To George Washington from Philip Van Rensselaer, 1 November 1780
From Philip Van Rensselaer
Albany 1 Novemr 1780.
My Last to your Excellency was on the first Octor, covering my Return for the Month of September,1 this Serves to Inclose my Return for the month of Octor2 and to Advise your Excellency that I have made Application to the Honble the Board of War in Sepr last, for a Supply of money, to pay the Artificers in the public Service under my Direction, But cannot be Obtained, that, with Sundry Articles for the use of the Armoury repeatedly Applyed for to the Commissy Genl Mily Stores at Philadelphia, & the Artificers on every Occassion call’d out on Militia Duty the works have Intirely Stopt at this place.
Should be glad an examption could be Obtained from His Excellency Governour Clinton for those men Necessarily employed in the public Service under my Direction. I have the Honour to be most Respectfully Your Excellencies Most Obedient Servant
P. Van Rensselaer Public storekeeper
ALS, DLC:GW.
Van Rensselaer again wrote GW from Albany on 1 Dec.: “In my last I Informed your Excellency That for want of a Supply of Money &ca the Artificers under my Direction had Quit the Works, But can now with great pleasure Inform your Excellency that I have with great Difficulty and fair promises got them at work Again.
“I have the honour to Inclose your Excellency my Return for the Month of Novemr Since my last Monthly Return” (ALS, DNA: RG 93, manuscript file no. 21440; the enclosed return for November has not been identified). GW acknowledged this letter when he wrote Van Rensselaer on 27 Dec., found at Alexander Hamilton to GW, 19 Dec., n.3.
1. Van Rensselaer’s letter to GW dated 1 Oct. has not been found, and his return for September has not been identified.
2. The enclosed return for October has not been identified.