1To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 15 February 1813 (Jay Papers)
Last Tuesday Evening my Wife was delivered of a Boy. I communicate that Event because I believe it will give you Pleasure— Moreover I wish you to be one of his Godfathers. True it is that, according to the usual Course, you may not be able to perform the Duties of that Office; but, my Friend, should you be mingled with the Dust, he shall learn from the History of your Life that a Man must be...
2To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 11 September 1812 (Jay Papers)
You will have learnt that, on my Nomination, you was chosen one of the Delegates from WestChester County. If you should attend the first Day you would I doubt not be chosen President, but I think this would not suit you: Neither would it coincide with my Project which is that you should be one of the Delegates to the general Convention. Tell me frankly your View of the Subject, and who is in...
3Indenture: William Constable, Ann Constable, Alexander Hamilton, and Gouverneur Morris, [20 October 1802] (Hamilton Papers)
This Indenture made the twentieth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and two Between William Constable of the City of New York in the State of New York Gentleman and Ann his wife of the first part and Alexander Hamilton and Gouverneur Morris of the same State Esquires of the second part. Whereas by a certain agreement entered into and made before Mr. Lewis Fevot...
4Indenture: James Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont, Gouverneur Morris, and Alexander Hamilton, [4–5 September 1802] (Hamilton Papers)
This Indenture made the fourth Day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and two Between James Donatianus Le Ray de Chaumont of the first Part, Gouverneur Morris of the second Part and Alexander Hamilton of the third Part. Whereas it hath been agreed by and between the Parties of the first and second Part that the said Party of the second Part shall pay to the said...
5To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 31 August 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
Enclosed you have a Letter for you I have this Instant received from Leray. I must add a word respecting that same Bill of Exchange. I have agreed to pay to Mr. Tillier whatever the Company shall owe him and Thereby confirm what I have said to you upon that Subject but it is upon the express Condition that the Bill in Question be deposited, in your Hands if you please, so that I may be possest...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, [23 April 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr Morris presents respectful Compliments and is much oblig’d to Mr Jefferson for his kind Attention Mr M. will endeavor to have the Plan of a parquet executed if his Carpenters have not already gone too far in preparing Materials for one of their own Contrivance RC ( DLC ); undated; endorsed by TJ as received 23 Apr. and so recorded in SJL . Morris began building a new mansion at Morrisiana...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 21 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I receive this Instant your Favor of this Date. Were I at Home, I might perhaps find some Memorandum respecting the Transaction which it alludes to. Certainly I should find the Letters I have received, and Copies of those I may have written on the Subject. By the Copy Mr houdon has transmitted , of a Note from Mr Grand, it is evident that he at least must have misunderstood me. Hudon...
8To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 11 March 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
I have your two Letters of the 27th. of Feby. and the 4th. Instant. I thank you for them. In Reply to what you tell me in the Close of the former I can only say that your Talents if not your Birth entitle you to the Rank of an American Citizen. To be born in America seems to be a Matter of Indifference at New York, an advantage in New England, a Disadvantage in Pensilvania. You say I am not....
9To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 22 February 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
You Must pardon me for telling you I am sorry that you opposed sending a Petition to Congress against the Repeal of the Law of last Session for amending the judicial System. It will stop I suppose any such actions which might have come on from the Eastward and thus leave our Enemies to conclude against us from the Silence of our friends. Moreover it will enable your personal Enemies to say...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 13 November 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your Favor of the first. Accept my Thanks for the Communications which it contains. Time will eventually give us whatever Great Britain may withhold in a commercial Treaty. It is probably fortunate for us that she had not the Good Sense to accede at an earlier Period to our reasonable Propositions. I am glad to find it is so clearly your Opinion that Spain will yield to proper...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 23 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I am asham’d at this late Day to reply to your Letter of the sixth of June. I waited at first for an opportunity to send round the Plate intending to let you have the whole on such Conditions as would have perfectly agreed with the State of the Funds which you was so kind as to communicate. I could meet with no Opportunity and lately the Chancellor being on his Way to France where a Service of...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 20 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your Favor of the eighth Instant and am looking out for an Opportunity to send on the Plate, concluding you will some how or other take the whole Set. You say you have Forks and Spoons enough. In that Case it will be better to sell them, which can always be done to Advantage, and take those belonging to the Set which if I remember right are made of a Pattern to suit the Rest....
