51To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 30 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
Mr Short has delivered to me within these few Days your favor of the twenty eighth of July. I cannot express to you what I felt on reading it. The View which it gives of our prosperity as a Nation swelled my Bosom with Emotions which none can know but those who have experienced them. The wonderful Change which has been effected in our Affairs by the Operation of the general Government has...
52To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 3 October 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I am favored with yours of the twenty sixth of July for which I pray you to accept my thanks. I mentioned to you from London that Mr. Walpole had been offered the Place of Envoy extraordinary to the United States which he had refused. I took Care to avoid any sort of Intercourse with the Government while I was there and of Course could not possess any minute Information worthy of your Notice....
53To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 6 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the Liberty of writing this Letter to make you acquainted with the Bearer of it Monsieur de Cormeré Brother to the late Monsieur de Favras. Mr. de Cormeré has been in the finance of this Country and is well acquainted with that Subject. He has lately published a short Work on the Relations of Commerce proper for the french Islands of which I have sent you a Copy. He is now going to S....
54To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 7 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Enclosed you will find some Hints relative to Coins Currency Weights and Measures . The Consideration of those Things has occurred to me at different Intervals for the last twenty Years of my Life, and I have frequently determined to begin a pretty extensive Enquiry and as frequently abandoned the Idea. Indeed my other occupations will not afford the Time. You who have thought on the Subject...
55To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 27–31 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 12 Sepr last reached me a few Days ago. In the Proposition of S[chweizer] J[eannerett] & Co: I saw the Means of saving Somewhat to the United States without incurring the Odium of a Payment in depreciated Paper but from the Moment a Determination to pay in Value is adopted I heartily and entirely approve of the Rejection of their Offer. Before the Receipt of your Letter, Mr...
56To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 4 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you on the twenty seventh of December but there were many Things which I did not write, and some of them I will now communicate. At the Close of the Session of the first national Assembly a Coalition was brought about between the Jacobins and the quatre vingt neufs. It is proper to explain these Terms. The Jacobins, so called from their Meeting at a Convent or Church of that Name,...
57To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 17 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor to write to you on the fourth of last Month. Two Days after, I was informed that you had nominated me as Minister to the Court of France, but the latest Advices from America, which come down to the tenth of January, shew that the Senate had not then made their Decision. Be that Decision what it may, I shall ever gratefully esteem and acknowlege this Mark of Confidence from the...
58To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 21 March 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
A Vessel just going to New York presents me an Opportunity of saying that I thank you for your Exertions to effect my Appointment. I know you too well my good Friend to make long Speeches on that Subject. I shall acknowlege the Services of my Friends properly on proper Occasions and till then be silent. In patronizing this Appointment you have incurred more Trouble than you was perhaps aware...
59To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 21 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I was informed that the Senate had agreed to your Nomination of diplomatic Servants. If I know my own Heart this Intelligence is far less agreable to me on my own Account than on that of the Public. I am sure that a Rejection, from whatever Cause it may have arisen, would have been attributed to Disunion in our Councils. I find that the King of France has appointed to the Office of...
60To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 6 April 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
A friend ask’d me some Days ago to calculate for him the true Value of our public funds. I did so and you will find in answer to the Queries No: 1. 2. & 3 the result of my first Enquiries. But my Mind being once in this Train I determined on greater Accuracy at the Expence of a little more Attention, and the Questions I propounded to myself with the Answers are contained in the enclosed Paper...
61Enclosure: [From Gouverneur Morris], [6 April 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
Qu: 1. In what Time will an Annuity of 8 pay 100. Int: at 6 p %. Ansr. 23.7913 Years or 23 Years 288 Days. Qu: 2. What is the present Value of an Annuity of 8 for 23.7913 Years Int: at 4 p %. Ansr. 121.3342 Qu: 3. What principal Sum will in ten Years amount to 121.3342 Int: at 4 p %. Ansr. 81.96914 Qu: 4. In What Time will a quarterly Payment of 2 pay 100. Int: at 1¼ p % quarterly. Ansr:...
62To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 6 April 1792 (Washington Papers)
I receive this Instant your favor of the twenty eighth of January and I do most sincerely thank you for the Informations which you have been so kind as to communicate. Beleive me I know how to value the friendship by which they were dictated. I have always thought that the Counsel of our Enemies is wholesome, tho bitter, if we can but turn it to good Account & In order that I may not fail to...
