1To John Adams from Robert Morris, 25 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the Honor to enclose for your Perusal Acts of Congress of the twenty seventh of November and third of December 1781, and the fourteenth and twenty third Instant. In Consequence I have to request that all Bills hitherto drawn by Authority of Congress be paid, and the Accounts of those Transactions closed. After this is done, and I hope and beleive that while I am writing this Letter...
2To John Adams from Robert Morris, 25 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 22nd April has been delivered to me by Mr. Peter Paulus to whom I shall most chearfully Afford such advice or countenance as he may stand in need of. But it seems this Gentlemans wants are not confined to those Points, he applies to me for a Supply of Money to set up his Trade, I have explained that your desires in his favor do not extend to the advance of Money, and I am...
3To John Adams from Robert Morris, 27 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the Pleasure to congratulate you on the Success of your patriotic Labors in Holland. The general Tribute paid to your Abilities on this Occasion will so well dispense with the Addition of my feeble Voice that I shall spare your Delicacy the Pain of expressing my Sentiments. The enclosed Resolutions and Copies of Letters will convey to you so fully the Views of Congress, and explain...
4To John Adams from Robert Morris, 19 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
Altho’ I have not yet been honored with any Letters from your Excellency I cannot omit the Occasion of Writing which offers itself by M r. Jefferson. Having already congratulated you on the Acknowlegement of our Independence by the States General, and on the rapid Successes of your Labors equally splendid and useful. I hope when this Letter shall have reached your Hands I may have the...
5To John Adams from Robert Morris, 12 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
The Bills drawn by Congress in their necessities press very heavily upon me; and one of the greatest among many Evils attending them is the Confusion in which they have involved the Affairs of my Department— I have never yet been able to learn how many of these Bills have been paid nor how many remain due neither am I without my fears that some of them have received double Payment.— To bring...
6To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 26 May 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
It is Some time Since I Received your performance dated the 30th. April last. I have read it with that attention which it justly deserves and finding many points of it to Coincide with my own Opinions on the Subject, it naturally Strengthened that Confidence which every man ought to possess to a certain degree in his own judgement. You will very Soon See the Plan of a Bank published and...
7To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 12 February 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, February 12, 1782. Sends the several receivers an “Advertisement respecting the Receivers of Continental Taxes,” which states: “And whereas it is not only necessary that some precise mode be adopted for managing the public Business in this respect, but also that the same be publickly known, so that all Persons concerned therein may have due notice thereof I have therefore...
8To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 15 April 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
As several of the Legislatures have passed the Laws for levying Money in their respective states in Order to pay their Quota’s of the eight Million of Dollars required by Congress for the service of the United States this present year, without noticing that part of the Act of Congress of the second of November last which recommends “the passing of Acts directing the Collectors to pay the same...
9Enclosure: From Robert Morris, [15 April 1782] (Hamilton Papers)
Whereas Alexander Hamilton esquire in conformity with an Act of the United States in Congress assembled passed the 2d of November 1781, hath been duly appointed by Commission under my Hand and Seal, Receiver of the continental Taxes within the State of New York. And whereas it is doubtful whether a Receiver of the continental Taxes hath yet been recognized by the Legislature of that State, In...
10To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 15 April 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, April 15, 1782. On November 10, 1782, Hamilton sent to Thomas Tillotson, his successor as receiver of continental taxes for the State of New York, a list of papers “relative to the office of Receiver of Taxes.” Item number three on that list was described as “farther instructions from the Superintendant to Alexander Hamilton dated as above.” The preceding letter was dated April...
11To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 2 May 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Charles Stewart late Commissary general of Issues has informed me ⟨that⟩ you are disposed to quit the military line for the purpose of ⟨en⟩tering into civil life. He at the same time induced me to believe ⟨that⟩ you would accept of the Office of Receiver of the continental taxes ⟨for⟩ the state of New York. The intention of this letter is to offer you that ⟨app⟩ointment. The duties of the...
12To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 15 May 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, May 15, 1782. Sends a circular to the “Receivers of Taxes Eastward of Hudsons River” instructing them on the manner of transmitting notes, bank notes, and Morris notes to the Office of Finance in Philadelphia. Appoints John Brown of Philadelphia “Messenger by whom you are from Time to Time to transmit the Bank Notes which you may receive.” LC , Robert Morris Papers, Library of...