13To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 8 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I never was so long in my Life going the same Distance as on my Return from the City to this Place nor were there ever much worse Roads. This will excuse me I hope for what might otherwise seem neglect—The Service of Plate which I mentioned to you weighed in Paris six hundred and twenty two Marks making about 408 Pounds Troy which at 1⅓ per Oz or $16 per Pound will amount to $6528. There may...
14To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 26 January 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
I have now lying before me your Letter dated the instant. It contains important facts with many of which I had previously become acquainted but I dare not communicate the Contents because the Idea that two States will on a second Ballot come over forms already a Reason with the federal Members in the House of Representatives for supporting Mr Burr. They now seriously and generally after much...
15To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 16 January 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
I have yours of the 9th. I had already replied to those which it refers to. The Idea that a Division of the Votes would bring over the Aristocrats who call themselves Democrats to vote for Burr is unfounded. Were it otherwise a Number ⟨of⟩ Federalists , that is of Republicans would urge the Experiment and therefore the only Use I could make of your Letter was to communicate the Contents of it...
16To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 16 January 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
I this Instant receive your favor of the tenth. I thank you for it. The Aurora will have shewn you the Result of our Deliberations on the Convention at least of those which went to a Division worth noting. If it sticks in France it will be respecting Points on which the Vote was unanimous or nearly so. As to the Induction from the Words of the 2d Article that the old Treaties subsisted tho...
17To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 5 January 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your favors of the 24th. and 26th of last Month. I am much oblig’d by both. The Convention with france will be ratified sub Modo . Such at least is my Opinion. I wish 1st to strike out the 2d & 3d Articles 2dly. to fix a Limitation of Time. The 2d Art. ⟨by⟩ suspending the Operation admits the Existence of former ⟨Tr⟩eaties. The Restitution of our Trophies stipulated by the 3d...
18To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 19 December 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
In Company this Day I heard much said about the Treaty brought to us by Mr. Davie, wherefore as it is a Subject of public Conversation those Restraints which I had impos’d on myself are remov’d and I take the earliest Opportunity of saying one Word about it to you. The Negotiation appears to have been very well conducted on the Part of France and the Result is probably equal to her Wishes. It...
19To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 9 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
During a late Visit to New York, I learnt that the leading federal Characters (even in Massachusetts) consider Mr Adams as unfit for the Office he now holds. Without pretending to decide on the Merits of that Opinion, which will operate alike whether well or illfounded, it appeared necessary to name some other Person. You will easily conceive that his Predecessor was wished for and regretted,...
20To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 9 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I take the Liberty to enclose a Letter long since transmitted to me for Monsieur de la fayette. It was in London with my Papers when I saw him last at Altona but (if in my Possession) I should perhaps have withheld it as having no probable Relation to any Matter within his present Competency—I should have delivered it into your own Hands at Mount Vernon if Business which demands my Attendance...
21To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 5 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
Private It is now some Time since I received your kind Letter of the 4 March accompanying a Copy of that which you did me the Honor to write on the 22d Decr. The Original of this last has never yet reached my Hands. On that to which it is principally a Reply I must give you a Clue which for sundry Reasons I could not send in due Season. It was written to bear the Inspection of Ld G—— &ca &ca—I...
22To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 4 March 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just now written to the President to communicate some Intelligence lately receiv’d from Paris. This I have done in Abstract but my Correspondent has written to me as follows: “The Government here are highly displeas’d with ours. You may easily guess the Reason. It is come to a very serious State. A Fleet is to be sent to our Shore with a new minister. A definitive Answer must be given...
23To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 4 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
The last Letter which I had the Honor to write was of the 11 Jany. On the Subjects there mention’d I will only say that the french Finances are quite as bad as I suppos’d they would be. That another Campaign seems now unavoidable. And that it is so much the Interest of some among the allied Powers to restore royal Authority in France that I think it will now form a real Object. If you ask my...
24Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to Alexander Hamilton, 4 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have just now written to the President to communicate some Intelligence lately received from Paris. This I have done in abstract but my correspondent has written to me as follows “The Government here are highly displeased with ours. You may easily guess the Reason. It is come to a very serious pitch. A fleet is to be sent to our shore with a new minister. A definitive answer must be given in...
25To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 11 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
When I wrote to you on the fifth Instant; of which Letter a Copy is enclos’d, I had not Time to notice a Subject about which different Ideas are entertain’d here. I mean the late Measures taken in France to establish their Finances. These may perhaps be announced in America not only as the Perfection of human Wisdom, but also as inevitably productive of the best Effects: in which Respect they...
