Some weeks ago the Board of Treasury thought proper to direct the Continental Loan Officer in Pennsylvania to suspend the Payment of Interest on Public Securities to Citizens of the State on a Supposition that the Legislative Act of March last did not amount to a full Compliance with the Requisition of September 1785, though the same Board had before admitted it to be such Compliance, and had directed the Loan Officer to proceed accordingly. When the Board communicated their suspending Order to Congress, it was referred back to them for Report. We took Occasion to confer with them on the Subject, endeavouring to convince them of the Impropriety of the Order, and of the mischievous Consequences that would probably ensue if it should be persisted in. The appeared to wish the Order had not been made, but having officially communicated it to Congress they did not think themselves at Liberty to revoke it without a Special Order for the Purpose, and promised to make as favourable a Report as they could to induce Congress to give such Order. On Thursday last their Report was presented, a Copy of which will be inclosed herewith. The next day, which was as early as forms would admit, we moved for a decision upon it; but, several Gentlemen demanding time to prepare for the Question by an Investigation of the Facts, it was postponed. Yesterday it was taken up on our Motion to have it referred to the Board to take Order when, to our great Surprise, it met with a vigorous Opposition. After a debate of some hours, the Motion was negatived by ten State out of the twelve present. The Report, however, is not dismissed by this decision but remains still open to another Notion, tho’ We do not think it proper at present to agitate any father Question upon it.

Time will not permit us at present to state the heads of the arguments used on the Occasion. But as it may be useful to the State that they should be known, we may think it our duty to trouble your Excellency with a father Communication for this Purpose at another Time. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your Excellency’s Most obedient and most humble Servant.