1James Duane to Robert R. Livingston, John Jay, Gouverneur Morris, and Robert Yates, 19 April 1777 (Jay Papers)
We arrived in this City on Wednesday afternoon. If you talk seriously to its Inhabitants you’l find them full of the Expectation of ^ a Visit from ^ Gen l Howe’s but examine their Conduct and the Appearance of everything about you, & you cannot but conclude that they are in a State of the most perfect Tranquility and Security. Talk to them about the scandalous depreciation of the continental...
2From George Washington to Henry Knox, 11 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
The powers of equal date herewith authorise you to proceed to Elizabeth Town in the State of New Jersey in order to meet Commissioners on the part of the enemy on Friday the 15th inst. for the purposes in the powers fully recited. You will consider the settlement of accounts, for the subsistence of Prisoners of all descriptions from the commencement of the War, to —obtaining payment or...
3From George Washington to Henry Knox, 24 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I received last Evening at this place, your favor of the 22d with the several Enclosures—it gives me satisfaction to find that you are so soon to proceed upon the business of your commission; in the mean time, I propose being at Morris Town on the 26 Inst. where I shall probably have the pleasure of seeing you—I am Gentlemen. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
4From George Washington to Henry Knox, 13 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Messrs are delegated by the Merchants of this City to apply a sum of Money which has been raised by subscription to the relief of the Marine Prisoners in New York belonging to the Port of Philad. They are directed to consult you upon the most proper and efficacious mode of answering the benevolent intentions of the subscribers—The Gentlemen do not propose going themselves into New York—The...
5From George Washington to Henry Knox, 19 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 16th reached me last Evening. I do not see that any alteration is necessary in your instructions relating to Mr Laurens—From what we yet know, he is not at liberty to leave England and therefore as much a prisoner in fact as before the extension of his limits. I am with great Regard Gentn Yr most obt servt DLC : Papers of George Washington.
6From George Washington to Henry Knox, 28 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have had intimations, that under the idea of the cessation of Hostilities within certain limits, a number of People intend to come over from New York to our Lines—to prevent all intercourse of this kind is the principal design of this Letter—Sir Wm Howe on a former occasion proposed that a neutrality should take place to a certain distance from the spot where our Commissioners were to...
7From George Washington to Henry Knox, 20 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your Letter of the 16th of April by General Forman. Convinced, from the state of facts which has been exhibited to me, that justice, expediency & necessity require satisfaction should be obtained for the Murder of Captain Huddy; I have in the first instance made a representation to Sir Henry Clinton & demanded that the Officer who commanded the Party, or if he was not...
8From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 30 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
It is with great pleasure, I make use of the earliest occasion to acknowledge the receipt of your several Dispatches, by Colonel Smith, which contain an ample account of your Proceedings in consequence of the Commission you were charged with, by me. I have also received from Sir Henry Clinton an abstract of the same negociations as stated by his Commissioners. From the whole aspect of the...
9From George Washington to Henry Knox, 11 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Whereas a proposition was made by me on the 6th day of December last to General Sir Henry Clinton to the following effect "That Commissioners mutually appointed should meet at such time and place as might thereafter be agreed upon for the purposes of obviating all difficulties in exchanges—for liquidating the expenses of maintaining prisoners and for making solid arrangements for providing for...
10From George Washington to Henry Knox, 30 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of yesterday’s date came to my hands just as I was leaving Mr Lots house; your Messenger came on with me to be the bearer of this. Altho the information I had recd & communicated in my Letter of the 28th that a number of people intended coming over from the Enemy’s Lines under the idea of the cessation of hostilities, might not be well founded when it is understood of characters...
11From George Washington to Henry Knox, 14 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I enclose to you, an Extract of a Letter of the 7th Inst. from Sir Henry Clinton, by which it appears, he had for certain reasons, thought proper to nominate different Persons for Commissioners from those he had first named; & that, he wished to postpone the time of the meeting untill the 10th of April; I have written to him respecting the inconveniences which will be occasiond by delaying the...
I address this Letter to you both because I have not time by this opportunity to write to each separately. In a few Days I shall write you both particularly. M r . Gerards being about to sail happily prevailed upon Congress to proceed rapidly & unanimously in arranging their foreign Affairs— Young Coll Laurens is going Secretary to Doct r Franklin, and had the general approbation of Congress...