26To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 5 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the Honor of writing to you on the 19th of last month, of which Letter I now transmit a Copy. I exprest an Idea in the Close of it which may perhaps require an explanatory Observation. Suppose it should be admitted, in general, that the neutral who, by Virtue of special Permission granted during the War, exercises a Commerce with the belligerent Power’s Dominion, from which he was...
27To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 1 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
In wishing you many & happy years I beg Leave to transmit an Extract from a Letter of Madame de Chattellux lately receiv’d. It is as follows “—This being a safe opportunity I shall acquaint you with those Steps I have taken to sollicit your Country’s Protection, and if possible something more, in favour of my little Alfred whose Situation you are no Stranger to. I have applied to that Purpose...
28To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 19 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have had it several Times in my Mind to write to you since my Arrival in this City but Something or other has always happened to prevent it. I might have told you near a Month ago that Mr Liston the British Minister at Constantinople is appointed to represent this Court in America. Speaking with Ld Grenville on the Subject the other Day he said “Your Friend Woranzow is very angry that I have...
29To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 23 August 1795 (Washington Papers)
private Just before I left Town I receiv’d a Letter from Mr Mountflorence informing that Mr Skipwith whom Mr Munroe had appointed to the Consulate at Paris intended to resign and that Mr Munroe had promised to recommend him to that Place. He at the same Time desir’d me (if I thought him fit for the Place) to mention it to my friends in America. After this Introduction I take the Liberty to...
30To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 16 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
It has been impossible for me, owing to an Ague and fever, to write to you as I intended a very long Letter. This will I expect be delivered to you by Mr Livingston my late Secretary while in France who will be able to give you much useful Intelligence respecting that Country. I regret his Absence from London just now as I would otherwise give him some matter which must not be written. I am in...
31To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 3 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
This Letter will be confin’d to a single Object. I had Yesterday the Honor to see Lord Grenville. After some general Conversation we fell naturally on the State of Things between this Country and America. On the Capture of our provision Vessels (premising that I had no Right to interfere) I exprest a Wish that the Redress intended might be speedy, as Delay was hurtful to the Merchant. His...
32To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 5 June 1795 (Washington Papers)
This will accompany my last of the 30 Decr. Within these two Days I have receivd Duplicates of the Letters to which it replies Accept I pray you my Thanks for that Attention. A many little Things have detaind me here since the Navigation opened but the Day after Tomorrow I shall I trust embark for London. I will take the Liberty of writing to you from that City on the State of Things as they...
33To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 25 July 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the Honor to transmit to you on the twenty third of last April an Account of the payments made in Consequence of your letter of the 15th. of September 1792. Since which I have written to correct an Omission in that account of a payment made in Holland by my Order of the Amount due to the person who stands the twenty sixth in the list you sent me. On the fifth Instant and in Consequence...
34To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 25 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
(private) My dear Sir Sainport 25 July 1794 Since I had the Honor of writing to you on the 14th of last April I have receiv’d yours of the 13th June 1793. It was a little more than a Year on it’s Passage. Before it reached me Madame de la fayette (who in Common with most others of the Nobility had been confined in her Province) was brought on to Paris where she is now imprisoned. As soon as I...
35To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 18 May 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
In the list I sent you of payments made by our Bankers here I did not include the Sum of bf. 5997. paid by the Bankers at Amsterdam on the 12. April 1793 and which at the then agio of 1½ p % amounted to f. 6086.19. as you will find by their account being for No. 26. in your list sent me amounting to livres 13327.14.10 equal to Dollars 2468. 1. The party to whom this payment was made writes me...
36To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 23 April 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
In Conformity to the directions contained in your letter of the 13 Sepr. 1792 sundry payments have been made. I pray your Reference to that list while you examine the enclosed note of those payments. The numbers refer to the order in which the names stand on your list. Moreover as I transmit the Sums both in Dollars and livres I think there will be no difficulty in making the needful Entries....
37To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 18 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
In a Letter which I had the Honor of writing to you on the 10th of January 1793, I gave you some Traits respecting Mr Westerman, and as my public Dispatches had already communicated the Plans of Mr Danton, you will not have been surpriz’d at what has lately happened to them. I wrote to you on the 25th of June that those who rul’d the Roast had just Ideas of the Value of popular Opinion. Also...
