1From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, 29 August 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Understanding since I came hither that 4 Waggon Loads of Gunpowder for New York, which had been landed at the Neversinks, pass’d thro’ here last Friday, I have dispatch’d an Order to our Waggoner, whom I pass’d yesterday at Trenton, to return back with the Ton we spar’d, since it will not be wanted at New York, and may be wanted with us. I hope our...
2A Public Notice by Franklin and Robert Morris, 5 December 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , December 6, 1775. Mrs. Brodeau, from England, Takes this Method of acquainting her Friends and the Public in general, that she has opened a Boarding School, in Walnut-street, near the Corner of Fourth-street, where young Ladies will be genteely boarded, and taught to read and speak the French and English Language, the Tambour, Embroidery, and every Kind of...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, [on or after 30 December 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress Mr. Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr. Morris, and not knowing what was done by the Committee with regard to the other Prisoners, requests Mr. Morris would direct what is to be done with these. Addressed: To / Robt Morris Esqr BF penciled this note at the bottom of the preceding one, then crossed out his own name on the address and penciled in Morris’. By now BF...
4From George Washington to Robert Morris, 20 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received your favors of the 11 & 16 Instts the former respecting powder for which you have Inclosed the Commissarys receipts as to the Number of Barrells but not of the Contents, no Invoice thereof having been delivered either to me or him, which certainly shoud have been sent for the detection of any fraudulent practices, if any were committed—The Commissary will expect one, & that they...
5Silas Deane to Robert Morris and the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 23 June 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : (duplicate): Library of Congress This letter, in form to Morris but in fact to the committee, is the only one from Deane that Franklin surely saw before his departure for France; it was therefore part of his small stock of information about what would face him in Europe. The letter deals only with the preliminaries of Deane’s mission, because he reached France long after he had hoped to....
6To George Washington from Robert Morris, 7 September 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Robert Morris, 7 Sept. 1776. On 12 Sept. GW wrote to Morris : “I have been honored with your favr of the 7th Inst.”
7From George Washington to Robert Morris, 12 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favr of the 7th Inst. upon the Subject of Tents for this Army. That you might receive proper Information of the Number wanted, I directed the Quarter Master General to return you an Estimate, whose Office it is to provide them. His Report you will find in the inclosed Letter which I beg leave to refer you, and requesting that the greatest Dispatch may be used in...
8From John Jay to Robert Morris, 15 September 1776 (Jay Papers)
When M r . Deane went to France I communicated to him a Mode of invisible writing unknown to any but the Inventor and myself. The inclosed Letter will explain it—On opening his Letter to me Yesterday & finding one directed to you inclosed in it, I without thought gave it to a Gentleman of your Light Horse who had been to Ticonderoga with Money from the Congress, I dont recollect his Name—I had...
9To John Jay from Robert Morris, 23 September 1776 (Jay Papers)
Altho your express delivered me your favour last Wednesday or Thursday yet I did not receive the letter from M r . Deane untill this day and shall now send after the Express that he may Convey this safe to your hands. Shou’d he be gone I must find some other safe conveyance. You will find enclosed both M r . D—ne’s letters as you desired and I shall thank you for the Copy of the Invisible...
10From John Jay to Robert Morris, 6 October 1776 (Jay Papers)
The enclosed is a Copy of the late invisible Parts of M r . Dean’s Letters. You will perceive some Blanks in it. M r . D. it seems did not write with his usual Care and Accuracy—There are many Blots in one of the Letters, and in one or two other Instances the Lines cross and run into one another—Little material is however illegible. I am happy to find our Affairs wear so pleasing an Aspect in...
11From John Jay to Robert Morris, 19 November 1776 (Jay Papers)
The late unfortunate Miscarriage of General Washingtons Letters to the Congress makes me anxious about the Fate of a Letter I wrote you the 6 th Ult o . inclosing Copies of two I had rec d . from M r . Dean. My Letter was sent to Head Quarters to go with the Generals Dispatches. Be so kind as to inform me whether you ever rec d . it. I am Dear Sir Your most ob t . Serv t P.S. Coll Williams...
12From John Jay to Robert Morris, 2 December 1776 (Jay Papers)
Your Letter to M r . Duane relieved me from much Anxiety. The miscarriage of the Generals Letter made me feel for the Fate of those I transmitted thro’ him to You. If I believed you suspected my Sincerity, I should for the first Time in my Life be displeased with you, but I assure you I entertain no such unfriendly Ideas. every Chair in the Congress Room will acquit me of the Charge of...
