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...
61To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 7 March 1788 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed with this you will receive two Books which I recd some considerable Time since at Richmond; but being then about to depart for this Place, brought them hither in the Hope of an Opportunity to send them direct to Mount Vernon. Failing in that Expectation, I now put them in the Office; as I recollect you will not have to pay the Postage which otherwise would be worth at least as much as...
62To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 29 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
I cannot prevail on myself to omit the present Occasion of offering my Respects, altho I have Nothing to say which is worth your Perusal. It may not however be quite unsatisfactory to receive even Conjecture on a Subject whose Importance is great and whose Situation precludes Evidence. As far as one who avoids much Enquiry can judge I am led to decide that the Opposers to the new Constitution...
63To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 13 June 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
I am to acknowlege yours of the 19th. of May which reached me a few Days since. Matters are not going so well in this State as the Friends of America could wish. If indeed the Debates in Convention were alone attended to a contrary Inference would be drawn for altho Mr. Henry is most warm and powerful in Declamation being perfectly Master of Action Utterance and the Power of Speech to stir...
64To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 12 November 1788 (Washington Papers)
After many unforeseen Delays I am about shortly to take my Departure from Philadelphia for the Kingdom of France and expect to visit both Holland and England. When I desire to be favored with your Commands it is not the meer ceremonious Form of Words which you every Day meet from every Man you meet and which you know better than any Man to estimate at its true Value. Whether I can be useful to...
65To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 28 November 1788 (Washington Papers)
The Robbery lately committed on the Southern Mail obliges me to trouble you with a mighty insignificant Letter to tell you of that Accident that in Case you had sent Letters by that Post they might be renewed —You will oblige me by mentioning the Circumstance to Colo. Humphreys—In about ten Days hence I expect to sail for Havre and as I mentd in a former Letter shall hope to be favored with...
66To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 6 December 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the twenty eighth of last Month came safe to Hand this Day. Accept my Thanks for the several Letters of Introduction you have taken the Trouble to write. I feel a proper Sense of your Kindness on this, as on many other Occasions, and I hope and beleive that I shall have Opportunities of evincing my Attachment. At the same Time I beleive, and hope, and most ardently desire that...
67To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 23 February 1789 (Washington Papers)
Upon my Arrival at this Place I spoke to Mr Jefferson on the Subject of your Watch. He told me that the Man who had made Maddison’s was a Rogue and recommended me to another—Romilly—But as it might happen that this also was a Rogue I enquired at a very honest Man’s Shop, not a Watch Maker, and he recommended Gregson. A Gentleman with me assured me that Gregson was a Rogue and both of them...
68To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 3 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
The above is Copy of what I had the Honor to write the twenty third of last Month. Since that Period there are Advices here which announce the ReEstablishment of the King of Great Britain’s health, but from a Letter I have just now received from the Marquis de la luzerne, I am disposed to Doubt of the fact. The other Day I saw the Duc de Castries who served in America under the Title of the...
69Enclosure: Abstract of Mr. G. Morris’s plan of American finances, 19 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
MS ( DLC ); entirely in TJ’s hand; endorsed by him: “Finance. G. Morris’s system.” The copy enclosed in the foregoing letter to Madison may have been a PrC of this MS . This is only TJ’s abstract of Morris’ plan, which is printed in full in Jared Sparks, Gouverneur Morris , iii , 469–78. Morris sent a copy to Robert Morris on 8 May 1789, saying that the plan was partly the result of his...
70To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 29 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
I had the Pleasure to write to you a short Letter on the third of last Month. Monsieur de la fayette is since returned from his political Campaign in Auvergne, crowned with Success. He had to contend with the Prejudices and the Interests of his order, and with the Influence of the Queen and Princes (except the Duke of Orleans) but he was too able for his Opponents. He played the Orator with as...
71[To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 29 April 1789] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 29 Apr. 1789 . Recorded in SJL as received 30 Apr. 1789, but not found. This letter may have been concerned with the matters discussed in Henry Lee to TJ, 6 Mch. 1789, and George Washington to TJ, 13 Feb. 1789, both of which arrived on the 29th Apr. The next day TJ called on Morris, who made the following entry in his journal: “Mr. Jefferson comes in to communicate a Letter from Colo....
72To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 1 July 1789 (Jay Papers)
I am too much occupied to find Time for the Use of a Cypher and in Effect the Government here is so occupied with its own Affairs that in transmitting to you a Letter under an Envelope there is no Risque. This however I am pretty certain will go safe. The States general have now been a long Time in Session and have done nothing. Hitherto they have been engaged in a Dispute whether they shall...
73To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 31 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor to write to you on the twenty ninth of April last. I shall not trouble you with a Recital of Events which Mr Jefferson has I know very amply communicated to the Office of foreign Affairs. But being here on my Way to London, and finding a Vessel bound directly to New York, I take the Opportunity to send some Tables which contain the political military pecuniary and commercial...
