To George Washington from Richard Varick, 19 February 1782

I am honored with Your Excellency’s agreeable Favour of the 13th instant, covering seven of Mr Morris’s Notes, amounting to five hundred Dollars, of which I shall make an equal Distribution—proportioned to the Times of Service of the respective Writers who have or now are serving.

I am sorry to observe to Your Excellency, that my own Necessities will absolutely oblige me to appropriate a small Proportion of the Sum transmitted, to my own Use, to make a Compensation, in Part, for my Quarters and to replace [a] Sum of Money which I have borrowed to pay for Fire Wood & Forage, of which Articles I have not as yet been able to obtain a Supply from the Quarter Master for more than about three Weeks: I have his Promise of reimbursment only.

I shall be happy in making the Supply of Money to the Writers, as large as possible, and for that Reason shall retain as small a Share as I conveniently can.

I have taken Care to leave proper Blanks at the Close of every Volume for the Indesces & shall observe Your Excellency’s Directions with Respect to the general one, altho I think I fully comprehend your Wishes in the Matter.

I thank Your Excellency for the List of Presidts of Congress; this I had furnished myself with long since from the Letters & Resolutions in my Charge & the Public Prints; And should be happy, if I had the same Means so fully in my Power [with] Respect to the Names of the Governors; [I] shall however make the Drafts as complete as possible and index those Letters doubly, under the Titles of their States & the respective [Sur]names which I have Knowledge of.

As soon as I return to my Quarters I shall transmit the Date of the General Orders last recorded probably an Opportunity will offer of sendi[n]g it by this Weeks Post, or It will be as early as possibly thereafter.

I shall be happy in your Arrival in this Quarter and have the Honor to be, with the most respectful & affectionate Sentiments, Your Excellencys most Obed. Hble Servt