourth article I need say nothing of here as it has long been in the mouths of every body, the fifth and sixth articles, are for those Stores which were laden on board of four transports by order of Col. Laurens, three of which have safely arrived and the other put back in distress. The seventh article, is in consequence of the loss of that valuable ship the Marquis De la Fayette; which contained a great number of public Stores, the replacing of which is necessary for the army & its operations and which will amount to that sum. The last article contains the amount of monies deposited to answer my drafts, which have been made from time to time, and the produce appropriated to the services of the current year: on the whole there remains a balance of three millions sixteen thousand, four hundred and ninety-nine Livres: this, with the sum brought by Col. Laurens, may be con. sidered as of the value of about One Million Dollars, which is the utmost; for it would exceed that only by twenty one thousand five hundred and seventy four Dollars, if it were in this country. Thus then you see the extent of that pecuniary succor, which has filled the minds of all with such teeming Expectations, narrow'd down to one million of Dollars; but by the best accounts and estimates I have been able to procure, this War has hitherto cost about twenty millions annually. I do indeed expect that the future Expenditures, will be greatly curtailed but it must be rem'bered, that the most rigid economy has its bounds, and that it cannot exist without the punctual performance of those engagements on which the first steps towards it must depend. As soon as the proper Estimates for the next year can be made out, the Demands founded on them will be stated, and I shall shortly advertise for Contracts, as the most effectual mode of husbanding our resources: I feel it my duty however to observe that a note this day sent to Congress, of some of my principal engagements for money, amounts to upwards of two hundred thousand Dollars; yet the calls for it from every Quarter are incessant. I would gladly quit the subject of Foreign Supplies, and Expectations here, but it is necessary that the States should know all, and I should not answer the views of Congress, if I did not add that the Court of France place the aid now afforded us, among the number of those extraordinary efforts which cannot be repeated. That declaration that no more pecuniary Assistance can be afforded to us, is as plain as language will admit of; and altho' applications on the subject may and probably will be made by our Ministers to the Court of Versailles, yet surely no prudent Man would form any reliance on such applications in the face of such a pointed and expressed assurance to the contrary: and especially when to every request a short answer can be made by asking what we have done for ourselves. Sir I must speak to you most plainly, while we do nothing for ourselves we cannot expect the assistance of others. This is a very painful subject to dwell upon, but a consideration of great magnitude remains behind and sooner or later must come forward: prudence therefore bids us examine it now, and provide for it in season. The neglect of funding the Public Debt has introduced a practice of issuing Loan Office Certificates for the Interest due on other Loan Office Certificates; this I have absolutely forbidden, nor will I ever consent to it; such accumulation of Debt while it distresses the Public and destroys its credit by no means relieves the unhappy Individual who is a public Creditor; for if revenue is not provided, increasing the Certificates would only lessen their Value, this would be such a fraud as would stamp our National Character with indelible marks of Infamy, and render us the reproach and Contempt of all Mankind. It is high time to relieve ourselves from the Ignominy we have already sustained, and to rescue and restore the National Credit-this can only be done by solid revenue. Disdaining therefore those little timid artifices which, while they postpone the moment of difficulty, only increase the danger and confirm the ruin; I prefer the open declaration to all, of what is to be expected and whence it is to be drawn to the Public Creditors; therefore I say that until the States provide revenue for Liquidating the Principal and Interest of the public debt, they cannot be paid. And to the States I say, that they are bound by every Principle which is held sacred, among Men to make the Provision. I have gone thro' the Task which I proposed to myself, in writing your Excellency this Letter, which I pray you to communicate to the Legislature of your State; I hope the Congress will soon be enabled to transmit their Requisitions and I shall endeavour that these be as moderate as possible, but I must pray that every Man whether in public, or private Life, will seriously consider the necessity of complying with those requisitions. It is not by the brilliant successes of War, the splendor of conquest, or the shouts of victory, that a wise ministry are to be affected; the superiority of National Resources, is the secure Ground on which to hope for success, and the superior Resource steadily and perseveringly applied, must eventually obtain its objects. It is for these Reasons that the Enemy have hoped every thing from the Derangements of our Finances, and on the other hand, as I am well informed, it is from the Establishments of a National Bank, and the forming of Contracts, to supply our Armies, that they have the greatest apprehensions. By the bounty of the Almighty, we are placed in the situation where our future fate depends on our present Conduct; wemay be happy or miserable as we please. If we do our duty now, this War will soon be brought to a close. If not, it may last for many Years; and what will then be its termination, is not in human wisdom to foresee. Thoroughly convinced that the Enemy must ask-Peace when we are in a Condition vigorously to prosecute the War, and that we shall be in that condition whenever our Affairs are reduced to order, and our Credit restored; and that for these purposes, nothing more is necessary, than a proper system of Taxation, I cannot avoid

expressing my sentiments on the subject, in all the warmth with which they flow from my Heart; I hope and pray the facts I have stated may meet with that calm attention which is due to their Importance, and that such measures may be taken as shall redound to the Union & Interest of the United States.

