1To George Washington from Henry Knox, 22 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
We did ourselves the honor to write to your Excellency from Elizabeth-Town on the 16th instant, after which, we concluded it necessary to retire from thence, as some people might have been induced, from a suppos’d neutrality, to have had improper communications with the Enemy. Mr Skinner proceeded to New-York on that day, but from bad weather was not able to return untill the 20th. We have...
2To George Washington from Henry Knox, 16 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
We arrived here yesterday a few Minutes after twelve. The british Commissioners have not yet appeared. We learn that Letters have gone forward to your Excellency from the british General and Admiral. We shall set off from home this Day, and wait your farther orders in the Vicinity. Colo. Skinner will forward them. We have the Honor to enclose an English Paper of the third of January, by which...
3To George Washington from Henry Knox, 21 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
As it is probable that our report of this date may after having been transmitted to Congress come before the public eye, we have thought it best to give in a distinct letter the information which it may be unnecessary or improper to publish. Your Excellency will perceive that we had no proper oppo rt unity of bringing forward distinctly the affair of Mr Laurens. By pushing it abruptly into...
4To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 29 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Smith delivered your Excellency’s Letter of the twenty eighth, between four and five Yesterday Afternoon. You mention having had Intimations, that under the Idea of the Cessation of Hostilities a Number of People intend to come over from New York to our Lines, and express your particular Desire that no Persons coming from the Enemy may be permitted to Land, except the Commissioners and...
5To George Washington from Henry Knox, 16 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
General Forman (who is now on his way to you with a Representation on the Hanging of Captain Hoddy by the Refugees) will have the Honor of delivering your Excellency this Letter. Previous to the Generals Arrival we had heard of this Matter altho not so particularly. We mentioned it to General Dalrymple and Mr Elliott. They seemed to be surprised and wounded at the Information & assured us of...
6To George Washington from Henry Knox, 16 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
We received your Excellency’s Letter of the fourteenth this Morning, previous to the Receipt of which we had written to you by Lieutenant Blair of the Jersey Line. We have written to Sir Henry Clinton, of which the enclosed is a Copy, and sent it with another to the Officer commanding on Staten Island requesting him to facilitate Mr Skinner’s Passage to New York, whom we have instructed to...
We were much surprized at your Letter to M r . Hobart as we could not perceive the Danger which would result from permitting the several Courts to appoint their own Clerks while on the other Hand great Inconveniences must arise from suffering them to be independent of such Courts and of Consequence frequently ignorant always inattentive. Neither had we the most distant Idea that a Clause of...
8To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 26 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
By unavoidable Incidents this Letter is delayed beyond the usual Time for which I assure you I am extremely sorry. Your Favor gave great Pleasure as well to the Committee as to several Members of the House who are much pleased with your judicious Caution to distinguish between what you sport as your private Opinion and the weighty Sentiments of the General. No Circumstance could have more...
9To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 15 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Permit me to congratulate you on the passing a Resolution for a Kind of Establishment at this late Hour It is not what you wished but it may do You must pardon a little to the Republicanism of our Ideas. What is a little extraordinary there was no Dissentient State and only two Individuals Yet no Measure hath ever been more severely contested. We shall now go thro the Regimental & other...
10To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 3 January 1780 (Jay Papers)
You will doubtless be glad to hear News from this Quarter. Your Friends are all well. Our Army are hutted in the Vicinity of Morris Town except a Detachment consist. of the North Carolina & Virginia Troops who are on their March to the Southward three thousand — The Don on the Part of the Governor of havannah did lately propose to Congress to assist in the Reduction of Florida .— They have...
11To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 16 August 1778 (Jay Papers)
We are at Length fairly setting about our Finances and our foreign Affairs. For the latter particularly I much wish you were here. Many Persons whom you know are very liberal of Illiberality— Your Friend Deane who hath rendered the most essential Services stands as one accused. The Storm increases and I think some one of the tall Trees must be torn up by the Roots. I have not heard from you in...
12To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 1 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed is a Packett containing two Weeks News Papers for Genl Dalrymple—They are sent in Consequence of an Agreement we made at Elizabeth town being a cartel of Gazettes—We were to send out the New York Papers—these we want for the Use of the Office and had in Vain attempted to get them thro the Commissary of Prisoners. He promised very fairly—Should Genl Dalrymple send out the News Papers...
