51To George Washington from Robert Morris, 28 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s favor of the twenty second Instant and in Consequence do myself the Honor to enclose (in Notes) one thousand Dollars for which I am to pray that you will be so kind as to transmit me Colo. Varicks Receipt in the usual form. I am Sir with Esteem & Respect your Excellency’s most Obedient & humble Servant DLC : Papers of George Washington.
52To George Washington from Robert Morris, 21 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s favors of the Sixth and Eight Instant. I have directed the Commissary of arine Prisoners to appoint a proper Agent at Dobb’s Ferry and I hope for your Excellency’s advice to him on that Occasion which he will be desired to apply for. Without wishing to incur the Blame of too great Suspicion I take the Liberty to suggest (as an additional Reason for Caution)...
53To George Washington from Robert Morris, 20 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to enclose to your Excellency the Copy of a Letter of this Date to the PayMaster General which I will intreat you to communicate to the acting Contractor that the use of the Notes may be facilitated to such of the officers as shall wish to receive them. I do expect from a Conversation I have had with the Committee of Officers now here that the Officers of your Army will render...
54To George Washington from Robert Morris, 31 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s favors of the twenty first and twenty fifth Instant. Colo. Tilghman had already mentioned the Cannon which Mr Billings engraved and I assured him I would pay for it. This assurance I beg Leave to repeat and to add that if your Excellency will be pleased to draw on me in his favor the Bill shall be duly honored. In such Case I wish the Service may be specified...
55To George Washington from Robert Morris, 27 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am duly honored with your Excellency’s Favor of the seventeenth Instant. Previous to the Receipt of it Admiral Digby had transmitted the polite Application of which a Copy is enclosed. In Answer to it I wrote a Letter of which a Copy is also enclosed and which I think Consists with your Excellency’s Sentiments. As this Letter involved Engagements which were of an extensive Nature whether...
56To George Washington from Robert Morris, 26 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to enclose to you a Bill of Exchange for fifty Guineas drawn by Doctor Smith upon yourself together with a Letter which I presume advises of it. Conceiving that a small Remittance might not be useless to your Family I have indorsed it accordingly and of Course it will be chargable in the Public Books to your Household. When the Subsistence Notes go up I shall direct a Sum...
57To George Washington from Robert Morris, 19 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have now the Honor to enclose to your Excellency the Copy of a Contract entered into by Messrs Duer & Parker with me for supplying Rations within the States of New York and New Jersey during the Year 1783. In the Letter which your Excellency did me the Honor to write o n the thirty first of October last was contained sundry Observations for which I again beg Leave to return you my Thanks. I...
58To George Washington from Robert Morris, 17 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to enclose to your Excellency the Copy of a System for Issuing Provisions and Hospital Stores entered into with the Secretary at War. As he is now on his Way to Head Quarters I shall take the Liberty to refer your Excellency to him for those Observations which I should otherwise have written. I am Sir Your Excellency’s most obedient & humble Servant DLC : Papers of George...
59To George Washington from Robert Morris, 17 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have just now sent on the Counterparts of the Contract entered into with Messrs Duer and Parker. By the next Post I will transmit your Excellency a Copy of it, and make some Observations in Answer to your Letter on the Subject. In the Interim I pray you to believe me With sincere Respect and Esteem Your Excellency’s most obedient & humble Servant DLC : Papers of George Washington.
60To George Washington from Robert Morris, 3 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
Captain Turner Commissary of Marine Prisoners informs me that he has made two written Applications to Mr Skinner the late Commissary General of Prisoners for a general Return and every official Paper respecting his Department, and has very good Reason to beleive that one if not both of his Letters have been received. To these Applications he says no Answer has been received, and that Mr...
61To George Washington from Robert Morris, 30 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to enclose to your Excellency the Copy of a Letter addressed to me on the twenty second Instant as Agent of Marine, by the Commissary of Marine Prisoners, Major Turner. From this Letter two Points arise for Consideration. 1st whether it would be prudent to send in a very large Quantity of Wood, apply a Part to the Comfort of our Prisoners, and the Remainder to be sold for...
62To George Washington from Robert Morris, 30 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I omitted to acknowledge in the proper Time your Excellency’s Letter of the eighteenth of October last, enclosing a Letter to the Chevalier de la Luzerne on the Subject of Expence incurred at his Request. Altho the Sum is not considerable, yet as it is among the Expences properly payable by the Court of France,I thought it better not to establish an improper Precedent, especially as our...
