31To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 3 January 1780 (Jay Papers)
You will doubtless be glad to hear News from this Quarter. Your Friends are all well. Our Army are hutted in the Vicinity of Morris Town except a Detachment consist. of the North Carolina & Virginia Troops who are on their March to the Southward three thousand — The Don on the Part of the Governor of havannah did lately propose to Congress to assist in the Reduction of Florida .— They have...
32To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 20 March 1780 (Jay Papers)
The Disaster you met with and the Delay occasioned by it will make all my Letters old before you see them— Your Note from Martinique the Day after your arrival shuts my Mouth as to any Thing worth your knowing. This Letter will go by a circuitous Rout but I trust a safe one. I shall therefore mention that Congress have anvilled out another new System of Finance the Plain English of which is a...
33To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 28 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I ⟨ mutilated ⟩ to write a Letter which I ⟨ mutilated ⟩ you to excuse. If I am rightly inform’d of the Situation of the Enemy the Next E⟨m⟩barkation will not leave above 6.000 Men in New York. Supposing this to be the Case I will go on to suppose that the french Troops with 2.000 Militia are throw⟨n⟩ upon Long Island and march Westward. That you move down with 10.000 Men to the Neighbourhood...
34To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 2 January 1781 (Jay Papers)
A Packet offers for France and I seize the Opportunity to present you the Wishes usual on ^ at ^ the present Season with that true Sincerity which you who know me cannot doubt of however you may have found Reason in your Converse with Mankind to be on the sceptic Side as to all Professions. Gratulate for me your Lady your Brother and my Friend Carmichael. If I do not write to him by this...
35To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 31 March–1 April 1781 (Jay Papers)
I will enclose you the Copy of a Letter from Green to Congress if I get it in Time, which I expect. Should the Returns be omitted (which I am led to suspect) I will subjoin to this Letter so much of them as I have heard. Green’s Reasons for fighting will not appear nor the relative Numbers & Force. For the latter take this Sketch. Cornwallis about from 3000 to 3500 well disciplined and...
36To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 7[–9] May 1781 (Jay Papers)
I have received yours of the 5 th Nov r & a Duplicate of it. I sincerely thank you for this only Favor I have received. Your Laconick Style has not forsaken you. Congress have by the same Opportunity which brought this Letter of the 5 th Nov r . received some of a much later Date. I suppose it was Deane who wrote to you from France about the Loss of my Leg. This Acc t is facetious. Let it...
37To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 17 June[–13 July] 1781 (Jay Papers)
Although I beleive myself thoroughly acquainted with you yet I cannot tell whether I ought to congratulate or condole with you on your late appointment . Ere this reaches you you will have learnt that you are on the part of this country one of five to negociate for Peace — So far you are something but when you come to find by your instructions that you must ultimately obey the dictates of the...
38To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 20 January 1782 (Jay Papers)
It is so long since I have received a Letter from you that I will not pretend to account for thi I have received but one Letter from you in a very long time and by an Inattention I can only describe and not date it. It was ^ chiefly in Cypher ^ in answer to mine announcing a certain Appointment & Part of it was copied by your private Secretary. The Cypher I shall use in this if I have Occasion...
39To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 10 March 1782 (Jay Papers)
I have received and now acknowlege your Letter of the tenth of November which arrived by Captain Jackson a few Days since. The Enclosure of that Letter shall be properly made Use of. The Letter you mention to have written to me in September I never received. To explain what appears misterious in one of my Letters as to a Gentleman who wondered you did not write to him I say only that from his...
40To George Washington from Henry Knox, 16 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
We arrived here yesterday a few Minutes after twelve. The british Commissioners have not yet appeared. We learn that Letters have gone forward to your Excellency from the british General and Admiral. We shall set off from home this Day, and wait your farther orders in the Vicinity. Colo. Skinner will forward them. We have the Honor to enclose an English Paper of the third of January, by which...
41To George Washington from Henry Knox, 16 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
We received your Excellency’s Letter of the fourteenth this Morning, previous to the Receipt of which we had written to you by Lieutenant Blair of the Jersey Line. We have written to Sir Henry Clinton, of which the enclosed is a Copy, and sent it with another to the Officer commanding on Staten Island requesting him to facilitate Mr Skinner’s Passage to New York, whom we have instructed to...
42To George Washington from Henry Knox, 22 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
We did ourselves the honor to write to your Excellency from Elizabeth-Town on the 16th instant, after which, we concluded it necessary to retire from thence, as some people might have been induced, from a suppos’d neutrality, to have had improper communications with the Enemy. Mr Skinner proceeded to New-York on that day, but from bad weather was not able to return untill the 20th. We have...
43To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 29 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Smith delivered your Excellency’s Letter of the twenty eighth, between four and five Yesterday Afternoon. You mention having had Intimations, that under the Idea of the Cessation of Hostilities a Number of People intend to come over from New York to our Lines, and express your particular Desire that no Persons coming from the Enemy may be permitted to Land, except the Commissioners and...
44To George Washington from Henry Knox, 16 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
General Forman (who is now on his way to you with a Representation on the Hanging of Captain Hoddy by the Refugees) will have the Honor of delivering your Excellency this Letter. Previous to the Generals Arrival we had heard of this Matter altho not so particularly. We mentioned it to General Dalrymple and Mr Elliott. They seemed to be surprised and wounded at the Information & assured us of...
45To George Washington from Henry Knox, 21 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
As it is probable that our report of this date may after having been transmitted to Congress come before the public eye, we have thought it best to give in a distinct letter the information which it may be unnecessary or improper to publish. Your Excellency will perceive that we had no proper oppo rt unity of bringing forward distinctly the affair of Mr Laurens. By pushing it abruptly into...
