To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 10 June 1797
From Robert Morris1
Philada. June 10 1797
Dear Sir
I hold ten Shares in the Western Canal Navigation of new york2 on which there has been paid $1070, and a Call of $25 ⅌ Share was due the 1st May last & remains to be paid with 6 ⅌ Ct Interest from that time. I don’t know what State of Credit these Shares stand at present, but am confident they will be a most productive property hereafter. If you will take these Shares credit me for the amot I have paid & you make the Payment now due & answer such other Calls as the managers may make, you shall have them in part Payment of what I owe you. Mr Church begins already to threaten me with harsh measures3 but I hope to disarm him.
With great Esteem I am Dr Sir Yrs
RM
LC, Robert Morris Papers, Library of Congress.
1. Except for the last sentence, this letter deals with Morris’s efforts to pay the balance of a debt which he owed to H. For an account of this debt, see the introductory note to H to Morris, March 18, 1795. See also Morris to H, March 31, June 2, 23, 30, July 18, 20, 1795; June 17, 27–30, November 19, December 8, 1796; June 2, 1797.
2. See Ledger C, 157, Robert Morris Account Books, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
The name of this corporation was the Western Inland Lock Navigation Company. See Théophile Cazenove to Egbert Benson and H, May 29, 1797, note 4.
3. John B. Church had recently instituted proceedings in Chancery for the payment of the interest on a debt which Morris owed to Church. On July 5, 1797, Morris wrote to Richard Harison, who was his attorney in New York City: “You will see by the annexed copy of a letter from Mr. [Daniel] McKinnen of your city, that he has filed a bill in chancery against me for Mr. Church who wants I suppose to foreclose the mortgage mentioned, in order to get the Land for less than its value. I pray you to enter an appearance for me immediately and I will hereafter give you the heads of the defense to be made, altho’ I expect the bill in chancery will be withdrawn or discharged upon payment of the interest due on my bond & this I expect soon to accomplish. You will observe there is not a moment to be lost in entering the appearance” (LC, Robert Morris Papers, Library of Congress).
For background on this suit and the debt Church was seeking to have paid by Morris, see the introductory note to Morris to H, June 7, 1795. See also Morris to H, July 20, November 16, December 18, 1795, January 15, March 6, 12, 14, 30, April 27, May 3, 10, 17, 18, 31, 1796, March 3, 27, May 20, 23, June 2, 1797; William Lewis to H, May 4, 1796; H to Charles Williamson, May 17–30, 1796.