13To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 11 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
As Congress have delegated to a Committee, of which I have the Honor to be a Member, the Superintendance of the Commissary & Quarter Masters Departments; this, together with our Finances which we have long been cobling at, hath obliged me to consider in a more compleat View the State of our Affairs than my former detached Attention would permit, or indeed than my natural Indolence would have...
14To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 11 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Kingston, New York, May 11, 1777. On May 12, 1777, Hamilton wrote to Morris: “I have received the pleasure of your favour of yesterday’s date.” Letter not found. ]
15To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 9 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have sent to your Addressé three Bundles containing the several Materials collected by the Committee for arrangg the army. This Business being now put under your Care I trust you will be enabled speedily to put your Army in the Situation you wish excepting always the Deficiency of Numbers which is upon the whole well enough since thereby it happens that less of the Resources of the Country...
16To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 3 August 1776 (Jay Papers)
If you play Truant thus, Le tout est perdue . How do you expect that your unruly Horses can be kept in Order by a Whip and a Spur. They want the Reins. On Tuesday next it is to be determined as to the Seat of our General. Unless &c a . &c a . I would not give a Fig for your Resolution. This is not the worst of it make haste, Yours ALS , NNC ( EJ : 6959 ). Address mutilated. Endorsed....
17To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 18 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I expected before this to have written to you “Provision is made for the American Officers” but that Thief of Time Procrastination hath kept it off from Time to Time. The Question is now an Order of the Day and as such takes Place of every other Business When it will be determined I know not but this I know that it shall be finished one Way or the other before any Thing else Let what will...
18To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 1 February 1778 (Jay Papers)
Congress have sent me here in Conjunction with some other Gentlemen to regulate their Army and in Truth not a little Regulation hath become necessary. Our Quarter Master and Commissary Departments are in the most lamentable Situation. Opportunities have been neglected last Campaign which were truly Golden ones but omnipotent Fatality had it seems determined that the american Capital should...
19To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 30 June 1775 (Jay Papers)
Our House are about to send you their Plan of Accomodation and I think myself bound to say Something on the Subject for Reasons you will presently see the second third fourth sixth and seventh ^ & eighth ^ Articles form a short Plan which I drew in the Committee excepting that in the eighth the word Assemblies in the third Line was altered to Colonies. The first Article was moved debated...
20To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 10 March 1782 (Jay Papers)
I have received and now acknowlege your Letter of the tenth of November which arrived by Captain Jackson a few Days since. The Enclosure of that Letter shall be properly made Use of. The Letter you mention to have written to me in September I never received. To explain what appears misterious in one of my Letters as to a Gentleman who wondered you did not write to him I say only that from his...
21To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 20 March 1780 (Jay Papers)
The Disaster you met with and the Delay occasioned by it will make all my Letters old before you see them— Your Note from Martinique the Day after your arrival shuts my Mouth as to any Thing worth your knowing. This Letter will go by a circuitous Rout but I trust a safe one. I shall therefore mention that Congress have anvilled out another new System of Finance the Plain English of which is a...
22To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 31 March–1 April 1781 (Jay Papers)
I will enclose you the Copy of a Letter from Green to Congress if I get it in Time, which I expect. Should the Returns be omitted (which I am led to suspect) I will subjoin to this Letter so much of them as I have heard. Green’s Reasons for fighting will not appear nor the relative Numbers & Force. For the latter take this Sketch. Cornwallis about from 3000 to 3500 well disciplined and...
23To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your Favor and return you Thanks for it. The Conduct which the Enemy may pursue with Relation to us is not quite decided But I have not a Doubt but their Efforts during the next Campaign will be chiefly towards our Frontiers with a View to weary us into Submission. At the same Time they will perhaps endeavor to keep such Posts in our Country as to render the Communications tedious...
24To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 28 July 1775 (Jay Papers)
What shall we do with our West Chester Causes I have not hitherto given you any Notices of Trial because the Uncertainty and Inquietude of the Times in some measure prohibited me the Hope of trying them. Besides this I daily expected you in Town and wished for the Certainty of your Presence inasmuch as it would have been an improper Advantage over you while attending upon the public...
25To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 21 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
Two Days ago I was placed on a Committee to report the necessary Provision to be made for Officers not heretofore provided for. I recollect at present the general Officers & Erskine’s Corps (The Surgeons are already reported & the Report set down for this Day when as the Devil will have it I cannot attend) but as it would produce many Inconveniences to make this Provision which Congress intend...