13To George Washington from Robert Morris, 13 December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Robert Morris, 13 Dec. 1776. On 14 Dec. GW wrote to Morris : “I have before me your favor of yesterday.”
14From George Washington to Robert Morris, 14 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have before me your favor of yesterday, and for answer would inform you, that I shall most chearfully cooperate with you in endeavoring to save the Frigate Delaware, and for this purpose shall immediately inclose your Letter to Colo. Cadwallader, with directions for Capt. Alexander, with his Officers and a sufficient number of men to proceed to Phila. without delay in order to carry the...
15To George Washington from Robert Morris, 21 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding there are several British Men of War cruising in our Bay, the Continental Sloop Independance Commanded by Lieutt Robinson has pushed through & got up here yesterday afternoon There is onboard 856 Blankets which were intended with many others now expected in, for the use of the new enlistments, but the inclement weather and the severe duty the Troops now under your Command have...
16From George Washington to Robert Morris, 22 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of yesterday came duely to hand, and I thank you for the several agreeable Articles of Intelligence therein contain’d. for godsake hurry Mr Mease with the Cloathing as nothing will contribute more to facilitate the recruiting Service than warm & comfortable Cloathing to those who engage. Muskets are not wanted at this place, nor should they, or any other valuable Stores (in my...
17To George Washington from Robert Morris, 23–24 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to receive your obliging favour of Yesterday by Colo. Moylan, the Contents give a most mellancholly aspect to our affairs and I wish to Heaven it may be in our power to retrieve them, it is useless at this period to examine into the causes of our present unhappy situation, unless that examination wou’d be productive of a cure for the evils that surround us, in fact those causes...
18From George Washington to Robert Morris, 25 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have your obliging favors of the 21st and 23d the Blankets are come to hand, but I would not have any of the other Goods sent on, till you hear again from me. I agree with you, that it is in vain to ruminate upon, or even reflect upon the Authors or Causes of our present Misfortunes, we should rather exert ourselves, and look forward with Hopes, that some lucky Chance may yet turn up in our...
19To George Washington from Robert Morris, 26 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have just received yours of yesterday and will duely attend to those things you recommend to my consideration, at present I have to enclose you a letter from Congress which I suppose Contains their resolves of the 20th Inst. but as the President does not say in his letter to me that they are enclosed to you & as it is necessary you shou’d have them, I take the liberty to send herewith a Copy...
20From George Washington to Robert Morris, 27 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I this minute received the honor of your favor of the 26th, and you may be assured that I shall with great pleasure transmit all my dispatches to Congress through your hands and unsealed. The inclosed to them will give you a full account of the attack on Trenton and to which I beg leave to refer you. I regret much, that the Ice prevented Col. Cadwalader from passing. could he have got over...
21From George Washington to Robert Morris, 29 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed Letter to Congress will shew you my intention of passing the River again & the Plans I have in view. After you have perused it, I beg your care of it & that it may be closed & transmitted ’em by the earliest Opportunity. I am Dear Sir with sentiments of great regard Yr Most Obed. St P.S. I shall be particularly obliged ⟨for⟩ your care of the Two other ⟨L⟩etters inclosed. That for...
22From George Washington to Robert Morris, 30 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
We have the greatest Occasion at present for hard Money, to pay a certain set of People who are of particular use to us. If you could possibly collect a Sum, if it were but One hundred or one hundred and fifty Pounds it would be of great Service. Silver would be most convenient. I am taking every Measure to improve our late lucky Blow, and hope to be successful; the greatest impediment to our...
23To George Washington from Robert Morris, 30 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favour of Yesterday & will duely forward your dispatches to Congress & the other letters by Post. I am desired to put the enclosed letters in the way of being Sent into Newyork and make no doubt your Excellency will readily forward them by the first Flag after they reach your hands. I am impatiently waiting for further News from Genl Cadwallader & with constant wishes for...
24To George Washington from Robert Morris, 30 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have just recd your favour of this day & sent to Genl Putnam to detain the Express untill I collect the hard Money You want which you may depend shall be sent in one specie or other with this letter & a list thereof shall be enclosed herein. I had long since parted with very Considerable Sums of hard money to Congress, therefore must Collect from others & as matters now Stand it is no easy...
25From George Washington to Robert Morris, 31 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Our Affairs are at present in a most delicate—tho’ I hope a fortunate Situation: But the great & radical Evil which pervades our whole System & like an Ax at the Tree of our Safety Interest & Liberty here again shews its baleful Influence—Tomorrow the Continental Troops are all at Liberty—I wish to push our Success to keep up the Pannick & in order to get their Assistance have promised them a...