63To George Washington from Robert Morris, 5 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received the Letter which your Excellency did me the Honor to write on the 31st last Month. I pray you will accept my Thanks for the Information and the Observations contained in it which shall meet my careful Attention. With perfect Respect I have the honor to be Sir your Excellency’s most obedient and humble Servant DLC : Papers of George Washington.
64To George Washington from Robert Morris, 16 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have, for some time past, anticipated the reflection which you have made, on the situation of the Army. I know that some Money is necessary, and my efforts to obtain it, both at home and abroad, have been unceasing. I am now about to purchase a vessel, and send a person on board of her to the Havanah, for the purpose of vending Bills of Exchange to the amount of half a million dollars. I...
65To George Washington from Robert Morris, 15 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letters of the second, third and seventh Instant. There is no Man in America more heartily disposed than I am to remove from the Army and from all others who have Claims on the Public every just Ground of Complaint. But with the Means in my Power, how is it possible? I have been obliged to submit to Cancelling one Contract and forming another at one third advance on the...
66To George Washington from Robert Morris, 5 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to enclose with an Act of Congress of the first Instant my two circular Letters of this Date, one to the several Governors, and the other to the Receivers. I think it my Duty to communicate to you this Act that you may have an Opportunity at every convenient Season to shew the military Servants of the Country that their Sovereign is attentive to their just Claims. I have...
67To George Washington from Robert Morris, 25 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have just now received your Letters of the twenty second Instant. The Doubt you are in with Respect to my Letters of the twenty ninth and thirtieth of August will be easily resolved on an Inspection of them. The Letter of the twenty ninth is of a Nature to be transmitted, if necessary, to the several States. That of the thirtieth explains my Reasons for writing the other, and the Paragraph...
68To George Washington from Robert Morris, 19 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the eleventh Instant enclosing the Copy of a Letter from Colo. Varick. I enclose herein Notes to the amount of eight hundred Dollars for which I am to pray that your Excellency will take and transmit his Receipt as for so much received of Mr Swanwick for which he Colo. Varick is to be accountable. I am with Respect Your Excellency’s most obedient &...
69To George Washington from Robert Morris, 19 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I received yours of the sixteenth Instant yesterday morning. I trust that your Excellency will have received every Thing relating to my Department in due Season for the meeting of the Commissioners upon the eighteenth. I agreed with Mr Sands that the Issues should be adjusted at the Treasury as made to the moving Army, and that a half Penny per Ration should be allowed to the Public for the...
70To George Washington from Robert Morris, 19 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer of this Letter, Mr Ezekiel Cornell is appointed to be the Inspector of the Contracts for your Army. I have a perfect Reliance both on his Zeal & Integrity, and am persuaded that your Excellency may repose the utmost Confidence in him. I write this Letter to recommend him to your favorable Notice, and to pray that he may meet your Excellency’s Aid in performing the Business committed...
71To George Washington from Robert Morris, 12 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have before me your Excellency’s several Letters of the 23d of August, and 2d & 4th Instant. I have now the Pleasure to inform you that General Cornell has agreed to accept the Office of Inspector of the Contracts &c. for your Army, and will soon proceed on the Business of his Department. I hope you may find Relief from this Appointment, and that it may prove perfectly agreable to you. If Mr...
72To George Washington from Robert Morris, 9 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
The dates of the enclosed Letters will shew you my extreme Reluctance to wound your mind with the Anxieties which distress my own. At the time they were written I was sore pressed on every quarter, but a gleam of Hope broke in upon me and induced me to bear up still longer against the Torrent of demands which was rushing upon me. These would long since have overwhelmed me had I been supported...
73To George Washington from Robert Morris, 9 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellency’s Letter of the fourth last Evening. I this Morning sent for Mr Francis, one of the Contractors, and directed him to purchase five hundred Barrels, for which I will pay the Cash, and five hundred more on Credit; and forward it on as fast as procured. I am, Sir, with great Respect Your Excellency’s most obedient & humble Servant, DLC : Papers of George Washington.
74To George Washington from Robert Morris, 30 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
My Letter of the twenty night which is enclosed I have written for two Reasons one that you may be informed and I may Hand justified in every Respect should the Event take Place the other which is the principal on that you may found a warm Application on it to the States—You will I hope keep this entirely to yourself. You will see that I have not entrusted a View of it to Secretary or to any...
75To George Washington from Robert Morris, 29 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am to request your Excellency that out of the Sums which may come to your Hands in the Manner already mentioned, You will endeavour after making the Payments of which I informed you in a former Letter, to transmit three thousand Dollars more to Mr Duer at Albany. I am Sir with great Respect, Your Excellency’s Most Obedient & Humble Servant DLC : Papers of George Washington.
