Charles Dick to George Washington, September 6, 1755
[Fredericksburg] Septembr 6th 1755
Sir
I wish I had been at Home when you was pleased to call last Night. it might have saved this Trouble of writing, 1 However as you desire I now send You all the Information I can as to the Commission as Commissary, Which I think I had from the same Authority you seem to have Yours, and with very full powers and Instructions. 2 Agreeable to which Mr Walker & my Self embarkd in the Affair, happily compleated what we had undertaken, I have sunk my Money in the Service (tho we were assured of being constantly supply–d) in confidence of the Publick faith that I shoud not suffer, instead of which I am denied my Money, Provisions Waggns &c. –¨co–©ntracted by us on the said Faith & Instructions for the use of –¨ mutilated –© –¨Expe–©dition refused to be paid for, or to send money to discharge –¨ mutilated –© for which there are Suits now commenced against me, have –¨ mutilated –©nced my own Charges & not one farthing paid me for all I have done, 3 As this is the Case besides 50 things more too tedious to mention, I leave you to Judge what man can bare such usage. As for detaining any thing belonging to the Expedition it is not my Intention, As I have the Governors hand writing by me to Support & pay every thing we shoud engage for the Expedition, 4 Else I assure you I should dispute any Obligation I had to give up any thing till it was paid for & I secured, So that Whoever you appoint may have all the right & Title I have over all the Stores belonging to the Expedition. You are pleased to be of Oppinion that if I continued at least till the Committee meets in Octobr when they may obviate all my Objections which as they are not well understd by them, there will be a Necessity of my being there, else the same Usage I have had I should meet with, And any one to undertake the Business cannot spare the time to go to Wmsbg if I rightly guess or know what is or ought to be done as Comy Neither have you made any Mention of what I shoud have in engaging in such an affair again, As I should now be thoroughly satisfied by a certain Agreement well knowing what it is to leave Things undetermind in serving the Pubk. I am Sir Your very Obedt Humble Servt
Chas Dick