LS, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

On 22 Feb., Congress read “A letter, of 19, from General Washington … enclosing unsealed letters from New York to Major General Lee” and ordered “That the president forward to Major General Lee the letters directed to him, and inform him that Congress have no doubt but he will explain the transaction therein mentioned” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 13:218; a copy of these minutes is in DLC:GW). These letters, which had been sent to Maj. Gen. Charles Lee by friends in New York City, concerned the negotiation of bills of exchange for hard money. The following day Jay forwarded the letters to Lee, who was in Philadelphia, and conveyed to him Congress’s request for an explanation (see Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 12:106–7). Lee explained to Congress in an undated letter, presumably written between 23 and 27 Feb., that he needed hard money “to purchase two or three Negroes, without whom my farm is rather an encumbrance than the means of subsistence” (DNA:PCC, item 158; copy in DLC:GW). For Lee’s additional pleading, see his letter to Jay of 27 Feb., in Morris, John Jay: The Making of a Revolutionary description begins Richard B. Morris et al., eds. John Jay: The Making of a Revolutionary. Unpublished Papers, 1745–1780. New York, 1975. description ends , 564–67). Congress agreed on 27 Feb. to advance Lee 300 pounds sterling in gold (see JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 13:253–55, 259–60).