76To George Washington from Robert Morris, 29 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have now to address your Excellency on a Subject which cannot be more painful to you than it is to me. I am determined to Act justly and therefore when I find that I shall be unable to pay the Contractors I will give them due Notice that they may retire in Season. This Period is fast approaching and without the States make infinitely greater Exertions than they have hitherto done it must...
77To George Washington from Robert Morris, 22 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have directed Capt. John Green who is the Bearer of this Letter to carry in some Letters from the Captains of two flag Ships which have arrived from England (on board one of which he was a Passenger) enclosed in a Letter from me to Sir Guy Carleton. I am to request your Excellency would facilitate his going in and that he be permitted to stay untill he obtain the Answer which those Ships are...
78To George Washington from Robert Morris, 20 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Contractor’s Accounts both for West Point and the moving Army for the Month of July amount by their State to the Sum of Forty seven Thousand Dollars; of this I have already paid about Twenty five Thousand. I have taken Arrangements for Payment of Ten thousand at Morristown, and I am to request that from the Monies payable to your Excellency in the Manner I mentioned in a former Letter you...
79To George Washington from Robert Morris, 17 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I found it necessary, in order to get money for alleviating my distress, to sell Bills which I knew were to be negociated thro’ New York. The remittances coming in too slowly, induced my assent to a plan for bringing out the Specie. This was the money which I lately wrote to you about. I am &ca DLC : Papers of George Washington.
80To George Washington from Robert Morris, 13 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
The urgent Demands on me for Money oblige me to use a Thousand different Expedients—The bearer of this letter Mr Richd Wells is on his way to New York, He goes for the purpose of receiving a very considerable Sum of Money and will if Successful pay it to your Excellency to be held at my orders—I am therefore to request that he may have every Facility in going to New York and bringing the Money...
81To George Washington from Robert Morris, 9 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor to receive your Excellency’s Favor of the Fifth Instant, last Evening. I beg Leave to refer, for a State of Matters between the public & the Contractors, to mine of the Fifth Instant. I should long since have appointed the Officer you mention, could I have got a proper Person. I had applied to General Cornell, and he had (in a manner) undertaken, but afterwards declined. Colo....
82To George Washington from Robert Morris, 8 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
Having occasion to Answer a letter lately received from a Mr Creeden in New York, I beg leave to trouble You with the care of sending it in by such opportunity as may first occur. I am preparing Money for the Contractors their demands so immediately on the back of the Pay Master Generals Notes due the 1st Inst. press me closely. I am most truely Dear Sir Your affectionate hble servt NjP :...
83To George Washington from Robert Morris, 5 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I received your Letter of the thirtieth of July late in the Evening of Friday the second Instant. The Ideas which in Conversation with you I endeavoured to impress were, that I should at all Events fulfil my Part of the Contracts entered into for feeding your Army, That I had constantly attended to the claims of the Contractors. That I should continue to do so, and that I beleived I had in...
84To George Washington from Robert Morris, 9 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Favor of the third Instant, and am obliged by your Attention to my Requests—I entirely approve your Excellencys Reasons for directing a Magazine at West Point—The Contractors will I believe exert themselves. It is impossible for me to state the Trouble and Distress I undergo—This Morning the Southern Post brought me a Letter from the Reciever in Virginia, of which the...
85To George Washington from Robert Morris, 6 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am to pray that your Excellency will cause the inclosed Letter containing Affidavits of the Plunder of Some Americans on Board a Flag by British Privateers to be transmitted. I am Sir Your Excellencys Most Obedient & humble servt DLC : Papers of George Washington.
86To George Washington from Robert Morris, 29 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Favors of the eighth and sixteenth Instant the former enclosing Alterations proposed in the present Mode of Issues and the latter a Copy of your circular Letter to the States of the fourth of May. I pray you to accept my Thanks for these Communications. I consent to the Alterations mentioned and shall be very happy that Harmony be restored for I do assure you that let the...
87To George Washington from Robert Morris, 22 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to enclose to your Excellency the Copies of a Letter of the seventeenth Instant from some of the Contractors of the moving Army to me, and of my Answer of this Date—Your Excellency will perceive in their Letter a Doubt whether I will perform my Engagements held up as an Apology should they not perform theirs. They have no Reason to entertain, and less Right to express any...