74To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, January 1790 (Washington Papers)
Accept I pray you the Seeds sent herewith. They are from the King’s Gardens and as you will observe by the within List the trees and Plants are from the Southern Provinces of this Kingdom—I think therefore they will flourish at Mount Vernon. I am always truly yours. AL , DLC:GW . The original of this undated note is filed at the end of January 1790 in the Washington Papers at the Library of...
75Enclosure: List of Seeds, January 1790 (Washington Papers)
Etat Des Graines des pais meridionaux De france Murier Blanc pour Les Elever de vers a Soye—white mulberry (for breeding Silk worms[)] Lentisque—Mastic-Tree. Therebinthe—Turpentine-Tree paliure—a species of the bramble or thorn. arbousier—the arbute or strawberry-Tree. micocoulier—an african tree, being a kind of lotos. mirthe—myrtle common Laurier frane. noble laurel. Erable de montpelier—The...
76To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 22 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
Duplicate Sir Paris 22d January 1790 I received from Major Hasgill who arrived here on the twenty first Instant the two Letters which you did me the Honor to write upon the thirteenth of October. I shall in Consequence set off for London as soon as I possibly can. When last in that City I saw the Duke of Leeds twice at the french Embassadors, and from some slight Circumstances was induced to...
77To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 22 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
[Duplicate] Private Dear Sir Paris 22 January 1790 In another Letter of this Date I have mentioned a Part of Yesterday’s Conversation with the Count de Montmorin. That Part of it which I am now to communicate is for yourself alone. As Monsieur de la fayette had asked me some Days ago who should be sent to replace the Comte de Moustiers and (upon my answering with great Indifference it might be...
78To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 24 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have received your kind Letter of the thirteenth of October and immediately set about procuring the Articles you there mention. Such of them at least as are best to be procured in this Capital. They are already on their Way to Havre and you will find here enclosed the Account of the Cost (including the Packages) ⟨L⟩ 2384 . The Transportation to Havre will cost 46 The Charges there and the...
79To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 31 January 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I did expect that in congratulating you, which I do most sincerely, upon your Appointment, I should have communicated a Matter which would have administred much Ease and Convenience to the Affairs of your Department. I learn this morning that these Expectations are frustrated from a Quarter and in a Manner which would excite my Surprize had I not long since acquired the Habit of wondering at...
80To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 7 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
I arrived in this City on Saturday Evening the twenty eighth of March and called the next morning on the Duke of Leeds minister for foreign affairs—He was not at Home, I therefore wrote to him a note Copy whereof is enclosed as also of his answer received that Evening. On Monday the twenty ninth I waited upon him at Whitehall and after the usual Compliments, presented your Letter telling him...
81Enclosure I: Gouverneur Morris to George Washington, 7 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived in this City on Saturday Evening the twenty eighth of March and called the next Morning on the Duke of Leeds Minister for foreign Affairs. He was not at Home, I therefore wrote to him a Note Copy whereof is enclosed as also of his Answer received that Evening. On Monday the twenty ninth I waited upon him at Whitehall and after the usual Compliments, presented your Letter telling him...
82To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 10 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Accept at this late Period my Congratulations upon your safe Arrival in America. I know not whether to add the farther Congratulation upon your Appointment to and Acceptance of the Office of Secretary of State because the latter is not yet ascertained on this Side of the Atlantic. You will find enclosed a Paper from your friend Sir John Sinclair to whom you was so kind as to introduce me. Pray...
83To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 12 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have ordered at a capital manufacturers the plated Coolers which you desired. Nothing of this Sort has ever yet been executed here except in a coarse and clumsy manner in lacquered Ware. As far as I can judge from the Design which has been drawn consequent upon my Directions they will be very elegant, and cheaper than in a Form less beautiful. Still they will be expensive. I own that...
84To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 13 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
private Dear Sir London 13 April 1790 My Letter of the seventh will have communicated what passed with the Duke of Leeds respecting the Business you committed to me. I take the Liberty to mention here that from his Countenance and Manner on the Perusal of your Letter, he seemed to derive from it that Sort of Pleasure which a Man feels at the Removal of Some thing which every now and then...
85To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 1 May 1790 (Washington Papers)
Herewith I have the Honor to transmit a Duplicate of my last Letter of the thirteenth of April. Not having heard from the Duke of Leeds I wrote him a Note on the nineteenth, of which a Copy is enclosed marked No. 1. To this I received no Reply, wherefore on the twenty ninth I addressed him again by a Letter of which a Copy is enclosed marked No. 2. This was delivered at his Office Whitehall...
86Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to George Washington, 1 May 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Herewith I have the Honor to transmit a Duplicate of my last Letter of the thirteenth of April. Not having heard from the Duke of Leeds I wrote him a Note on the nineteenth, of which a Copy is enclosed marked No. 1. To this I received no Reply, wherefore on the twenty ninth I addressed him again by a Letter of which a Copy is enclosed marked No. 2. This was deliverrd at his Office Whitehall...
