Knowing the state of your finances, I have studied to keep this debt within its most moderate bounds, but in spite of all my endeavors, I fear you will find it but too large. I hoped to have given you some assistance from the military chest found with the enemy, but unavoidable contingencies of the army, and furnishing the Quarter Master General for the southern army, have swallowed up near one half of its contents. A number of iron cannon, being unnecessary for our use, I have appropriated as a fund for the discharge of the debt incurred, and they are sent to the head of the Elk; this with the other funds may possibly amount to a full discharge of the debt. I am, &c. GEORGE WASHINGTON. _P. S._ Since writing the above, I am informed by General Lincoln, who is come up since I left Yorktown, that the whole amount of the goods taken by the officers and on public account, will arise to about thirteen thousand pounds sterling, and that the articles sold in Yorktown, at public vendue, will be near six thousand pounds. G. W. * * * * * TO THE GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT. Office of Finance, November 20th, 1781. Sir, I have been honored with your Excellency's letter of the 7th instant, and am much obliged by the attention you have been pleased to pay to the several applications from me, which are noticed in it. I shall be very happy to receive the several accounts you have promised, because the final settlement of all accounts appears to me of the utmost importance, and I hope such measures will be taken, as founded in justice and propriety will meet your wishes, and be agreeable to the State, over which you so worthily preside. I hope that in future, there will be no accounts between the States and the United States, except cash accounts, one side of which will consist of the requisitions, and the other with the payment of them. The old Continental, which is brought in, will, I hope, be forwarded hither, with its proportionate part of the new, and indeed of the whole, both new and old, as soon as possible. Both shall be carried to the credit of the State. As to what you mention of the tax in specie, I have to observe, that whatever may have been the practice heretofore, I hope that the moneys designed for the general service will be paid into the Continental Treasury, and that the army will be paid from thence. This I conceive to be the only mode, by which heart-burnings, murmurs, and complaints can be avoided, and, at the same time, it is the only mode, by which the moneys obtained from the people can be applied with effect and economy.