13To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 20 May 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your Letter of the fourth Instant and am very much obliged by the Attention shewn to the Subject of it. Your Sentiments on the Occasion I entirely approve and indeed before this reaches you you will probably have seen that the Letter has been republished in one of the Philadelphia Papers. I should readily consent to the Publication of many others which I have written on the...
14To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 4 June 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your favor of the eighteenth of May. I am much obliged by the friendly Sentiments you express for me which be assured I shall retain a gratefull Sense of. I see with you that the Office I had the Pleasure of Offering will not be equal to what your own Abilities will gain in the Profession of the Law but I did intend that the whole Sum should have been paid altho the whole quota...
15To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 2 July 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
I yesterday received your Letter of the seventeenth of June and am very happy to find you have determined to accept the office I had the Pleasure of offering to you. I enclose the commission, Instructions &ca. together with a Bond for Performance of the Duties which I must request you to fill up, execute with some sufficient Surety and transmit. The complaint you make of the System of...
16To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 12 July 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
I inclose you the Copy of my circular Letter to the several States of the twenty fifth of July 1781. The Answers I have received have been very few and very short of the Objects so that I have not been able to Act as I wished for want of necessary Information. I must beg you to take the most speedy and effectual Means in your Power to enable me to form a proper Judgment on such of the Subjects...
17To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 19 July 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
I have found it necessary to draw Bills on Mr. Swanwick in favor of different People and payable at various Periods. These are Bills of Exchange in the common Form and must be negotiated by Indorsements. You will always receive them in like Manner with my other Notes or Bank Notes and remit them which you can do without cutting them as they will be paid only to the Indorsee. I am Sir your most...
18To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 22 July 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter dated at Albany the 13th, Instant, as I can have no doubt but that your Efforts will be applyed to promote the Public Interests, I hope the Journey you propose to Poughkepsie may prove every way agreable to your Wishes. I am Sir Your Most Obedient Servt. LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; LC , Robert Morris Papers, Library of Congress.
19To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 28 August 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
I have duly received your several Favors of the Twenty second & twenty Seventh of July, and tenth and thirteenth of August. My not answering them is owing to Causes which you will easily conceive; because you will easily conceive the Multiplicity of Objects to which I must turn my Attention. I am very sorry to learn that you can no longer continue in the Office of Receiver. It would have given...
20To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 29 August 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
I have for certain Reasons thought it expedient to issue no more Orders on Mr. Swanwick payable at Sight but destroy them as they are brought in. And as the larger Bills of Exchange mentioned in my Letter of the nineteenth of July last tho an excellent Mode of general Remittance will not by Reason of the Greatness of the Sums answer the Ends intended by the States in making my Notes receivable...
21To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 6 September 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your Favor dated at Albany on the 25th. of last Month, with the Enclosures. I am much obliged by your attention in the Business you allude to, and knowing that your abilities and Zeal to promote the public Good are equal to the most arduous Undertakings I have no doubt but your Endeavours will be successful. I am Sir Your most obedient Servant LS , Hamilton Papers, Library...
22To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 12 September 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
Enclosed you will find Copies of my Letters of the twenty-ninth and thirtieth of July to Congress. I know not what Determinations they may come to on these Subjects but I transmit the Letters that you may be possessed of the Matter, fully obviate Misrepresentations, and inculcate at proper Opportunities those Principles of national Integrity which are essential to our Safety. I am Sir with...
23To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 17 September 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
I received by the Post your Favor of the seventh Instant. I have always suspected that the disorderly Manner of doing Business in many Parts of this Continent has enabled People to commit Frauds or what is the same thing as to the Public Loss covered their Ignorance Indolence and Extravagance. It is only by probing these Matters to the Bottom that the Extent of the Evil can be discovered and I...
24To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 5 October 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
I have now before me your Letters of the fourteenth and twenty first of last Month. I am sorry to find that you are less sanguine in your pecuniary Expectations than the Governor appears to be, for I have always found that the worst forebodings on this Subject are the truest. You will find at the Bottom of this Letter a List of all those which I have hitherto received from you. I think they...
25To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 5 October 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
I enclose you the Copy of an Act of the first Instant with the Copy of my Circular Letter to the Governors inclosing it. You will consider this Act as an Additional Evidence of the firm Determination of our Sovereign to persevere in those Systems which they have adopted. I recommend this Act to your serious and vigilant Attention in all its Parts. It is a mighty fashionable Thing to declaim on...