I am Yr's &c.

ROBT, MORRIS.

COPY OF A JOURNAL,

By ANDREW BELL, ESQ.,

At one time Confidential Secretary of General Sir Henry Clinton. Kept during the march of the British Army through New-Jersey, in 1778.

Presented by Rev. A. BELL PATERSON.

June 17th, 1778, W.-At night, about 9, crossed at Cooper's ferry, where was all the baggage of the army. The movement from Philadelphia was sooner by several days than was expected, the whole of the baggage being on Jersey side, the Grenadiers and Light Infantry were marched to the lines, where they lay on their arms till next morning.

T., 18th.-Sir Henry Clinton, with the army from the lines, crossed at Gloucester, having marched on the back of the town. Early this morning, Gen. Leslie marched from Coopers with the Rangers and Yagers in the van of the baggage, to Haddonfield, where we arrived about 9 o'clock, and were soon after joined by Gen. Clinton with the whole army from Gloucester. Gen. Knyphausen having already arriv. ed at this place.

F., 19th. Gen. Clinton moved with 3 Brigades of British, leaving Gen. Knyphausen with the Hessians and two British Brigades at Haddonfield, -to Evesham, about 8 miles, and encamped. Gen. Leslie, with the advance guard as before, fell in with a small party of the Rebels, who only kept a running fire in a scattered manner, but the Yagers did the business with the Captain who commanded, (Beasly) who was buried this evening.

S., 20th,-Marched from this place at 4, and met with no interruption from the Rebels the whole day. Saw a man sitting by the road side who belonged to the forementioned party, and had been wounded by the Yagers with swords, in a dangerous way. He proved a deserter from the 28th regiment-(executed.) A light horseman of theirs was found in the wood, wounded, yesterday, but was so obstinate as not to tell the route his comrades had taken. We arrived at Mount Holly at 11, and halted. The Rebels, to the number of 1300, under Maxwell, had been here 16 days, and marched with precipitation yesterday morning, having received information from a Yager who deserted to them. Major Joe Bloomfield was among them.— The inhabitants had sent all their effects out of this place, but were sorry for it when they met with such civility from the army. At a small distance from this town a bridge was broken down by the Rebels, which when our people were repairing, were fired upon by those villains from a house, two of whom were taken, three killed, and other two ran into the cellar, and fastened it, so that were obliged to burn the house and consume them in it.

June 21, S.-Remained here all day. At 9 o'clock A. M., Gen. Knyphusen arrived with his Division from Haddonfield by way of Moorestown: he had no kind of interruption.

June 22, M.-The whole army moved from Holly, and halted at Black Horse, 7 miles, which place the Rebels left this morning. Maxwell and Dickerson, with 2 or 3,000 men, were informed here that Washington was crossing the Delaware to oppose us. The rebels appear to be throwing up works at a little distance from us on the road to Crosswicks. "Tis said Stirling and Wayne are there. Their forces cannot be great, and therefore can give us very little trouble.The people have all left their houses here except the women, who expect that by the regard commonly shown to their sex, to save the property of those who, from their conscious guilt, have fled from the hand of justice. Sir Henry Clinton took the utmost care on the march to preserve the peaceable inhabitants by placing a light horseman to protect them till that wing had passed. Gen. Leslie, with his brigade, flanked the army at 17 miles distant, and joined us here at three o'clock.

June 23, T.-Gen. Clinton, with Lord Cornwallis' Column, consisting of 1st and 2d Battalions Grenadiers and 1st and 2d Light Infantry, with Hessian Grenadiers 2 Battalions, and 1st, 2d and 3d Brigade British, moved on at 5 o'clock A. M. to Crosswicks. Gen. Knyphausen with the Hessians, and Gen. Grant with 2d British Brigade followed in another column. Brig. Gen. Leslie with 5th Brigade British and Yagers took the Bordentown road. About a mile before we reached Crosswicks, information was received that the rebels were making a show of resistance there. The 16th Dragoons flew to the place and received the fire of about 500 musketry, without loss. The rebels had retired over the bridge and destroyed it, which gave them an opportunity of getting off with safety, and prevented us pursuing them. During the firing across the bridge and along the creek, the Rangers behaved with their usual spirit. Capt.