George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-19-02-0172

To George Washington from Robert Morris, 7 December 1795

From Robert Morris

Philada Decemr 7th 1795

Dear Sir

My Strong desire to give an agreable Answer to your Note of the 3d inst. restrained me from doing it sooner. I am not in possession of Money at present, nor can it be obtained in any way but upon Usurious Loans, However repugnant such Loans are to my interest & feelings, I have made offers that are held under Consideration at present, which if accepted will put it in my power to remit the Sum asked by the Commrs for the City of Washington, and if attained I shall instantly do it. I am Dr Sir Your most obed. Servt

Robt Morris

ALS, DLC:GW; copy, DLC: Robert Morris Papers.

On 27 Dec., having received letters from his fellow commissioners about their financial straits and having failed to obtain any immediate assistance from Morris, Alexander White wrote the commissioners that he had sent GW their letters and then conversed with him. White reported GW as saying, “if he had money he would freely advance it, but that it was as much as he could do to get along with all the money he could raise.” GW had “lost all expectations of money from Mr Morris,” but sending “Morris & Nicholsons Notes to market would expose the distress of the City at this critical period, and after all might not raise 5/ in the pound—And to bring suit would afford no immediate relief.” It would be better to wait until after the commissioners’ effort to obtain a loan guaranteed by Congress was concluded (DNA: RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Letters Received).

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