George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Robert Morris, 25 October 1787

From Robert Morris

Philad[elphi]a Octr 25th 1787

Dear Sir

That you may not think me guilty of Neglect, I acknowledge the receipt of your obliging letter of the 14th Inst. by Post, but that by the Charming Polly is not yet arrived, when it comes to hand I shall have the pleasure of addressing you again.1 Mr G. Morris went to New York to stay Nine days, he has been gone near five Weeks & I wait his return before I can finally decide whether I can set out for Virginia or Not.2

We rejoiced much to hear of your safe arrival at Home having been made very uneasy by the report of the accident at the Head of Elk3 If you read our News Papers you see much altercation about the proposed Constitution the oponents are not Numerous altho they fill the News Papers every day.

Mrs Morris & myself are much obliged by your & Mrs Washington good wishes We can truely say they are reciprocal & I am with great Sincerity Dear Sir Your most Obedient humble Servant

Robt Morris

ALS, DLC:GW.

3The following story appeared in the Delaware Gazette (Wilmington) on 26 Sept.: “On Wednesday last, his Excellency General Washington passed through Wilmington, on his return from this city [Philadelphia] to his seat in Mount Vernon—and on the same day, in crossing the bridge near the Head of Elk, the bridge gave way and his horse fell into the river. His Excellency had alighted in order to walk over the bridge, which fortunate circumstance probably saved a life so dear to his country” (quoted in Kaminski and Saladino, Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution, description begins John P. Kaminski et al., eds. The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution. 26 vols. to date. Madison, Wis., 1976–. description ends 13:243).

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