11To George Washington from Robert Morris, 1 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with your favour of yesterday by Mr Howell late last night, & ever solicitous to comply with your requisitions I am up very early this morning to dispatch a supply of fifty thousand Dollars to your Excellency You will receive that Sum with this letter but it will not be got away so early as I cou’d wish for none concerned in this movement except myself are up, I shall rouse them...
12To John Jay from Robert Morris, 12 January 1777 (Jay Papers)
I have been possessed of your obliging fav r . of the 2 d Ulto a considerable time, but being too much pressed with public & private business to permit my being a regular correspondent it is needless to apologize. You undoubtedly must have been well acquainted with the rapid progress made by our Enemies through the Jerseys and the danger to which this City has been exposed for some Weeks past,...
13To George Washington from Robert Morris, 14 January 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Robert Morris, 14 Jan. 1777. On 19 Jan. GW wrote Morris : “Your favor of the 14th, with the despatches from Congress, came safe to hand.”
14To George Washington from Robert Morris, 31 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with several of Your favours lately but as they did not require an immediate acknowledgement and I have been much pressed with business it did not appear necessary to interrupt You or myself. We are told here the Troops have left Rhode Island & burnt Newport how true this [is] I do not know, but it is Certain they had embarked part of the Troops there before a Mr McCleary...
15To John Jay from Robert Morris, 4 February 1777 (Jay Papers)
Your favour of the 7 th Ult o came safe to hand, Timothy Jones is certainly a very entertaining, agreable Man, one woud not judge so from any thing contained in his cold insipid letter of the 17 th Sept r . unless you take pains to find the Concealed beauties therein, The Cursory observations of a Sea Captain wou’d never discover them, but transferred from his hand to the penetrating Eye of a...
16To George Washington from Robert Morris, 12 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have this Morning received the letter & two parcells of Money sent herewith, from Mr Hancock who requests you will send them in by a Flagg, the letter is for Lieutt Colo. Rawlings one parcell said to Contain six half Joes is for him & the other said to Contain ten half Joes for Lieutt Cresap but both are to be delivered to Colo. Rawlings according to the terms of the letter herewith. A ship...
17Robert 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...
18To George Washington from Robert Morris, 27 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favour of the 22d Inst. which wears a very serious countenance and the opinion I entertain of the Strength of your judgement and propriety of your observations, creates doubts in my Mind which I confess I had discarded, as to the safety of this City. from various Accounts I have been taught to believe that the Enemy have since Christmass lost so many Horses, are in such want of...
19To George Washington from Robert Morris, 6–15 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 2d Inst. the good opinion you are pleased to entertain of me makes me very happy because there is no mans opinion I reverence more and that very circumstance is at the same time the source of trouble in my mind as you force me to abandon that Idea of Security which I was desirous of maintaining; it is truely lamentable that we have never been able to this day to...
20Robert 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...
21Robert 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...
22To John Jay from Robert Morris, 1 April 1777 (Jay Papers)
The enclosed letters came by a French Ship to New Hampshire & were sent under Cover to me by M r Langdon with many others, I believe they are from England, and wish they may convey agreable Tidings. Last Week a Brig t arrived here with 6800 Muskets & 2100 Gun Locks, another in Maryl d With 633 bbls Powder & this ship into Portsmouth brought with her about 12,000 Muskets, 1000 bbls Powder a...
23To George Washington from Robert Morris, 10 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have not taken the liberty of giving You any trouble for sometime past and indeed I never do it but with great reluctance because I know how much Your attention & time must be engaged in the most important pursuits. The bearear of this the Marquis Armand de la Rouerie is entitled to my Warmest recommendations because he brought from his own Country letters to me that I am obliged to attend...
24To George Washington from Robert Morris, 16 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your Excellencys desire in your favour of the 14th Current, I have taken from the Minutes of the Committee of Congress who resided here last Winter, an account of the Silver sent you to Trenton, as underneath. I must assure you that it affords me true pleasure to be favoured with your Commands and that my best wishes are constantly for your health and prosperity being most...
25To 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...
26To George Washington from Robert Morris, 19 January 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Robert Morris, 19 Jan. 1778. On 10 Feb. 1778 GW wrote Morris : “Your favor of the 19th Ulto by Colo. Armand came to my hands a few days ago.”
