To John Jay from Robert Morris, 6 July 1780
From Robert Morris
Philada. July 6th. 1780.
Dear Sir
I am absolutely ashamed to think how long you have been gone & that in all that time I have not found time ^leisure^ to write you a line, & even now sit down in the midst of hurry & Confusion occasioned by the dispatch of several Vessels under my care all going away together; just to enclose a letter from Mrs. Meredith at Trenton to Mrs. Jay. I regret that I did not fix a Cypher with you, as the want of it will prevent me from writing (when I do begin) many things I might wish to Communicate. I hope Mrs Jay is recovered from the Indisposition that attacked her at Cadiz. Kitty stayed the Winter with us, & went to the Jersey’s in May or beginning of June. Mrs Livingston about that time moved with the Family to Elizabeth Town and was there when Mr. Knyphausen came out the other day, at first the Family were treated politely but after a while they found it necessary to leave that place, being threatned hard by the Brutish as our Soldiers now call the British— Mrs. Jays Brother John is now here a Midshipman onboard the Saratoga Capt Young nearly ready to go out on a Cruize. We are anxiously looking out for Monsr De Ternay and hope the Campaigne will still end favourably for the Allies—
Mr Duer & Lady Kitty are at their Farm on the North River—poor Gouverneur Morris you will have heard has lost his Legg but is getting well again—
Mrs. Morris is out at Springsetsbury next the Hills1 & dont know of my writing or she woud have much to say to Mrs. Jay & yourself for I can truely say she holds warm affection for you both.
Having already wrote more than I intended or expected I can only beg you to believe that I am Dear Sir Your sincere & affectionate Friend & Obedt Servt.2
Robt Morris
PS I beg to be remembered to Mr Carmicheal & hope he is in the enjoyment of health & happiness—
His Excy John Jay Esqr
ALS, NNC (EJ: 6999). Endorsed: “ . . . answ. 16 Sep. 1780—”. Notation: “This was forwarded by / Messrs. Penet & Co. as appears / by the cover under which it / came—which is left out not / to encrease this packet too much—/ HBL.”
1. The famed Morris estate, The Hills, on the east bank of the Schuylkill River three miles beyond the limits of eighteenth-century Philadelphia, had been partially destroyed during the British occupation. Springetsbury, a “villa” near Philadelphia built by Thomas Penn, was another of the family’s country homes. E. P. Oberholtzer, Robert Morris (New York, 1968), 291, 295.
2. For JJ’s reply, see his letter to Morris of 16 Sept., below.