26To George Washington from Robert Morris, 31 December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Robert Morris, 31 Dec. 1776. GW wrote the Executive Committee of the Continental Congress on 1 Jan. 1777 : “I have the honor and pleasure of acknowledging your favors of the 28th and 31st Decr and Mr Morris’s of the 30th and 31st.”
27To 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...
28From George Washington to Robert Morris, 5 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Inclosed coming to you open, leaves nothing for me to add on the score of Information of our Circumstances & Situation —A Report (and such only I give it) is just brot that the Enemy are evacuating Brunswick, and moving forward towards Amboy or Woodbridge. Your sending the Inclosed for Mrs Washington to the Post Office (if in time for the Southern Mail) will much oblige Dr Sir, Yr Most...
29To 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,...
30From George Washington to Robert Morris, 13 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
If a midst a multiplicity of Important matters, you could suffer a trivial one to Intrude, I should thank you most heartily, for taking a Letter or two of mine, when you do your own, by the Southern Mail, and forwarding of them, as oppertunity offers, to the Camp. I have long since drop’d all private corrispondance with my friends in Virginia, finding it incompatable with my public business—A...
31To 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.”
32From George Washington to Robert Morris, 19 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 14th, with the despatches from Congress, came safe to hand, and those for the eastward forwarded on. I am thankful to you for the information of Captn Bell. Intelligence of the same nature had come to me before, and I had no doubt (if the diversion intended to be made by Genl Heath towards New York, does not withdraw from the Jerseys, or detain part of the Troops said to be...
33From George Washington to Robert Morris, 27 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
If some very effectual Measures are not fallen upon to recover the Arms and Accoutrements that are put into the Hands of the Militia after they return home; we shall be put to the greatest difficulty to arm the regular Regiments as they are raised. I therefore beg that the Council of Safety or whoever has the delivery of the Arms would be very particular in taking Receipts from the Colonels or...
34To 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...
35To 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...
36From George Washington to Robert Morris, 5 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of the 31st ulto and can readily excuse your not answering my letters with regularity, as I know the weight of important Business that lays upon your hands. The Return of Stores made by Mr Towers is so small that I do not think the immediate removal of them any ways necessary. Besides they are such as will be cheifly taken up by the Troops upon their march. If there are any bulky...
37From George Washington to Robert Morris, 12 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I shall thank you for yr Care of the Inclosed. nothing of consequence since my last to Congress —frequent Skirmishes happen between the Enemys foraging Parties & our Scouts; but they come out so strong now, we can make nothing of this. Most sincerely I am Yrs ALS , NjMoHP . The enclosure has not been identified. GW is referring to his letter to Hancock of 5 Feb. 1777 .
38To 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...
39Robert 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...
40From George Washington to Robert Morris, 22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
You are well acquainted with my Opinion, upon the inexpediency of keeping any more Stores in the City of philadelphia, than are absolutely necessary for the equipment of the new Levies. I am at this time particularly anxious to have them removed. The Enemy have lately been considerably reinforced in Jersey and, from a variety of Accounts are meditating some Blow. I am firmly persuaded that...
41To 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...
42From George Washington to Robert Morris, 2 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 27th Ulto came to my hands last night—the freedom with which you have communicated your Sentiments on several matters therein contained is highly pleasing to me, for be assured Sir, that nothing would add more to my satisfaction than an unreserved Corrispondance with a Gentleman, of whose abilities and attachment to the Cause we are contending to support, I entertain so high...
43To 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...
44Robert 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...
45Robert 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...
46To 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...
47George Washington to Robert Morris, George Clymer, and George Walton, 12 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] April 12, 1777. States objections to forming an army in Pennsylvania. Names Bristol as rendezvous. Orders Pennsylvania Militia to be kept at a distance from Continental troops until there is action. Again recommends removal of stores from Philadelphia. LS , in writing of H, New-York Historical Society, New York City. Df , in writing of Tench Tilghman with minor...
48To 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...
49From George Washington to Robert Morris, 19 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour by Monsieur Armandt was duly handed me. I have been happy to show him every mark of attention in my power. The considerations you mention gave him a just claim to it; and derived additional weight from your recommendation. I am pleased to find Congress took such distinguishing notice of him as they did in their late appointment. He has requested to have the command of a partisan...
50George Washington to Robert Morris, 28 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] May 28, 1777. Encloses a letter from Major General Charles Lee. States that he (Washington) is on his way to Bound Brook. LS , in writing of H, George Washington Photostats, Library of Congress. Morris was a member of the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Continental Congress. Lee was a prisoner of the British.