George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 10

[573]

The earlier speeches in parliament of Shelburne

Chap. XXVIII.} 1782.

against granting independence to the United States had left in America a distrust that was not readily removed; but the respective commanders-in-chief vied with each other in acts of humanity. The state of the treasury of the United States was deplorable. Of the quotas distributed among the states only four hundred and twenty-two thousand dollars were collected. Delaware and the three southern states paid nothing. Rhode Island, which paid thirty-eight thousand dollars, or a little more than a sixth of its quota, was proportionately the largest contributor. Morris wished to establish a solid continental system of finance, but taxes which were not likely ever to be paid could not be anticipated, and confidence had been squandered away. In spring he had written to Greene, but for whom he thought the line of Virginia might have been the boundary line: ‘You must continue your exertions with or without men, or provisions, clothing, or pay.’ For provisioning the northern army, he had made contracts which he was obliged to dissolve from want of means to meet them, and could only write to Washington: ‘I pray that Heaven may direct your mind to some mode by which we may be yet saved.’ By the payment of usurious rates, the army was rescued from being starved or disbanded. ‘Their patriotism and distress’ wrote Washington in October, ‘have scarcely ever been paralleled, never been surpassed. The long-sufferance of the army is almost exhausted; it is high time for a peace.’