26To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 15 October 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
On perusing the Advertizement enclosed herewith you will see the Propriety of its having a general Circulation throughout the United States. I therefore request you will cause it to be published in the several News Papers that are printed in your State. I am Sir Your most obedient & humble Servant LC , Robert Morris Papers, Library of Congress. This was sent as a circular letter to the...
27To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 16 October 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
I am indebted for two of your Favors, one of which is without date, the other of the fifth Instant enclosing the Account of your Receipts to that Time. I am sorry the Propositions I made did not suit Colo. Malcolm and Mr. Lawrence. I am pleased that you approve the Plans for restoring public Credit and wish they had been adopted, as I conceive the substituting a mere temporary Expedient is...
28To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 23 October 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your favors of the 9th. and 12th. Instant with the account of your Receipts to the latter Date. As the purposes for which Mr Brown is employed will not admit of his passing through Albany, I shall consider of some arrangement for making Remittances from thence; of which you shall be seasonably Informed. Your Letter for General Green shall be forwarded. I shall soon have...
29To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 28 October 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your Favor dated at Albany on the 19th Instant with the Enclosures. What you say of your Prospect with Respect to the Receipt of Money for Taxes, is as you may easily suppose very unpleasing. I hope it will soon assume a different Appearance. Unless Something more be done by the States, many very dangerous as well as disagreable Consequences are to be apprehended. With sincere...
30Robert Morris to Alexander Hamilton, Theodorick Bland, Thomas FitzSimons, Samuel Osgood, and Richard Peters, 14 April … (Hamilton Papers)
Since the Conference I had the Honor to hold with you the ninth Instant, my Mind has been continually occupied on the important Subject to which it relates. My Feelings are strongly excited by what I wish for the Public and what I apprehend both for them and for myself. The two Points which relate to my Department are the Settlement of Accounts and Advance of Pay. With respect to the first it...
31To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 16 April 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been duly honored with the Receipt of your favor of the fifteenth Instant. I accepted the Marine Agency simply with a View to save the Expence of the Department but whenever a marine is to be established a previous Point would be (in my Opinion) to nominate a Minister of Marine and let his first Work be the forming of those Plans and Systems which when adopted by Congress he would have...
32Robert Morris to Alexander Hamilton, Richard Peters, and Nathaniel Gorham, 15 May 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
In Consequence of the Conversation which passed between us this Morning I shall give you the best information in my Power as to the State of my Department and the Resources I can command. You have in the enclosed Paper Number one an Account of Receipts and Expenditures from the Commencement of the Year to the End of the last Month by which it appears that there is an Advance on Credit to the...
33Appointment as Receiver of Continental Taxes, [15 April 1782] (Hamilton Papers)
To Alexander Hamilton Esquire Reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Zeal, Integrity and Abilities I do hereby in Consequence of the Authorities vested in me by an Act of the United States in Congress assembled of the second Day of November last appoint you Alexander Hamilton Esquire to be the Receiver of the continental Taxes for the State of New York. Given under my Hand and Seal in...
34A Public Notice by Franklin and Robert Morris, 5 December 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , December 6, 1775. Mrs. Brodeau, from England, Takes this Method of acquainting her Friends and the Public in general, that she has opened a Boarding School, in Walnut-street, near the Corner of Fourth-street, where young Ladies will be genteely boarded, and taught to read and speak the French and English Language, the Tambour, Embroidery, and every Kind of...
35Robert Morris to the American Commissioners, 18 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Connecticut Historical Society By this Opportunity I forward you sundry dispatches from Congress and the Committee of Secret Correspondance still at Baltimore, and from them I have just received the inclosed resolve of Congress dated the 5th Inst. Copies of which I shall transmit you by various Conveyances, in order that you may give orders for procuring the Articles required and to have...
36Robert Morris to the American Commissioners, 7 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress I have wrote you several letters and sent you dispatches from Congress and Committee of Correspondance by Mr. Reed who will probably be longer in reaching you than this but he goes by a much safer Conveyance as I apprehend. The Congress have adjourned from Baltimore to this place again but I think rather at an improper time as it...
37Robert Morris to the American Commissioners, 28 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: University of Virginia Library; copies: American Philosophical Society (two), Library of Congress I wrote you a few lines the 7th Inst. by Monsr. Coleaux and sent you the News papers to that time; by this Conveyance I send another packet of them under Cover to Mr. Delap at Bordeaux. There are only two Members of the Committee of Correspondance here at present, the rest being...