46To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 21 May 1782 (Jay Papers)
I write these Lines to acknowlege yours from S t . Ildefonso of the twenty eighth of September. To enclose you a short Resolution of Congress. To tell you that Col o . Livingston and your Brother James met in the Provost at New York. Livingston is with us. James is at large in New York. Your Family except one are alive and well. I am sorry to add that your Father is no more. I know how much...
47To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 1 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed is a Packett containing two Weeks News Papers for Genl Dalrymple—They are sent in Consequence of an Agreement we made at Elizabeth town being a cartel of Gazettes—We were to send out the New York Papers—these we want for the Use of the Office and had in Vain attempted to get them thro the Commissary of Prisoners. He promised very fairly—Should Genl Dalrymple send out the News Papers...
48To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 6 August 1782 (Jay Papers)
I received your Letter of the twenty eighth of April by Major Franks. It came too late for I had already applied the Copy of a certain Correspondence in the Manner you intended when you sent it. I decyphered and read your Letter to the Minister of foreign Affairs. If I were with you or had Time to use my Cypher, I would say somewhat on it. I think that Congress will not be silent— Should you...
49To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 26 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellency’s Favor of the eighteenth Instant last Evening. I pray you to accept my most grateful Acknowledgements for this mark of Approbation and Confidence. As the Enemy appear to be desirous of doing Justice the Meeting about to take Place will I trust be under better Auspices than the former. It may perhaps be successful. Nothing would give me greater Pleasure than to...
50To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 9 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
In Consequence of a very interesting Conversation which has passed between Mr Ogden and myself, I have advised him to wait upon you. He will deliver this Letter. How far what he has to communicate may merit Attention you can best determine. I confess that I think it very important. Believe me always very sincerely yours PHi : Etting Collection.
51To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 1 January 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have recieved your Letter of the thirteenth of October from Paris. I am daily convinced of the Necessity of writing principally in Cypher because It will among other Things tend eventually to give one’s Letters a safe Passage when it shall have been found that impertinent or designing Curiosity exercises her Talents in vain. That Part of your Letter to me in Cypher I have communicated only...
52II. Gouverneur Morris to William Helmsley, 30 April 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
In compliance with your request I will now throw together a few ideas on the subject of a new coinage. For the greater clearness they shall be classed under five heads. 1. Reasons why a coin should be struck. 2. The denomination of such coin. 3. The quantity of fine silver in such denomination. 4. The expence of a coinage. 5. The different peices of coin proposed. First then I take the liberty...
53To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 30 May 1783 (Jay Papers)
My Time will not permit any Thing more at this Time than to assure you of my Affection and to pray you will present me most warmly to M rs . Jay and your little ones— Beleive me I take a sincere Interest in all which may concern them— I could not if I would say any Thing on Politics worthy of Attention— All you friends here are well myself among the Number— Adieu always beleive me very...
54To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 21 July 1783 (Washington Papers)
I take the Liberty of introducing to your Acquaintance Mr Darby a young Gentleman of family from England—He comes hither with warm Recommendations from our Ministers abroad and as far as may be determined from a very short Acquaintance is a Man of fashion who has kept the best Company—His Object is to see America and his first Excursion is to see you. Believe me very truly yours DLC : Papers...
55To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 25 September 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have received your Letter of the twelfth of March by M r . Penn, sixth of April by M r . Redford, & twenty ninth of July by M r . Hunt, for all which I am to thank you. Let me also thank you for your Letter of the seventeenth of July. Personally, I shall be very happy to see you in the Spring, but I confess that I do not very clearly see how it can prove advantageous either to yourself or to...
56To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 10 January 1784 (Jay Papers)
I write to acknowledge your Letter of the twenty fourth of September— Being uncertain where you are, and consequently what Course this Letter may take, and thro what Hands it will pass, I shall not ^ say ^ so much as I other wise might. I will direct to the Care of Doctor Franklin. Your Attachment to America, when removed from it, is the old Story of Travellers; but when it comes from one in...
57To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 27 January 1784 (Hamilton Papers)
I arrived here on Thursday Evening, after a mighty disagreable Ride, and a mighty whimsical Accident in crossing the Delaware, the Particulars of which I shall reserve till we meet. As I promised to write you the Politics and News of Philadelphia, I will do it this Day; for the Snow Storm rages so incessantly that I can’t go abroad. This you will say bodes a long Letter, and I fear you will...
58To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 30 June 1784 (Hamilton Papers)
This is rather a late Period to acknowlege yours of the seventh of April. I have lived in the constant Intention to answer it & I now execute my Purpose. But why not sooner? Procrastination is the Thief of Time says Doctor Young. I meant to have written fully on the Subject of the Gold. But I waited some Informations from Annapolis on the Probability of a Mint. I afterwards intended a long...
59To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 1 August 1785 (Washington Papers)
I write this Letter as a Companion for some Shoes of Miss Bassett and if it is addressed to you rather than to her you must for that Trouble as well as many others accuse that Celebrity which you had no little Trouble in acquiring. But you must tell the Lady that I am far from thinking that she ought not be as much celebrated as any General among you. Indeed between ourselves I think she will...
60To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 30 October 1787 (Washington Papers)
Shortly after your Departure from this Place, I went to my Farm and returned hither last Sunday Evening. Living out of the busy World, I had Nothing to say worth your Attention, or I would earlier have given you the Trouble you now experience. Altho not very inquisitive about political opinions I have not been quite inattentive. The States Eastward of New York appear to be almost unanimous in...