Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia, to Benjamin Harrison, 1783 June 17.

Concerning a letter received from General Washington on the discontent among some of the officers; saying "Their minds too much agitated by the contemplation of prospects, cruel & dispiriting, gave way to suspicions (founded on the indefinite terms of the furlough.) that his mode was adopted to disperse them, & to avoid a compliance with that part of their request which related to payment on their discharge. - they lamented but in strong and manly terms that they were to end their toils & hardships by returning to inevitable distress, without any aleeviation of their present wants. - They implored his interference as their General & as their friend. - The Commander in Chief then explained to them, that this measure was calculated to promote their interest without endangering the safety of the States. That by this means the money which must otherwise be expended in their subsistance would now be appropriated to the payment of part of the dues. He said that in justice to Congress, he could not but declare his sentiments. That they had made every exertion within their Power to obviate the present distresses of & to procure final justice to the Army. By this prudent, wise & noble conduct of General Washington gathered discontents which now seemed again ready to burst forth, were on[c]e more happily assuaged & the Resolution of Congress were quietly complied with. A Spirit of Mutiny discovered itself in the Troops immediately in Phil'a that at first wore an alarming aspect, but by timely exertion it terminated without any ill consequences."