John Jay Papers
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To John Jay from Robert Morris, 1 April 1777

From Robert Morris

Philada. April 1st. 1777

Dear Sir

The enclosed letters came by a French Ship to New Hampshire & were sent under Cover to me by Mr Langdon with many others,1 I believe they are from England, and wish they may convey agreable Tidings. Last Week a Brigt arrived here with 6800 Muskets & 2100 Gun Locks, another in Maryld With 633 bbls Powder & this ship into Portsmouth brought with her about 12,000 Muskets, 1000 bbls Powder a Number of Blankets & Cloathing all these are for Continental Account and many others may daily be looked for—2 An offer was made to our Comrs. at Paris of two Millions of Livers without Interest to be repaid when these United States have established their Independancy in Peace & quietness, no Security or Conditions required, You may be sure they accepted this Noble Bounty & 500,000 Livers was paid down the 20th. Jany.—500,000 more was to be paid every three months untill compleated or Sooner if our affairs require it. The Comrs. were well received & promised protection of the Court and that their propositions shou’d all by duely attended to, Great Armaments & preparations for war &c. I fancy however, we must try our Strength alone for a while longer altho I firmly believe a general War will & must Eventually take place in Europe this Summer I wish our army was in the Field we want nothing else to make the day our own.3 With great regard & esteem I am Dr sir your affectionate hbl Servt

Robt Morris.

PS My best Compts to Mr Duane & Mr Livingston.

ALS, UkWC-A (EJ: 3). Addressed: “To / John Jay Esqr. / Member of New York / Convention at / Esopus—”. Endorsed. C, NNC (EJ: 6995). Enclosed letters not found.

1On the arrival at Portsmouth on 17 Mar. 1777 of the Mercure from Nantes, see Naval Docs., 8: 140–41, 155, 164, 235, 254–55. The Mercure was the first of the munitions shipments of Caron de Beaumarchais to reach America.

2The brig Sally, Captain Hugh Stocker, which arrived at Philadelphia on 24 Mar., carried arms in fulfillment of a Secret Committee contract, as well as additional munitions on private account that the Secret Committee purchased. It was followed shortly by the arrival of a second ship at Baltimore. See Naval Docs., 8: 192, 206; JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends , 7: 197; LDC description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds., Letters of Delegates to the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (26 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1976–98) description ends , 6: 484, 485, 493, 496, 500–501, 513–14; Nuxoll, Congress and the Munitions Merchants description begins Elizabeth Miles Nuxoll, Congress and the Munitions Merchants: The Secret Committee of Congress, 1775–77 (New York and London, 1985) description ends , 185n.

3For the letter on which this information is primarily based, see the American Commissioners to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 17 Jan. 1777, RDC description begins Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States (6 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1889) description ends , 2: 248–51.

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