38To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 12 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
I send you herewith a Duplicate of my last Letter in the close of which I mention my Adherence to the Opinions exprest in my last but on recurring to my private Letter Book which was not then before me I find that the Letter I there alluded to was written on the eighteenth of October. It went by Captain Culver and has I hope arrived in due Season. Every Day confirms what is contain’d in that...
39To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 5 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
Duplicate My dear Sir, Paris 5 Feby 1794. In a New’s Paper of this Day I find the Translation of your Message of the fifth of December to Congress, and observe that after stating the Violation of the Treaty by a Decree of the national Convention you tell them I have been instructed to make Representations on the Subject. Now this my dear Sir is the first I hear and all I know of such...
40To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 12 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
Monsieur de la forét calld just now while I was at the Ministers’ to inform me that he shall probably leave Paris ToMorrow Morning I therefore write this as an Introduction to you and proceed to give a hasty Sketch of the Form in which the Business now stands. A Commission is named (the Appointments not yet gone through the Forms) to consist of four Persons. The Minister is a Mr Fauchèt...
41To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 29 October 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
My friend Colo. Hamilton will thank me for procuring him the acquaintance of Mr. DeVolney the Gentleman who will deliver this Letter. A Splendid reputation in the literary world will command his ready admittance to all good Company his agreable qualities will render him a desireable guest and a valuable acquaintance. LC , Gouverneur Morris Papers, Library of Congress. Constantin François...
42To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 29 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of introducing to the acquaintance of General Washington a person highly deserving of his Notice: Monsieur de Volney who will have the Honor to deliver this letter goes out to acquire in America an Addition to his Stock of knowledge. His Conversation equally pleasing and instructive will I trust agreably relax some of your careful Hours. I am happy in the opportunity he...
43To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 19 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
I had Hopes untill last Evening that the Persons who are to go out as Commissioners from hence would have embarkd with Captain Culver, but Circumstances have delay’d the Appointment. The Plan which was in Agitation and which will probably be carried into Effect is to send over three or four Commissioners one of whom will be charg’d with Letters of Credence but instructed to conform to the...
44To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 18 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
You will see by the Official Correspondence that your orders are complied with, and that your Intentions are fulfilled. Permit me on this occasion to remark that had the People of America been well inform’d of the State of Things on this Side of the Atlantic, no one would have dar’d to adopt the Conduct which Mr Genest has pursued. In reading the few Gazettes which have reach’d me I am...
45To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 17 October 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Moscow Livingston delivered to me yours of the 25th. of July. He says that you alone gave him an Idea of this Country like the Reality. His Astonishment proves that he did not beleive you and would you hear him you might in your Turn be astonished to find that your sound Understanding while it grasp’d the future Event had never contemplated the progressive Circumstances. I leave to others...
46To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 13 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Enclos’d herein you will find Copies of my Letters of the 27 and 28 June 4. 21. and 24 July and 6 August to the Minister of foreign Affairs with Copies of his Letters to me of the 3. 19. 29 and 30 July. From these you will perceive that my Application for an Order to the Minister of France in America to pay out of the Funds to be furnished by the United States the Drafts made on his...
47To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 7 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Enclos’d herewith you will find my Account up to the first of the last month. I did not send it sooner because I wish’d to comprize therein those of the Consulates none of which are come forward. I shall therefore write to them on the Subject. You will observe that I charge therein 24₶ given to an American Sea Officer. He appear’d to be, and really was, in very great distress, so that I could...
48To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 25 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have just receivd yours of the twenty fifth of March and do very sincerely condole with you on the melancholy Event which it communicates. Make I pray you my dear Sir the proper assurances of my Regret on this Occasion to Colo. Bassett as well as to Mrs Washington. Not having had Time to read the Gazettes which are but just (and but in part) arriv’d I cannot from them derive the Information...
49To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 25 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
This will I expect accompany my last No. 32 of the twelfth Instant no Opportunity having offered since it was written. I do myself the Honor to enclose herein the Copy of what I wrote on the nineteenth Instant to Monsieur Le Brun respecting an atrocious Violation of our Flag and respecting a very extraordinary Step taken by the Convention in the repeal on Motion of a Member, of the Decree by...
50To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 23 June 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
The annexed is Duplicate of what I had the Honor to write on the twentieth of May. For your better understanding of it I will here add a short explanation of the Plan I had formed and would have carried into Effect. It was to open a loan for Stg £300000 of which the Interest of 4p% was to be paid here annually and the Capital at the End of fourteen years. For the Interest one of the first...