believe will tend more to give us peace the ensuing winter.  Many circumstances will contribute to a negotiation.  An army on foot, not only for another campaign, but for several campaigns, would determine the enemy to pacific measures, and enable us to insist upon favourable terms in forcible language.  An army insignificant in numbers, dissatisfied, crumbling to pieces, would be the strongest temptation they could have to try the experiment a little longer.  It is an old maxim that the surest way to make a good peace is to be well prepared for war.

“I can not forbear returning in this place to the necessity of a more ample and equal provision for the army.  The discontents on this head have been gradually matured to a dangerous extremity.  There are many symptoms that alarm and distress me.  Endeavours are using to unite both officers and men in a general refusal of the money, and some corps now actually decline receiving it.  Every method has been taken to counteract it, because such a combination in the army would be a severe blow to our declining currency.  The most moderate insist that the accounts of depreciation ought to be liquidated at stated periods, and certificates given by government for the sums due.  They will not be satisfied with a general declaration that it shall be made good.

“I have often said, and I beg leave to repeat it, the half pay provision is in my opinion the most politic and effectual that can be adopted.  On the whole, if something satisfactory be not done, the army (already so much reduced in officers by daily resignations as not to have a sufficiency to do the common duties of it) must either cease to exist at the end of the campaign, or will exhibit an example of more virtue, fortitude, self-denial, and perseverance, than has perhaps ever yet been paralleled in the history of human enthusiasm.

“The dissolution of the army is an event that can not be regarded with indifference.  It would bring accumulated distress upon us; it would throw the people of America into a general consternation; it would discredit our cause throughout the world; it would shock our allies.  To think of replacing the officers with others is visionary.  The loss of the veteran soldiers could not be replaced.  To attempt to carry on the war with militia against disciplined troops, will be to attempt what the common sense and common experience of mankind will pronounce to be impracticable.  But I should fail in respect to congress, to dwell on observations of this kind in a letter to them.”

[Sidenote:  Proceedings of Congress respecting the army.]

At length the committee presented their report, reorganizing the regiments, reducing their number, and apportioning on the several states their respective numbers to complete the establishment.  This report, being approved by congress, was transmitted to the Commander-in-chief for his consideration.  By this arrangement, the states were required to recruit their quotas for the war, and to bring them into the field by the first of January; but, if in any state, it should be found impracticable to raise the men for the war by the first day of December, it was recommended to such state to supply the deficiency with men engaged to serve for not less than one year.