27To George Washington from Robert Morris, 22 April 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Robert Morris, 22 April 1778. On 27 April, GW wrote Morris , “I have your favr of the 22d instant.” The cover sheet of the letter, docketed “Manheim 22d Apl 1778 from Robt Morris Esqr. Ansd 27th,” is in DLC:GW . A few scattered words are readable in the margin of the cover’s verso: “of wh . . . shou’d . . . with Public . . . discreet.”
28To George Washington from Robert Morris, 9 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with yours of the 27th Ulto which needs no reply, I also rec’d your answer to what I had wrote respecting Colo. Armand & did not think it necessary to trouble you further on that Subject. In a letter from my Friend Isaac Governeur Esqr. dated Curracoa 11th Feby 1778, which reached me a few days since, is the following paragraph “there is also a small Box Containing one dozn...
29To 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...
30To George Washington from Robert Morris, 1 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
As I make it a rule never to claim any share of your attention without some sufficient cause, it gives me pleasure when an occasion does offer to pay my Compliments with propriety. Don Digges (a Gentn whom I do not know), residing in Theneriffe has given me the present opportunity, by shipping a Pipe of fine old wine onboard a Schooner Called the Hancock Capt. Scott intended for this place,...
31To 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...
32To John Jay from Robert Morris, 6 July 1780 (Jay Papers)
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 M rs . Meredith at Trenton to M rs . Jay. I regret that I did not fix a Cypher with...
33To George Washington from Theunis Dey, Robert Morris and Peter Wilson, c.20 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Memorial of the Subscribers on Behalf of the Inhabitants of the County of Bergen now Prisoners with the Enemy Humbly sheweth. That a Number of Persons borne on the Militia Rolls of this County, and active in defending their Country by Arms have in different Incursions of the Enemy been taken, some in Arms, and some out of their Beds, and carried into New-York, where they remain in close...
34To George Washington from Robert Morris, 28 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am indebted to Andw Elliot Esqr. of New-York for many Acts of Friendship, Civilty & Humanity shewn by him at my request to various American Prisoners in that place, He has obtained them liberty to return on Parole, to be exchanged, or advanced them Money just as their Circumstances required, and I have had no call to make return’s untill now, that a Captn Mure of the 82d Regt lately taken...
35To 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...
36To George Washington from Robert Morris, 16 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty to enclose herewith a Note rec’d last Winter from Andrew Elliot Esqr. of New York requesting me to forward a Commission of Genl Robertson’s which was taken onboard a Packet & brought in here, I have had a good deal of trouble to obtain this Commission but having at length succeeded, I think it most proper to send it to your Excellency, that You may convey it safely to New...
37To 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...
38To George Washington from Robert Morris, 29 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I find by several letters that have come before my view, you have been informed of what has passed between Congress and my self relative to the office of Superintendant of Finance. The unmeritted abuse I had formerly received as the reward of Exertions as disinterested and pure as ever were made by Mortal Man had determined me against a very public Station, and God knows my Sentiments are not...
39To George Washington from Robert Morris, 29 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
A Committee of Congress having communicated to me the distress of Your Army for want of Bread and shewn me a Motion that had been made in Congress in Consequence thereof, but which was Committed in order to a Conference with me on the Subject. I found myself immediately impressed with the Strongest desire to afford you Relief and also to avoid such measures as are proposd in the said motion,...
40To John Jay from Robert Morris, 5 June 1781 (Jay Papers)
I must freely acknowledge the justice of Your charge against me as a bad Correspondant, for the force of Truth wou’d Convict were I to deny, and perhaps Friendship will hardly bear with paliatives but knowing well your attachment to and practice of Sincerity, I shall honestly tell you I did not like to write on political matters, and in what may be called Domestick you had constantly better...
41To 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...
42To 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...
43To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Morris, 11 June 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
No doubt you have seen in the Publick Papers, the plan of Establishing a National Bank, the necessity of which every body sees that allow themselves the least time for reflection on the present State of Public Credit. All the Publick Bodies in America, have more or less lost the Confidence of the World as to Money Matters, by trying Projects and applying Expedients to stop a Course of...
44To George Washington from Robert Morris, 15 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your very kind & obliging letter of the 4th Inst. and shou’d sooner have replied, but I am kept here in a kind of Suspense by the very slow manner of proceeding in the Assembly of this State. I am Financier Elect, but that is all, for had I taken the Oath & my Commission my Seat in the assembly must have been Vacated, and I think it of the utmost consequence to...
