Sentence:  “[…] We are engaged in a great work, a treatise on our river fortifications, perhaps? But since when did army officers <WSD>afford</WSD> the luxury of amanuenses in this simple republic?nb...” 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To incur, stand, or bear without serious detriment, as an act which might under other circumstances be injurious;&mdash;with an auxiliary, as can, could, might, etc.; to be able or rich enough.