Your Letter of the 26 Instant was this Evening delivered to me. When I was called last from Convention, a Clause in the Report of the form of Government had been by a [ illegible ] very great Majority agreed to, instituting a Council for the appointm t of military and many civil Officers, including Clerks of Courts ; and tho’ I publicly advocated and voted for that Clause, you express much...
14From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 4 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
My public Letters to the Presidt of Congress will inform you of the Wind that wafted me to this place —nothing more therefore need to be said on that head. Your Letter of the 8th Ulto contains three questions & answers—to wit—Can the Enemy prosecute the War? Do they mean to stay on the Continent? And is it our interest to put impediments in the way of their departure? To the first you answer...
15From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 8 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Monsieur Gerard did me the honor to deliver me your favour of the 26th—I shall always be obliged to you, my dear Sir, for a free communication of your sentiments on whatsoever subject may occur. The objects of your letter were important. Mr Gerard I dare say has made it unnecessary for me to recapitulate what passed between him and myself and has informed you of the alternative I proposed for...
16From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 3 June 1778 (Jay Papers)
Your two letters of the 28 th . April were delivered a few days ago on my return from Albany—another of the 23 d . of May came to hand last night. On the future conduct of a certain General towards this State, will depend the countenance he may meet with in it. My endeavours shall not be wanting to render his situation as happy and agreeable as his behaviour may merit; and I am with you of...
17From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 13 October 1782 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your festina lente Letter, but wh wish it had been, at least partly, in Cypher; you need not be informed of my Reasons for this wish, as by this Time you must know that Seals are, on this Side of the Water, rather Matters of Decoration, than of use— It gave me nevertheless great Pleasure to recieve that Letter; it being the first from You that had reached me the Lord knows when:...
18From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 19 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I this moment received the favour of your letter of the 16th instant. I partly agree and partly disagree with you respecting the deficiencies of your constitution. That there is a want of vigor in the executive, I believe will be found true. To determine the qualifications proper for the chief executive Magistrate requires the deliberate wisdom of a select assembly, and cannot be safely lodged...
19From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 1 September 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeable to the intention of the Council I have delivered their inclosed letter to His Excellency who after perusing it has sealed and forwarded it to Mr. Hancock. The relieving Fort Schuyler is a very happy and important event, and will concur with the two happy strokes given by Harkemar and Stark to reverse the face of affairs and turn the scale against Mr Burgoigne. I hope Capt...
20From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 13 September 1778 (Jay Papers)
My last to you was from the White Plains and was dated the 29 th . August. I know not who was the bearer, and consequently cannot conjecture whether you have received it. It was in answer to yours of the 16 th . of the same month. Inform me from time to time of the dates of such of my letters as you receive, I shall do the like. The resolution of Congress on the report of inquiry respecting...
21From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 21 October 1778 (Jay Papers)
Your favors of the 8 th ., 22 d & 27 th . of September and last of all, of the 26 th . Aug st . by Doct r . M c Knight are come to hand. While the far greater part of mankind derive pleasure from discord between friends, you derive credit from feeling and acting differently. What your information may have been, or from whom received I cannot conjecture. It was not entirely well or ill founded....
22From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 11 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I wrote on the 2nd instant to Mr R. Morris and requested that the accounts relative to the subsistence of Prisoners might be collected and forwarded—General Knox has since desired me to write to you for those particularly which were in the possession of yourself and him upon the prison Commission, and for the Calculations made by you at Boonetown of the probable Balance due America with any...
23From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 18 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
Congress having again directed me to propose to the British Commander in Cheif at New York the appointment of Commissioners to settle forthwith a General Cartel for the exchange of prisoners—taking care that the Liquidation of accounts and settlement of the Balance due for the maintanance of prisoners be provided for therein—I have this day communicated their resolution to Sir Guy Carleton and...
24From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 27 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for your favor of the 11th which I received by the last Post. You know when a House is on the move and packing up, all the family are commonly busy—and all is hurry—so it is when an Army is changing it’s ground for new Quarters. This circumstance must plead my excuse for not going fully into your Letter. You are certainly right in your position that we must act according to our...
25From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 6 July 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your favour of the 4th, by express. If I recollect how far my last went, it did not announce the return of the enemy from Westfield to Amboy, nor their evacuation of that place since. After resting and refreshing themselves a night, they decamped the following day and proceeded to Amboy from which place they went to Staten Island as expeditiously as they could; where they still...