63To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 6 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the Honor to receive (this morning) your favor of the twenty third of January with its Enclosures, excepting the Cypher which seems accidentally to have been omitted in making up your Dispatches, or perhaps it has been put by Mistake in the Letter directed to Mr. Short which at Mr. Johnsons Request I have taken Charge of. I shall deliver it as speedily as may be, intending to make my...
64To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 10 April 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I din’d the Day before Yesterday tête a tête with the Russian Minister Count Woranzow who is a very sensible and well inform’d Man. In the Course of an Interesting Conversation after Dinner your Name was Mention’d and he exprest a Desire to see your various Reports to Congress. These he means to transmit to his Brother who is the Minister of Commerce in Russia in Order to undeceive him with...
65To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 10 April 1792 (Washington Papers)
There is an Idea in your Letter of the Twenty eighth of January which upon second thought I find it my Duty to examine because altho it cannot now affect me yet it may perhaps have some Influence on Mr Pinckney’s Mission. At any Rate I wish you to be perfectly well acquainted with the leading Features of the british Administration. The Thing I allude to is the Cause which has been assigned for...
66To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 10 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg Leave to enclose the procés verbal of the late assassination at Stockholm. The last Advices from thence give Hopes of the King’s Recovery but from the Nature of the Wound his state must for a long Time be precarious. Conjecture as is usual in such Cases wanders very far but it would seem to be the Consequence of a pretty general Combination among the Nobles of Sweden to restore their...
67To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 25 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the Honor on the tenth Instant to mention to you the Assassination of the King of Sweden. He is since dead of his Wounds. You will find by the public Prints that France declares War against the young King of Hungary and we are of Course to expect an immediate Invasion of the Austrian Netherlands. I am told that this Court notwithstanding their Guarantee of that Country to the House of...
68To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 9 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the twenty ninth of April is just receivd. Previously thereto I had (unluckily) employd the Young Man you mention as my Cook. I did this on Mr. Short’s Recommendation of his Integrity and because he had been in your Service. He is very grateful to you for the Offer you make him which he says he will accept of if I turn him away but he hopes I will not and wishes rather to continue in...
69To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 10 June 1792 (Washington Papers)
private My dear Sir, Paris 10 June 1792. Altho I have been above a Month in this City I have not been able untill within a Day or two to make up my Mind as to the Sentiments of the Person mentiond to you in mine of the twenty first of March, or rather I could not obtain that Certainty which was needful before I could properly mention them to you. I can now venture to assure you that by coming...
70To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 10 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the Honor to acknowlege your favors of the tenth of March and twenty eighth of April. My last was of the 25th of April. As Mr. Short remaind here untill the second Instant and was better acquainted with the current Transactions I relied on him for the Communication of them. He inform’d you that we obtain’d an Interview with Mr. de Mourier on the fifteenth of May. In this Interview he...
71To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 17 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the Honor to write to you (No. 1) on the tenth Instant. The Ministry is chang’d rather sooner than I expected that is to say as to the Totality. Messieurs Servan, Roland, and Claviere were dismissed by Mr. de Mouriez. He filld the Places of the two former with his particular Friends and as this Step was decisive and would certainly bring on very serious Quarrels it was suppos’d that he...
72Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 28 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, June 28, 1792. “Yours of the eighteenth is just come to Hand & I have but an Instant to reply to it. The Changes of Administration and other Circumstances have prevented me from setling with the Commissaries. It will soon be done. I see in the Gazette that the Assembly has authorized the minister of the Marine to concert with me the Means of supplying their Colonies out of the Debt...
73To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 1 July 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
According to your orders I sit down to render this Day a State of my Account which will be but short because I shall charge at present no Contingencies. There are some such which will come in my next Account and which would be stated this Day, but as I have not yet got into the House which I hired immediately after my Arrival and which I have daily been in the Hope of entring, my Papers and...
74Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Carmichael, 3 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Two Days ago I saw Mr. Le Couteulx, who told me that his friend had made application to the Spanish Court to obtain an assignment on the Debt from the United States in discharge of a Debt due to him; and that Mr. Gardoqui said the United States owed Spain above a Million of Dollars, being in part for advances made in America. This assertion struck me, and as I had formerly some knowledge of...
75Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 5 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, July 5, 1792. “I wrote to you on the twenty eighth and have since receiv’d yours of the same Date. I call’d on the Minister the Day before yesterday and he promis’d me to come to a Settlement of the Accounts in a few Days and to adjust at the same Time the Object of the late Decree. As the Affair is now left to the Responsability of the Executive I presume they will not longer delay it...
76Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 6 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, July 6, 1792. “The above is Copy of what I wrote yesterday. After the Post was gone I receivd a Letter from the Minister of the Marine praying an Interview in order to adjust the Business which he says was entamé in your Time.…” LC (extract), Gouverneur Morris Papers, Library of Congress. Jean de Lacoste served as Minister of Marine from March 15 to July 21, 1792.
77Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 9 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, July 9, 1792. “I wrote to you a Note on the sixth mentioning the Application of the Minister of the Marine. I have not heard from him since. Probably he is collecting the Accounts for I told the Minister of foreign Affairs that I must have the past Accounts settled before I could undertake any Thing new. At any Rate I shall soon get this Business done unless there be another Over Set in...
78To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 10 July 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the Honor to write to you (No. 3) on the first Instant. On the seventeenth of the last Month I mention’d the Plans then in Contemplation and gave a short View of the existent State of things. I did not communicate those Events which have since taken Place, because you will find the most ample Details in the several Gazettes. On Saturday the seventh a Farce was acted in the Assembly in...
79Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 16 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, July 16, 1792. “… I wrote to you on the ninth and it appears that while I was writing the Ministry resign’d to a Man. This Measure is connected with Circumstances which are not generally known and it was entirely unexpected. I did not know it till about seven oClock in the Evening for I had been at Home till six and then went by Appointment to the Minister of the Marine who was with the...
80Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 23 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, July 23, 1792. “I am favord with yours of the seventeenth.… The History you give of DeWolf proves clearly that his Hopes outrun his Judgment. You are however in a Position to see clearly and I am persuaded that however he may deceive himself he cannot deceive you. It appears to me a fortunate Thing that he cannot undertake for large Sums because his Operations will only stimulate the...
81Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 30 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, July 30, 1792. “My last was of the twenty third. I am now favord with yours of the same Date. I receiv’d Yesterday the Account from the Commissioners of the Treasury and as I suppos’d it contains a Credit for the Antwerp Payments at the Current Exchange. From the Letter which accompanies it however I observe that the Commissrs. meant a different Thing, but the Clerks in extracting from...
82Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to the Commissaries of the French Treasury, 30 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I did not receive until yesterday yours of the twenty eighth instant. I will proceed to the examination of the account enclosed in it immediately. We have money at Amsterdam; if you chuse to receive it there, be so kind as to inform me, and of the person to whom it is to be paid. It will be necessary in that case to fix a rate of exchange, and in order to avoid unnecessary delay, I pray you to...
83Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to Thomas Jefferson, 1 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
My last was of the tenth of July. Mr: Livingston, who is on his way to America, presents an opportunity of writing, which must not be neglected, altho’ I am engaged at present in Examination of the account received from the Commissioners of the Treasury. I have already mentioned to you, Sir, that the whole of this account is open, and I must now observe that I do not find myself particularly...
84To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 1 August 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
My last was of the tenth of July. Mr. Livingston who is on his Way to America presents an Opportunity of writing which must not be neglected altho I am engaged at present in examination of the Account receivd from the Commissioners of the Treasury. I have already mention’d to you Sir that the whole of this Account is open and I must now observe that I do not find myself particularly authoriz’d...
85To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 1 August 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 1 Aug. 1792 . The Duc de Penthièvre has recommended Monsieur de La Mariniere, who requests for his daughter-in-law, Madame de La Mariniere, an introduction to the best company in Baltimore, where she has taken refuge from the calamities of Saint-Domingue. Having no particular connections in that town, he recommends the matter to TJ’s kind attention. Dupl ( DLC ); 1 p.; at head of text:...
86Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 6 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, August 6, 1792. “My last was of the thirtieth of July since which I am without advices from you. I have agreed with the Commissioners of the Treasury for the present and in Consequence I pray you will give our Bankers an order to pay to Messrs. Hoguer Grand and Company the Sum of one Million six hundred and twenty five thousand florins banco and desire them at the same Time to send me a...
87Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to the Commissaries of the French Treasury, 6 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the second instant did not reach me until yesterday afternoon. I am afraid that the delay may be attended with some ill consequence, however I have given the necessary directions for payment of one million, six hundred and twenty five thousand bank florins to Messrs. Hoguer Grand and company, which at the exchange you have mentioned, is equal to six million of livres. I hope...
88Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 9 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, August 9, 1792. “I have yours of the fourth but this being Thursday I can but barely acknowlege it. In my last of the sixth I requested you to cause bf 1.625.000 to be paid to Messieurs Hoguer Grand et Compagnie which I now confirm. By a strange Fatality it happens that untill the present Hour I have not had the desired Meeting with the Minister of the Marine. Many appointments have...
89Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to Thomas Jefferson, 16 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I shall send herewith a Packet containing my Correspondence with the Commissioners of the Treasury, relative to our Debt, and in the same packet you will find a Letter from Mr. Cathalan to you relative to a Riot at Marsielles &c. I have already had occasion to mention to you, Sir, that I did not find myself authorized to go into the Settlement of the account finally with the Commissioners of...
90To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 16 August 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
My last was of the first Instant No 5. Since that Period another Revolution has been affected in this City. It was bloody. Success which always makes Friends gives to the present Order an Air of greater Unanimity than really exists. A very considerable Party is deeply interested to overturn it but what may be their Conduct is uncertain. Whether they will confine themselves to idle Vows and...
91To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 17 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Short just before he left this City left with me a memoire in Dutch respecting the Mint. I was to get it translated for you, but not having been able to find a Person acquainted with the Dutch and English languages, I have now determin’d to send you the Original which you will find here enclosed. I hope it may prove useful, and answer the end you had in view. I have transmitted to Mr....
92Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to Thomas Jefferson, 17 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
If I have not hitherto mentioned the Application made to me by the foreign Officers who have certificates whereof the interest is payable in this City, it has not been for want of sufficient cause, but because I did daily hope to have received some news on that subject. Many have spoken to me, written to me, and called upon me. I have given to all the general assurances that justice would be...
93To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 17 August 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
If I have not hitherto mentioned the Applications made to me by the foreign Officers who have Certificates whereof the interest is payable in this City, it has not been for Want of sufficient cause, but because I did daily hope to have receiv’d some orders on that Subject. Many have spoken to me, written to me, and call’d upon me. I have given to all the general Assurances that Justice would...
94Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 20 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, August 20, 1792. “Yours of the seventh was long in coming probably mine of the 9th. was equally delayed. You will find by it that I had agreed with the Commissioners as to a pretty considerable Payment on that Day. The Events of the tenth ought not I think to make any Change in that Disposition. I think your Reasoning is good as far as it goes and if the Powers to me had been sufficient...
95To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 22 August 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
My last (No. 7) was of the seventeenth Instant. In No. 6 of the 16th. I mentiond the Revolution of the tenth. I suggested my Idea that the Force commanded by Monsieur de la fayette would not be brought to immediate Action, and that in such Case he and his friends had Nothing to hope for. He, as you will learn, encamped at Sedan and official Accounts of last Night inform us that he has taken...
96Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 23 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, August 23, 1792. “The last Post was gone before yours of the seventeenth reach’d me. Mine of the sixth was written the Instant I receiv’d that from the Commissioners of the Treasury which was previously necessary. It did not arrive till late and the consequent Hurry was the Cause why I omitted to mention as I intended that the Sum of Bank florins to be paid in Amsterdam was the...
97Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 27 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, August 27, 1792. “I wrote to you on the twentieth and twenty third. Yours of the twenty first is receiv’d. I mentiond to you in one of my preceeding Letters that I had receivd the Account of the Commissaries in which the several Payments are credited in Livres which is unavoidable in Book-Keeping. I have also told you that the last Payment was the Equivalent of six Millions. By the...
98To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 30 August 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
My last (No. 8) was of the twenty second Instant. In No. 6 I mention’d to you that I had not been able to adjust with the Minister of foreign Affairs the Rate of Exchange which should govern the Payments made and making in America on Account of our Debt to France. And that I had not been able to see the Minister of Marine to adjust with him the Sums which the Assembly had determind to apply...
99Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 9 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, September 9, 1792. “Yours of the fourth Instant arrivd yesterday afternoon and I write now that I may be in Time for the Post of Tomorrow. I beleive the Delay of my Letter was not in this City. As the six Millions are I suppose paid, it is not necessary to dilate on that Subject. In Regard to the Extent of my Powers I will explain to you my Ideas thereon. At first I suppos’d that the...
100To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 10 September 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
My last No. 9 was of the thirtieth Ultimo. The Object of this is merely to transmit a Letter forwarded to me by Mr. Cathalan who desires me to communicate the Scarcity to my Friends and at the same Time mentions that if I will encourage him thereto he will immediately set off to America to procure Wheat. My Answer of this Date is enclos’d. By the first convenient Opportunity I shall write to...