26To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 14 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
You will excuse in me the Liberty I have taken in requesting Colo. Morgan to call on you. That Gentleman can give you much and important Information relative to the State of our Western Frontiers. From the first View of the Commander in that Department at York Town he struck me as one of those who excel in the Regularity of Still Life from the Possession of an indolent Uniformity of Soul. The...
27To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 2 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was in your Debt. It is my Fate always to be so with my Friends. But beleive me my Heart owes Nothing. Let me add that you can do me no Favor so great as to comply with your Wishes except an Opportunity to serve the Public which indeed is your highest Wish as you have evidenced fully to all the World & particularly to your Friends. I feel the full Force of your Reasoning. The Faith of...
28To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 29 April 1778 (Jay Papers)
I won’t dispute who has written most. I have written more than twice what you acknowlege to have received but this is of no Consequence. I am sorry for your Session but I wish you had marked out what Taxes have been laid what Salaries given & a few more striking outlines of Legislation These with what I know of your Men would have enabled me to imagine proper Lights & Shades. My arithmetical...
29To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 26 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellency’s Favor of the eighteenth Instant last Evening. I pray you to accept my most grateful Acknowledgements for this mark of Approbation and Confidence. As the Enemy appear to be desirous of doing Justice the Meeting about to take Place will I trust be under better Auspices than the former. It may perhaps be successful. Nothing would give me greater Pleasure than to...
30To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 21 July 1783 (Washington Papers)
I take the Liberty of introducing to your Acquaintance Mr Darby a young Gentleman of family from England—He comes hither with warm Recommendations from our Ministers abroad and as far as may be determined from a very short Acquaintance is a Man of fashion who has kept the best Company—His Object is to see America and his first Excursion is to see you. Believe me very truly yours DLC : Papers...
31To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 6 August 1782 (Jay Papers)
I received your Letter of the twenty eighth of April by Major Franks. It came too late for I had already applied the Copy of a certain Correspondence in the Manner you intended when you sent it. I decyphered and read your Letter to the Minister of foreign Affairs. If I were with you or had Time to use my Cypher, I would say somewhat on it. I think that Congress will not be silent— Should you...
32To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 7[–9] May 1781 (Jay Papers)
I have received yours of the 5 th Nov r & a Duplicate of it. I sincerely thank you for this only Favor I have received. Your Laconick Style has not forsaken you. Congress have by the same Opportunity which brought this Letter of the 5 th Nov r . received some of a much later Date. I suppose it was Deane who wrote to you from France about the Loss of my Leg. This Acc t is facetious. Let it...
33To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 20 January 1782 (Jay Papers)
It is so long since I have received a Letter from you that I will not pretend to account for thi I have received but one Letter from you in a very long time and by an Inattention I can only describe and not date it. It was ^ chiefly in Cypher ^ in answer to mine announcing a certain Appointment & Part of it was copied by your private Secretary. The Cypher I shall use in this if I have Occasion...
34To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 23 July 1778 (Jay Papers)
I received yours of the 4 th some Days ago but I was in so unsettled a Situation that I could not answer it. At present I must be short for I have Company waiting. I have no Apprehension that these Money Matters can affect me . I have not taken nor would I on any Consideration have taken the Agency of the Business. Duer I trust will do what is right.— Your Caution however is useful and proper...
35To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 2 January 1781 (Jay Papers)
A Packet offers for France and I seize the Opportunity to present you the Wishes usual on ^ at ^ the present Season with that true Sincerity which you who know me cannot doubt of however you may have found Reason in your Converse with Mankind to be on the sceptic Side as to all Professions. Gratulate for me your Lady your Brother and my Friend Carmichael. If I do not write to him by this...
36To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 16 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the Pleasure of your two Favors within two Days of each other and am very happy to find that our Form of Government meets with your Approbation. That there are Faults in it is not to be wondered at for it is the Work of Men and of Men perhaps not the best qualified for such Undertakings. I think it deficient for the Want of Vigor in the executive unstable from the very Nature of popular...
37To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 26 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
You must permit me most heartily to congratulate you upon the very important Intelligence which Monsr Gerard will confidentially communicate to you. It is and indeed ought to be a Secret even from Congress for which I need give you no Reasons as you are but too well acquainted with them. Measures have already been taken for obtaining the necessary Supplies which the Minister will detail to...