26From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 21 July 1777 (Jay Papers)
The Situation of Tryon County is both shameful & deplorable Such abject Dejection & Despondency as mark the Letters we have rec d . from thence disgrace human Nature. God knows what to do with or for them. Were they alone interested in their Fate, I should be for leaving their Cart in the Slough till they w d . put their Shoulders to the Wheel. Be more cautious in your Letters to the Council....
27From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 28 September 1781 (Jay Papers)
My last to you was of the 24 th . Ult.— Triplicates have been sent I have rec d . none from you later than 10 July by Maj r . Franks— Yours of the 2 d . Jan y . & 4 March never reached me— there is Reason to believe that the minister prime minister here has them — Tell me what you think of my Letter, to
28From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 5 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favoured with your Letter of the 31st Ulto—The one you allude to, came to hand about five days before. I thank you for your very polite and friendly appeal, upon the Subject of half bounty in solid Coin. The measure, I have no doubt, would produce an Instant benefit, so far as the engaging drafts &ca might be concerned; but I am certain, many mischievous and pernicious...
29From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 5 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
General Washington’s compliments to Mr Governr Morris. If Mr Morris should have postponed his report, respecting the business entrusted to him by Mrs Lloyd, ’till information could be had from hence, of the conveyance of her Packet to Mr White; the General prays him to present his compliments with it, and assure her, that the packet went by a returng Flag in less than 24 hours after it came to...
30From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 14 April 1778 (Jay Papers)
Your Favor of the 16 Ult o . was delivered to me two Days ago by Maj r . Morris— it makes the third I have had the Pleasure of recieving from you since your Departure, altho the Letters I have written to you amount to double that Number. The Session of the Legislature is at an End, a weak perplexed wrangling one it has been. No Wonder—little application within or without Doors but you know...
31From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 6 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 21st ulto did not reach me till a longer time after its date, than is usual between this and Philadelphia. I cannot for a variety of reasons which will occur to you, undertake to designate the persons who shd receive the provision of Congress—or to fix upon the Sums which might be adequate. They are points of too great delicacy for me to interfere in. The Committee on the...
32From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 29 April 1778 (Jay Papers)
My last to you was written ab t a Week ago— I am now engaged in the most disagreable part of my Duty—trying Criminals— They multiply exceedingly. Robberies become Frequent. The Woods afford them Shelter & the Tories Food. Punishments must of Course become certain, & Mercy dormant—a harsh System repugnant to my Feelings, but nevertheless necessary. In such Circumstances Lenity would be Cruelty,...
33From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 20 April 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Gouverneur Morris, 20 April 1776. Morris’s letter to GW of this date is endorsed in Stephen Moylan’s writing: “ansd Same day.”
34From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, August 1775 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d your Letter of the 28 th Ult. and take the earliest opportunity wh. has offered of answering it. The Principles on which you account for hav g delayed Notices of Tryal on the West Chester Causes merit my Acknowledgm ts You need be under no apprehension of Non Suits in case you sh d . prevail upon yourself to postpone the Tryal which I confess I cant forbear wishing may be the...
35From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 17 July 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your two Letters from you—one of the 29 Ap r . by Col. Ogden—the other of 30 May by Cap t . Barney— I am glad to see the Col. and shall readily do him any Service in my power, as well on acc t . of your Recommendation as his own Merit— By this Time I suppose there is much canvassing for foreign appointments— I thank you for thinking of me—but as I mean to return in the Spring,...
36From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 10 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 28th Ulto I met with on my way to these quarters, where I arrived on the 6th Instt. The suggestions contained in it required no apology, as it gives me pleasure at all times to know the sentiments of others upon matters of public utility—Those however which you have delivered relative to an enterprize against the enemy in New York, exhibit strong evidence how little the...
37From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 24 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
Whether you are indebted to me, or I to you a Letter I know not, nor is it a matter of much moment—The design of this is to touch, cursorily, upon a Subject of very great importance to the well being of these States; much more so than will appear at first view—I mean the appointment of so many foreigners to Offices of high rank & trust in our Service. The lavish manner in which Rank has...
