that Capt Hawkins should have gone to such an expense upon that small vessel. It however becomes my duty to represent the case to the government and leave it to their wisdom to approve or con- demn his conduct. I am so well aware of the absolute necessity of economy in expenditures, & have so far as the agency is concerned made so many efforts to insure it, that the expenditure of Capt Hawkins has troubled me more than all my-other business. The case of the Independence is another strong instance of the disad- vantage of appointing special agents for the disbursement of public money, when they arc not accountable for the extent of those disbursements to the regularly appointed agents. We cannot know the extent of their responsibilities, or the amount to which they envolve the agency until it is too late to remedy the evil, & then the demands must be paid or the credit of the government is prostrated. I have several times in my former communications been obliged to refer lo the want of money for public use. I will not name that I have been obliged to advance from my private funds about Two Thousand Dollars to get the vessels off, that there are Bills unpaid which must be settled in Cash for One Thousand Dollars. That there are recmits now waiting here that will require at least two charters, upon which I shall probably be obliged lo advance Fifteen hundred Dollars, as I cannot now get vessels on credit for gov'l paper. I have also been also obliged to give private paper to considerable amount when the agency paper would not be taken. I enclose a Blank to shew you what I mean by agency paper. The Brutus is now lying at the mouth of the River with only a few men, and it is doubtful if they could be obtained even if I had the means, as it requires at least Eight hundred Dollars to complete her crew. l\foney is very scarce and cannot be obtained, and I have large payments of my own to make. Were I not so situated I would immediately advance every Dollar wanted, but to embarass myself at this moment would as deeply affect the credit of the government here, as it would my own. Under these circumstances I shall be obliged to order the Brutus down & have her return here as a government vessel, when seamen will be more plenty & money too-The patience of Capt Hurd under this dis• appointment will be severely tried, m, the other vessels go fully manned. Should any accident happen by his want of men no blame can be attached to him, no other captain would shew so
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