45To George Washington from Robert Morris, 21 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Mr Lowrey having inform’d me of his sending forward the Thousand bbls Flour. and I find the Expence saved by it half Crown in the Ct. Weight, have thought proper to Agree with him for 1000 barrells, more fresh & Sweet, to be delivered to Your Excellencys Order. should you desire any particular rout to be taken with this Supply, and dispatch, or time, used in furnishing it, Your Excellency will...
46To 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...
47To John Jay from Robert Morris, 29 June 1781 (Jay Papers)
I did expect to have written you official letters before this time, having now received my Commission and fairly entered upon the duties of my Station, but Congress press business on me so exceedingly, that I cannot yet command the time necessary for writing all I have to say to you. This I write at the request of a most worthy man, my friend M r . John Ross, to whom Congress have made a...
48To George Washington from Robert Morris, 2 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 28th ulto and am happy to have contributed to your relief in any shape, be assured that it shall be my study to guard you as much as possible against, the distress and perplexity that arise from want of Provisions &c. and if the several Legislatures will only do their part with vigour I shall have the strongest hopes of putting a much better face on our monied...
49To John Jay from Robert Morris, 4 July 1781 (Jay Papers)
The Derangement of our Money Affairs. The Enormity of our public Expenditures. The Confusion in all our Departments. The Langour of our general System. The Complexity and consequent Inefficacy of our Operations. These are some, among the many, Reasons which have induced Congress to the Appointment of a Superintendent of Finance. I enclose you Copies of their Resolutions on that Subject, with...
50To George Washington from Robert Morris, 5 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
You Will find enclosed herein the Copy of an Act of Congress of the 4th June whereby I am vested with Powers to dispose of the Specific supplies required from the several States in such manner as with your Excellencys Advice, I may judge will best promote the Publick interest and Answer the purposes of the present Campaigne—some former acts of Congress respecting these same Specific Supplies...
51To John Jay from Robert Morris, 7 July 1781 (Jay Papers)
This will accompany my former Letter of the 4 th Instant, which you will perceive to be so written, as that it may be shewn if necessary to the spanish Minister. You will make such Use of it as Prudence may dictate. I would gladly now give you Details of our Situation and Plans for reforming it But I have not yet sufficiently obtained the one, nor mastered the other. Whenever I am in Capacity...
52To John Jay from Robert Morris, 9 July 1781 (Jay Papers)
Observing by your Correspondence with Congress that you are put to a great deal of Expence by American Seamen arriving from Captivity at Cadiz where they also grow very troublesome— I offer the following Proposal to your consideration— Authorise M r Harrison or whoever may be your Agent at Cadiz, to enter into Contracts with Such Americans as present themselves for the Bounty of their Country...
53To 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...
54To John Jay from Robert Morris, 13 July 1781 (Jay Papers)
I enclose you in this Packet the Plan of a national Bank, which I have been induced to adopt for the following Reasons. The issuing of a large Paper Medium converted the Coin of the Country into a Commodity; so that much of it was exported, and the Remainder concealed. The Depreciation of our Paper has so lessened our Currency that there is not a Sufficiency for Commerce and Taxation without...
55To 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...
56To 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...
57To 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...
58To George Washington from Robert Morris, 23 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am indebted for your favours of the 10th & 13th Inst. the first regarding Mr Lowreys supplies of Flour which he is to extend in the whole to three thousand barrells, this with one thousand from Genl Schuyler and what the Commissaries may have otherwise provided will I suppose keep You in bread for some time to come, and I hope at our Meeting we may be able to Concert such measures as will in...
59To George Washington from Richard Peters, 13 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Order of Congress which we have the Honour to communicate directing us to confer with your Excellency on the Subject of the proposed Numbers & Arrangements of the Army for the next Campaign, not having pointed out the Reasons inducing the Measure, we have the Honour to lay before you our Ideas on the Subject so far as we are acquainted with the Matter from a Conference at which we were...
60To John Jay from Robert Morris, 15 August 1781 (Jay Papers)
Enclosed you have a List of sundry Bills of Exchange drawn on you. I wrote you relatively to these Bills on the twenty ninth day of July last with sundry Enclosures Explanatory of my Letter I am now to inform you that the Advices contained in that Letter must from particular circumstances be totally disregarded. Should any of the Bills mentioned in the enclosed List come to your Hands you will...