38From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 25 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your obliging favor of the 18th Inst., only Yesterday evening. I thank you much for the explanatory hints it contains and could have wished it had come to hand a little sooner. I have many things to say to you, but as the Express, who will deliver you this, is going with dispatches that will not admit delay, I shall content myself with taking notice of one matter, that appears to me...
39From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 20 May 1778 (Jay Papers)
Accept my thanks for the last letter I received from you, and the papers inclosed in it. The report of Congress on the subject of Lord North’s Bills was too strikingly marked with Morris not to be known by his friends to have been produced by his pen. Your history of that business gives me pleasure, as it acquits you of certain paragraphs which I could not understand the propriety of,...
40From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 29 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for your favors of the 21st & 23d Instt both of which have come to hand since my last to you —had such a chapter as you speak of, been written to the rulers of Mankind, it would, I am perswaded, have been as unavailing as many others upon subjects of equal importance—we may lament that things are not consonant to our wishes, but cannot change the nature of Man; & yet, those who are...
41From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 12 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received the pleasure of your favour of yesterday’s date. The reasons you assign for the interval of silence on your part are admitted as sufficient; though I regret that the principal one exists—the combination of the tories for a general insurrection. But perhaps on the scale of policy I ought rather to congratulate you on the event: That there are too many tories in your state as...
42From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 29 August 1778 (Jay Papers)
Your friendly letter of the 16 th . instant was delivered to me yesterday. I am well apprized of the situation of the gentleman you mention, and sincerely hope that his conduct may, on inquiry, be found such as to justify the opinion which I have long entertained of him. I wish for many reasons to have a personal interview with him. It will probably be long before the duties of my office will...
43To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 27–28 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have a Word to say to you upon the Subject of Promotion which we have just now finished or rather unfinished at least if that Matter was before in an unfinished Situation. That famous incomprehensible Baltimore Resolution (unluckily perhaps) introduced a very tedious Debate which terminated at Length by rejecting the whole of what the Committee reported with relation to the Promoting of...
44From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 7 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I asserted pretty roundly to you, but not more confidently than it was asserted to me, that General Dalrymple had Sailed for England. Since my return to this place I have seen a letter from him to Genl Knox which, at the same time that it contradicts both assertions, announces his speedy departure for the Albion shore. If he should remain in New York after this, charge it to his acct—not...
45From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 5 November 1780 (Jay Papers)
Three of your Letters have reached me— The last was of the 12 July— Some of mine to you were worth little, and their Miscarriage ^ was ^ of little other ^ no ^ Consequence, than you having there was one however from Madrid which I wish may come to your Hands—it was interesting— I had heard of your misfortune and felt it— A Gentleman in France wrote me that M rs
46From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 20 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 14th Instt by Colo. Morgan, and have had a good deal of conversation with him respecting our affairs to the Westward. I wish matters had been more prosperously conducted under the command of Genl McIntosh—This Gentlemn was in a manner a stranger to me, but during the time of his residence at Valley forge I had imbibed a good opinion of his good sense—attention...
47From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 9 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your letter for Mr Elliott, went into New York a few days since by the Comy of Prisoners, who is now there. The Packet for Genl Dalrymple shall also go there; altho’ the Genl, by this time, may be in England. Genl Knox has Skinners Letter—Mrs Washington set out this day for Virginia by an upper Road—present me in the most acceptable manner to Mrs Morris & Miss Kitty Livingston—I do not forget...
48George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 8 May 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook [ New Jersey ] May 8, 1779 . States reasons for favoring a campaign in South. Discusses distressing state of the Army. Df , in writings of George Washington and H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Morris was a delegate to Congress from New York.
49From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 17 March 1778 (Jay Papers)
Your Favor of the 1 st . Feb y came to Hand last week. It gives me Pleasure to hear you was then at H d Q rtrs . especially on Business so important & perplexed. It is Time that Inquiries and I may add ^ as well as ^ Punishments sh d . become more frequent. I wish better, or rather more use was made of Courts Martial. Why is the the Inquiry directed to be made into the Causes to which
50From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 18 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 15th Inst. gave me singular pleasure—I thank you for the agreeable intelligence it contains; which (tho not equal to my wishes) exceeds my expectation, & is to be lamented only for the delay, as the evils, consequent of it, will, soon (as I have often foretold) be manifested in the moving state of the Army, if the Departments of Quarter Master and Commissary will enable us to...