He expressed an adverse opinion of the liquor business at one time, somewhat in the same line, in a contract he made with a plantation overseer: "And whereas, there are a number of whiskey stills very contiguous to the said Plantations, and many idle, drunken and dissolute people continually resorting to the same, priding themselves in debauching sober and well-inclined persons, the said Edd Violet doth promise as well for his own sake as his employers to avoid them as he ought." To the contrary, in hiring a gardener it was agreed as part of the compensation that the man should have "four dollars at Christmas with which he may be drunk for four days and nights; two dollars at Easter to effect the same purpose; two dollars at Whitsuntide to be drunk for two days; a dram in the morning, and a drink of grog at dinner at noon." At Valley Forge he complained to Congress of the mortifications they (even the general officers) must suffer, when they cannot invite a French officer, a visiting friend, or a traveling acquaintance, to a better repast than stinking whiskey (and not always that) and a bit of beef without vegetables. In the New York State Library at Albany is a statement in Washington's handwriting of his household expenses for three months at the beginning of his first term as President, from May 24 to August 24, 1789; the total expense for that time was £741 and 9 shillings, of which the following items were for liquor: Pounds Shillings Pence Madeira 43 18 Claret 21 11 Champaign 18 Van de Graves Cherry 2 5 Arack 2 16 Spirits 12 Brandy 6 6 Cordials 5 6 Porter 16 8 Beer 34 14 6 Cider 4 10 In the same library is a memorandum of Washington's opinion of his general officers, prepared in the winter of 1791-2. From this it seems that he considered the drinking habit of his subordinates, even at that time, in appointing a successor to General Arthur St. Clair, who had just then been defeated by the Indians: "Majr General (By Brevet) Wayne. "More active and enterprising than judicious no economist it is feared--open to flattery--vain--easily imposed upon and liable to be drawn into scrapes. Too indulgent [the effect perhaps of some of the causes just mentioned] to his officers and men. Whether sober--or a little addicted to the bottle, I know not. "Majr General (By Brevet) Weedon. "Not supposed to be an officer of much resource, though not deficient of a competent share of understanding--rather addicted to ease and pleasure, and no enemy it is said to the bottle--never has had his name brot forward on this account. "Major General (By Brevet) Hand.