Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-04
HISTORICAL RECORDS.
Ledgers of the Last Century Found in
the TreasIIr..r nn.,n

A~euSeTS OF Lne Last century Found In
the Treasury Department
Washington Special to tile PhiladeIpAia Press.
According to the books of the Treasury
Department Gen. George Washington. the
Father of his Country, is indebted to the
country in the sum of $161,339 This fact
would in all probability never have been
discovered had it not been for the shreWd-
ness of Philadelphia gentleman, who
presented himself to Mr.. J. NJ. Vale, chief
OF the collections division in the office of
Third Auditor Keightley, a few weeks
ago. This gentleman seemed to unite in
his person the easy assurance of a
man of the world, with the proverbial
astuteness of Philadelphia lawyer.
He saluted Mr.. Vale, removed a pair of
gold-bowed eye glasses from his nose. pre-
sented letter of introduction from Sun
set Cox ami told his tale He had read
IN history that General HOratiO Gates,
OF the Revolutionary army, had never re-
celVcd his 1--WE years Communication allow
ance In lieu of half pay for life, and he
desired to know if such was the fact and
what sum i'll consequence was due the
descendants of General Gates OH that
account. Mr.. Vale promised to make in
curry, but, as the oldest records in the
office of BOOkkeeper jackson were dated
1872, the task at first seemed hopeless.
In the top story of the Treasury Depart
ment, underneath the roof, are four and
one-halt miles, in lineal feet, of shelving
where the records and files of the DEPART
ment are preserved. No record of Gen.
Gates account could be found in the
bookkeeper's division, and Mr.. Vale rum
mayed the files. He made rich find. In
small book, which had evidently been
rebound within the last half century. he
discovered all the receipts for commuta-
ton of pay granted officers of the Revolu-
tlOnary army, among them being the
receipt of Gen. HoratiO Gates, dated July.
1884, at Philadelphia, for $11,690, that
amount being the Communication due him
in lieu of his life half-pay allowance.
Besides this the records of the paw office
of the Continental establishment, from
1774 to 1892 were unearthed, and in them
the indebtedness of Washington TO the
government was found. These old
books are in wonderful state of preser-
walton and they are properly regarded as
one OF the greatest curiOsities in the
Treasury Department. General Wash
mgt0n's accounts are found in four
separate entries in two volumes of
the journal. The money charged to him,
and for which credits are given, was on
account of his disbursements in the
War for Independence. AS before stated,
the books show that he received 1851 .339
more than is accounted for, exclusive of a
large balance due the government on Gen.
WashingtOn's specie account. 1t is i'm
possible now to tell what was the cause
of the apparent deficit in the regular pay
account, but the deficit i'll the specie ac-
count is believed to have been due to the
depreciation i'll the value of the colonial
coin.
The name of Colonel Benedict Arnold
appears on the record near that of Wash
ingtOn. y balance of$1, ,S3I 81 appears bv
the books to be due the government from
Arnold. An index accompanies the jour.
nails, and on this index opposite Arnold's
name is written in a steady hand, the
word 'straitOr"