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Intercepted Letter transmitted to Congress by General Washington, with his Letter dated December 18, 1775.
St˙ Augustine, October 4, 1775.
DEAR STANTON: I received yours by favour of Captain Barker, enclosing a bill on Messrs˙ Cox and Mair for £45 15s˙ sterling. I offered Captain Fordyce the twenty pounds you desired me to pay him, but he would not accept of it; have therefore given the agents credit on your account for the balance, which is only £19 0s˙ 10 1/2d˙, as you will see by the statement adjoining, which you may draw on them for when you think proper, viz:
The reason of there being a difference, is owing to the dollar passing always here for four shillings and eight pence, the sterling value; so that whether I receive money for bills, or give money for bills, it is all the same.
The recruits you have sent are all good looking lads, but we would have been better pleased to have had you with the whole, rather than a part; it appears very odd to imagine what advantage it can be to the service to have our regiment so much divided, when, were they once again properly united, they surely might be of use.
Captain Fordyce has been on board of vessels with his company and a detachment, amounting in all to sixty men, ready to sail for Virginia the first fair wind; and had three companies of the Sixteenth arrived from Pensacola, as we have been long expecting, the whole regiment would sail at the same time. We have been in anxious expectation of hearing of great feats performed since the 17th of June, from your quarter, and we find now the summer far spent without any thing of consequence having happened;
You will be so good, as often as you can, to send us here accounts of so very interesting matters as are going on near you; it will in some degree alleviate the distress of being in a manner out of the world in this place, to hear now and then from a friend, in which class I hope to be included by you.
And believe me to be, with regard, dear Stanton, yours sincerely, ALEXANDER ROSS.
To Captain Stanton.
Letter from Alexander Ross to Captain Stanton
v4:335
By credit to Captain Stanton for a set of bills on Messrs˙ Cox and Mair
£45
15
0
By credit for cash received from Captain Barker, at 4s.8d. to the dollar,
2
9
7
48
4
7
Captain Stanton debtor on account for balance due the recruits,
29
3
8 1/2
Balance due Captain Stanton, credited the agents,
£19
0
10 1/2
v4:336
but this is a subject too tender to offer free sentiments upon.