38To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 28 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I ⟨ mutilated ⟩ to write a Letter which I ⟨ mutilated ⟩ you to excuse. If I am rightly inform’d of the Situation of the Enemy the Next E⟨m⟩barkation will not leave above 6.000 Men in New York. Supposing this to be the Case I will go on to suppose that the french Troops with 2.000 Militia are throw⟨n⟩ upon Long Island and march Westward. That you move down with 10.000 Men to the Neighbourhood...
39II. Gouverneur Morris to William Helmsley, 30 April 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
In compliance with your request I will now throw together a few ideas on the subject of a new coinage. For the greater clearness they shall be classed under five heads. 1. Reasons why a coin should be struck. 2. The denomination of such coin. 3. The quantity of fine silver in such denomination. 4. The expence of a coinage. 5. The different peices of coin proposed. First then I take the liberty...
40To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 1 January 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have recieved your Letter of the thirteenth of October from Paris. I am daily convinced of the Necessity of writing principally in Cypher because It will among other Things tend eventually to give one’s Letters a safe Passage when it shall have been found that impertinent or designing Curiosity exercises her Talents in vain. That Part of your Letter to me in Cypher I have communicated only...
41To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you a few Days ago by Colo. Johnson; as he is not yet gone, I will now add two Things I forgot to mention then. The first is that if you send any General to Rhode Island you will probably find it most convenient to get rid of Varnom, Whose Temper and Manners are by no Means calculated to teach Patience Discipline & Subordination. Congress having determined on the Affair of the...
42To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 30 May 1783 (Jay Papers)
My Time will not permit any Thing more at this Time than to assure you of my Affection and to pray you will present me most warmly to M rs . Jay and your little ones— Beleive me I take a sincere Interest in all which may concern them— I could not if I would say any Thing on Politics worthy of Attention— All you friends here are well myself among the Number— Adieu always beleive me very...
43To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 24 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Kingston [ New York ] May 24, 1777. Has no news of the destruction of stores at St. Johns. Speculates on future course of the war and discusses need for maintaining health of troops. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. This letter was written by Morris in his capacity as a member of the New York Committee of Correspondence.
44To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 17 June[–13 July] 1781 (Jay Papers)
Although I beleive myself thoroughly acquainted with you yet I cannot tell whether I ought to congratulate or condole with you on your late appointment . Ere this reaches you you will have learnt that you are on the part of this country one of five to negociate for Peace — So far you are something but when you come to find by your instructions that you must ultimately obey the dictates of the...
45To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 4 July 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Your Letter gave me the Pleasure of knowing with Certainty what might be depended upon among the numerous Reports circulated Thro the Country with Relation to the Several movements of the Enemy. That Howe wishes to draw you to a General Action is highly Probable because certainly he hath no other Means of conquering the Country, but the time when he wishes to Engage must depend upon a General...
46To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 21 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
We are going on with the regimental Arrangements as fast as possible and I think the Day begins to appear with Respect to this Business. Had our Saviour addressed a Chapter to the Rulers of Mankind as he did many to the Subjects I am perswaded his Good Sense would have dictated this Text. Be not wise overmuch. Had the several Members who compose our multifarious Body been only wise enough Our...
47To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 21 May 1782 (Jay Papers)
I write these Lines to acknowlege yours from S t . Ildefonso of the twenty eighth of September. To enclose you a short Resolution of Congress. To tell you that Col o . Livingston and your Brother James met in the Provost at New York. Livingston is with us. James is at large in New York. Your Family except one are alive and well. I am sorry to add that your Father is no more. I know how much...
48To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 28 April 1778 (Jay Papers)
This Letter is to be handed to you by Gen l . Gates. Let me recommend him to your particular Attention. Vermont you will say prevents this. Policy may have induced him to flatter those People when he wanted their Assistance. Let us take it up on that Ground. In his present Command he will want the Assistance of our State the cordial Assistance of its Rulers. I have promised this. I write to...
49To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 20 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I take the Liberty of addressing your Excellency upon a Subject so much out of my own Line, that I must be entirely in your Equity, as to the Charge of Impertinence. I hope to be acquitted. The Committee of Safety have ordered, that the sick Soldiery should be transported to an Island called little Barn Island; which was, and perhaps still is, the Property of Captn John Montresor, an Engineer...
50To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 31 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you a Letter long since which went backwards & whether it hath ever Yet got so far forwards as to reach you I am utterly incapacitated even to guess trusting however that you have got or will get it I shall not from Memory repeat what if there at all is at best but faintly traced. At present I trouble you on the Subject of recruiting your Army which is at this Moment in Debate before...