88To George Washington from Robert Morris, 21 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am informed that several of our Officer’s have left behind them in New York considerable sums of money unpaid, which had been advanced to them while they were Prisoner’s. The Humanity of those who have made such advances, as well as the Principles of Justice require that they shou’d be repaid, but there is another reason which has considerable weight on my Mind. The Establishment of a credit...
89To George Washington from Robert Morris, 12 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I presume that General Lincoln will have made your Excellency acquainted with the Situation of Affairs here. It becomes my Duty to mention one Circumstance for your Determination which I will adhere to even tho it should contravene my own Opinion not only because I have a firm Reliance in your Judgement but because you are in a better Position to be well informed of the Facts. It is with great...
90To George Washington from Robert Morris, 4 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the Seventeenth and twenty fifth of May with the Enclosure. I am much obliged by the Attention paid in your circular Letter to the Situation of my Department. I am very sorry to inform you that it is really deplorable. I with difficulty am enabled to perform my Engagements and am absolutely precluded from forming any new ones. I have therefore been...
91To George Washington from Robert Morris, 4 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote you in Cypher relating to the Loan in France I have received Letters from Doctor Franklin which made it proper to communicate the Matter to Congress. By those Letters and by Communications from the french Minister on the Part of his Court it appeared that Mr Franklin had already anticipated the whole of this Loan excepting the small Part which I have drawn for, so that we can...
92To George Washington from Robert Morris, 22 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
When Your Letter of the 28 Ultimo came to my Hands enclosing one from Mr John Logan the SubContracor, assigning the want of Money as the Cause of his not having been regular in the Supply of provisions to the Troops at Morris Town and Pumpton; I delivered the same to Messrs Francis and Slough the persons that contracted with me, they instantly acknowledged that so far from being kept in want...
93To George Washington from Robert Morris, 15 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
After a good deal of Trouble the Contract for the moving Army has been Compleated and the Issues under it are to Commence the first day of May next. The Gentlemen concerned in it were so long in agreeing on several points regarding each other, that at last they grew too Impatient to allow the Secretary at War Time sufficient to have the Contract drawn with that precision and Clearness which he...
94To George Washington from Robert Morris, 3 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received letters from Wm Duer Esqr. respecting a request made by Genl Heath for Magazines of Salt provisions to be provided at some of the Posts which Mr Duer is to supply, he alledges that the laying up such Magazines will create an expence & advance of Money beyond what he is bound to by the Contract, which I suppose may be the case, and if so it is but reasonable & Just that such...
95To George Washington from Robert Morris, 20 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of Colo. Tilghman’s letter of the 18th I granted a warrant on the Treasury for one thousand dollars for the purposes therein mentioned, and as he intimates that your Excellency would wish to know how you are to be supplied with money in future, whether from me or from the military chest. I should certainly refer you to the latter were I sure of a regular supply to it—I think...
96From Robert Morris to United States Congress, 10 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Subscribers, taking into Consideration the important Situation of Affairs in the present Moment, and the Propriety & even Necessity of informing the People and rousing them into Action; considering also the Abilities of Mr Thomas Paine as a Writer, and that he has been of considerable Utility to the common Cause by several of his Publications. They have agreed that it will be much for the...
97To George Washington from Robert Morris, 26 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
As Provision is now made for Cloathing and feeding the Soldiery and for the Subsistence Money of the Officers, it is proper that some method be adopted to provide the latter with Cloathing also. This must be done out of their Pay, and therefore, the regular mode would be by an advance of Pay, but unfortunately the State of the Treasury will not admit of such advance, and even if it would, they...
98To George Washington from Robert Morris, 26 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
I take this earliest Opportunity of acknowleging your Excellency’s Letter of the twenty fifth, which I received last Evening, and in which you request me to have ready my Letters to the Officers you are sending to the Eastern States, so as that they may go by the next Post. I would willingly comply with your Excellency’s Desire most literally, but I have rather wished to transmit my Sentiments...
99To George Washington from Robert Morris, 23 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
Captain Hutchins in a Letter of the twenty Second Instant, inclosed to me a copy of his letter to your Excellency of the fourteenth, and of your answer of the Sixteenth. I have had a conference on the Subject of these letters with the Minister of War, and afterwards with Captain Hutchins. General Lincoln tells me that a Map of South Carolina has already been taken at great expence and with...
100To George Washington from Robert Morris, 19 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
Should an opportunity offer Mr Ridley will present before you my two Sons who have the ambition to pay their Compts. to you, before their departure for Europe, where they are now destined under the care and protection of that gentleman untill he can place them with their Tutors. I consider the step I have taken as advantageous to them, and also of some Public consequence, because if the...