38To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 27 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS and duplicate: American Philosophical Society As Mr. Deane has been recalled by Congress, it is uncertain wether he may be in Paris when this arrives, therefore I inclose it to you, in order that you may read the Contents of a letter I wrote to Congress Yesterday and of another to him of this Date, after which you will please to forward or deliver them to him. By these you will discover...
39To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 18 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and two LS : American Philosophical Society I have never rec’d a line from you in reply to the letters I wrote you & Mr. Deane in Decemr. 1777 and confess it surprized me a little, but the matter is entirely cleared up by the receipt of your favour of the 19th Feby last as in a P.S: thereto you mention having answered my said letters which had been entirely satisfactory, desirous of...
40To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris: Two Letters, 31 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS and LS : American Philosophical Society; (II) ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I have just recvd by the hands of our mutual Friend Mr Holker your favour of the 22d Octr last recommending the affairs of Monsr De la Freté with Mr. Roulhac of Edenton to my assistance. I had already engaged in that service and you may depend that every recommendation of yours has the Force & effect...
41To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 25 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the liberty to introduce an Old acquaintance of mine to your Patronage & Protection whilst he may Stay in Paris which I apprehend will be but a Short time, it is Mr. Isaac Hazelhurst of this place who Visits Europe on Commercial Views and who I fancy will transact his business chiefly in France & Holland. Your Countenance cannot fail to be usefull to...
42To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 6 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; LS : American Philosophical Society, University of Pennsylvania Library, Historical Society of Pennsylvania (two) Your very obliging letter of the 3d of June last year has been with me some time altho it was long in reaching my hands. My intention in troubling you at this time is only to Announce the Appointment I have received from Congress of...
43To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 8 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; LS : University of Pennsylvania Library, Historical Society of Pennsylvania (two), Yale University Library, Independence National Historical Park, copies: Library of Congress, Harvard University Library In a private letter which I did myself the honour to write you the 6th Inst. I announced the Appointment I have received from the Honourable Congress to...
44To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 22 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society This Letter will I hope be in due time happily delivered to you by Mr. Geo. Harrison of this City— a Young Gent. of Good Family and Fortune whom I beg leave to Introduce to your Notice and Friendship— I doubt not his own Personal Merit will entitle him to these and I shall be thankfull to you for any Services it may be Convenient for you to Render...
45To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 13 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copies: Library of Congress, University of Pennsylvania Library The unanimous appointment to the Superintendancy of our Finances with which the Congress have honoured me, and my Conviction of the necessity that some one Person should endeavour to introduce Method & Oeconomy into the administration of affairs have induced me tho with reluctance to...
46To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 14 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; copies: Library of Congress, University of Pennsylvania Library If Major Franks had departed yesterday as was expected, he would have left the enclosed Cypher behind, it was supposed to have been enclosed with the plans of the intended Bank, but was left out by accident— I wish you would when leisure & opportunity will permit, converse with some of the...
47To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 19 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: University of Pennsylvania Library, Library of Congress The foregoing are Duplicates of my Letters of the several Dates there mentioned, by Major Franks who has sailed for Cadiz. I now enclose to you Duplicate Copies of the Letters and Resolutions referred to in mine of the thirteenth.— I do not write to Colo. Laurens, because I know not whether he is still in France, and because I am...
48To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 21 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Library of Congress I have now to inform you that the State of Pensilvania had emitted £500,000 in Bills of Credit, funded in such Manner that there could be no reasonable Doubt of their Redemption. But the public Confidence had been so impaired, that these Bills soon after they came out, rapidly depreciated, notwithstanding the Solidity of the...
49To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, August 28[–September 7] 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Herewith I send you No. 1 & 2. Triplicates of my Letters of the thirteenth and fourteenth July last No. 3 & 4, Duplicates of my Letters of the nineteenth and twenty first of July last. I have not yet executed the Plan mentioned in mine of the twenty first of July of drawing Bills on you for Reasons which it is not necessary to enumerate at present. Since my Letter to...
50To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 14 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Pennsylvania Library, American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress I take the Liberty to enclose to you a Note of two Books of which I am to request that you will cause three compleat Setts to be purchased on the public Account and sent to me by three different Conveyances. I am very respectfully Sir your most Obedient & humble Servant Notation: R. Morris Sept....