87To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 2 May 1790 (Washington Papers)
Private Dear Sir London 2d May 1790 You will find enclosed the Copy of what I took the Liberty to trouble you with on the thirteenth of last Month. On Saturday the seventeenth I dined in Company with Mr Fox. The State of french Politics formed of Course a large Part of the Conversation. The Situation of other Countries was then passed in Review, and it became a question how far Britain might...
88To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 3 May 1790 (Washington Papers)
The forgoing is Copy of what I wrote to you the twelfth of last month. I have since received yours of the first of March. The additional Pieces for your Surtout I cannot get untill I return to Paris⟨.⟩ I beleive no additional ornaments will be wanting and I incline to think that the Surtout as it now is will be large enough However you will have judged better upon seeing it and I shall...
89To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 29 May 1790 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to enclose a Copy of my Letter of the first Instant. On the Night of the fourth there was a hot Press here which has continued ever since, and the declared object is to compel Spain to atone for an Insult offered to Great Britain by capturing two Vessels in Nootka Sound. Permit me to observe incidentally that it would not be amiss for the American Captain who was a...
90Enclosure II: Gouverneur Morris to George Washington, 29 May 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I do myself the Honor to enclose a Copy of my Letter of the first Instant. On the Night of the fourth there was a hot Press here which has continued ever since, and the declared Object is to compel Spain to atone for an Insult offered to Great Britain by capturing two Vessels in Nootka Sound. Permit me to observe incidentally that it would not be amiss for the American Captain who was a...
91To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 3 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
Duplicate Sir, London 3 July 1790 This Letter will accompany Copies of what I had the Honor to write on the first and twenty ninth of May. I have heard nothing since from the Duke of Leeds. On the tenth of June the King prorogued the Parliament, which was dissolved on the eleventh. The Elections will be compleated in about ten Days, and then the Ministers will feel themselves more at Liberty...
92Enclosure III: Gouverneur Morris to George Washington, 3 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
This Letter will accompany Copies of what I had the Honor to write on the first and twenty ninth of May. I have heard nothing since from the Duke of Leeds. On the tenth of June the King prorogued the Parliament, which was dissolved on the eleventh. The Elections will be compleated in about ten Days, and then the Ministers will feel themselves more at Liberty to avow their Intentions than they...
93To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 6 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the fifteenth of April and also a Copy of it. In the Close of that Letter you mention my not having acknowleged the Receipt of your public Letter of the thirteenth of October. I have received the original Duplicate and triplicate of that Letter. I had the Honor to acknowledge the Receipt by mine of the twenty second of January with which I sent a private Letter of...
94To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 16 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
My Letter of the sixth informed you that the plated Ware was finished. It goes by the same opportunity which takes this Letter, viz. the Ship Goliah Captn Stephen Jones, and it will I hope arrive speedily and in good order. I shall transmit the Bill of Lading to Mr Constable having taken it in his Name that he might get the Articles landed for you. They amount as you will see by the enclosed...
95To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 16 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
public Sir London 16 August 1790 I had the Honor to write to you on the third of July of which Letter I now enclose a Copy. I have patiently waited since that Period for the Answer which had been promised on the twenty first of May to my Letter of the thirtieth of April. Had any Circumstance turned up which would in my opinion have justified a new application it should have been made, but this...
96Enclosure IV: Gouverneur Morris to George Washington, 16 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the Honor to write to you on the third of July of which Letter I now enclose a Copy. I have patiently waited since that Period for the Answer which had been promised on the twenty first of May to my Letter of the thirtieth of April. Had any Circumstance turned up which would in my opinion have justified a new application it should have been made, but this has not been the Case. You will...
97To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 26 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have this Instant received yours of the seventh of July, which acknowleges the Receipt of mine of the seventh and thirteenth of April, and first and second of May. Concluding from hence that mine of the twenty second and twenty fourth of January had not reached you, I shall enclose herein Copies of them. I delivered the Originals, with some others, to the Wife of Mr LeCouteulx de Caumont...
98To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 30 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
In Reply to yours of the seventh of July I have the Pleasure to inform you that your plated Ware and Lamps are now on their Way to you. When I go to Paris (which will I think be shortly) I will get the additional Plateauxs which you want, and have them sent out by the first Conveyance. Should any Thing else occur in which I can be useful you have only to signify it, and you may rely on my best...
99To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 18 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
public Sir London 18 September 1790 I had the Honor to address you on the 16th of August, and stated as nearly as I could the Situation of Russia and Sweden. This Situation has produced a very natural Effect. Sweden being unsupported by her allies, and Russia having Nothing to gain by farther Fighting but a Part of the finland Deserts not worth fighting for, they have struck a Bargain of Peace...
100Enclosure V: Gouverneur Morris to George Washington, 18 September 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the Honor to address you on the 16th. of August, and stated as nearly as I could the Situation of Russia and Sweden. This Situation has produced a very natural Effect. Sweden being unsupported by her Allies, and Russia having Nothing to gain by farther Fighting but a Part of the finland Deserts not worth fighting for, they have struck a Bargain of Peace immediately without the...